1987 Ford Tempo Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report engines that stall or cut out, sometimes with no warning and sometimes leaving the car unable to restart. Electrical smoke or fire under the hood or at the steering column is also described, as is loss of steering or control in several complaints. No mileage is given in the sampled complaints, so these reports cannot be linked to mileage, and several describe stalls when the engine is hot or at a stop light.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls, cuts out, or will not restart

   • 17 complaints (32%)
   • typically at 11.1 yrs old
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2002

   Owners describe engines that stall or cut out while driving, at stops, or while turning, and some cannot restart the car after it has been driven or stopped at idle speed. Several complaints say the vehicle stalled intermittently without warning, and some describe the engine warning light coming on after a stall. Dealers and shops reportedly replaced parts, including a fuel pump, a switch, and sensors, and some owners say the stalling continued afterward. A complaint links the stalling to an ignition module failure. No mileage is given in these complaints, which describe stalls when the engine is hot, at stop lights, while turning, and after a fuel fill-up.

   What to check: Ask for dealer records of any stalling, no-start, fuel pump, or ignition module repairs, and check that the engine restarts normally after it has been run hot.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle stalls without notice during several different scenarios and the braking and steering become difficult. The vehicle was taken to several different repair shops, including the local Ford dealership and although the stalling was eveident, no one coul;d clarify why and how to repair the problem. I am reproting this problem on behalf of my elderly mother, who has had this stalling problem since she purchased this used vehicle and has not been able to find anyone to successfully repair the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #751648, filed 2001-09

   “Car wont restart after it has been drivin and or stopped at idle speed. Causing me to be stranded continually. Ford motor was suppose to fix the fuel pump , but instead replaced tfi switch and two other sensors , but am still having same symtoms sent car back and now they tell me its the fuel pump wich is why I took the car to them to begin with.. Then I here on the news about this tfi switch that Ford motor charged me an arm a leg and a foot for 640.00... I see a cover up or somthing is not right at my expense.. …”

   NHTSA complaint #731436, filed 2000-09
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Electrical smoke or fire under hood or at steering column

   • 19 complaints (36%)
   • typically at 9.5 yrs old
   • 17 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–1998

   Owners describe electrical smoke or fire under the hood or at the steering column, including an alternator that smoked at a stop and a steering column that melted after a short drive. In some reports the fire spread to the dashboard, or the vehicle burned after it stalled and was pulled over. Some complaints say the exact source was unknown, and a parked car is described as catching fire after a switch reportedly failed. No mileage is given; the complaints describe smoke or fire while parked, at a stop, while entering a parking lot, or after a short drive.

   What to check: Inspect the alternator, ignition switch, and steering column area for melting, discoloration, or damaged wiring, and ask whether any of these parts have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Owner states while driving vehicle it started to stall. When owner pulled over on the side of the highway vehicle then caught on fire. It took only 15min for the whole vehicle to burn down.”

   NHTSA complaint #810870, filed 1997-04

   “Car was parked and it caught on fire. Consumer states the switch apparently failed ,gas was pumped into engine compartment fumes made their way back into the passenger compartment, these fumes encountered the switch which must have been putting out a spark, the fire moved from the top right steering column to the right toward the outlet for the gas in the engine compartment, there was not enough combustible material in the engine compartment to sustain this fire, the fuel pump ran until the electricial system shorted between the fuel pump …”

   NHTSA complaint #804284, filed 1996-10
3. 3
   Steering

   Loss of steering or control while driving

   Mentioned in 4 of 21 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe loss of steering or control, including a tie rod that broke out of the gear box while entering a driveway, and a front end that started shaking and led the driver to jerk the wheel and lose control. Other complaints say stalling made braking and steering more difficult, and a car that stalled while turning struck a utility pole. No mileage is given; the complaints describe loss of steering or control while turning, while entering a driveway, and during stalls.

   What to check: Have a mechanic check the tie rods, steering linkage, and front end play on a lift, and ask for any steering or suspension repair records.

   An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle stalls intermittently without warning making braking and steering more difficult, the vehicle has been taken to the dealer on several occasions but the problem could not be solved, on one occasion the drive struck a utility pole and damaged the vehicle when the vehicle stalled while making a turn.”

   NHTSA complaint #562913, filed 2001-09

Buying note. Ask for dealer repair records for stalling and electrical problems, and have a mechanic check the ignition, alternator, and steering linkage before buying. The sampled complaints give no mileage, so the current condition of these systems is best verified on the specific car.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 21 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.