1988 Ford Tempo Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report a mix of electrical faults and stalling, with a sizable share of complaints describing smoke or fire from under the hood or near the steering column. Seat belts, particularly the automatic front belts, are also a recurring theme, along with brake adjuster and fuel system concerns; many complaints come from older, secondhand cars rather than from new-vehicle owners.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Stalling and no-start traced to electrical faults

   • 18 complaints (14%)
   • median 49,000 mi at 27.8 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2015

   Complaints describe the engine quitting without warning at cruising speed or when pulling away, sometimes with an indicator light flickering or turn signals failing first. Several owners report the car restarts after sitting for a while, and some say ignition modules, coils, or control units were replaced without resolving it. A few note the car will not start in very cold weather unless it is moved into a garage. Reported across a wide mileage range, including cars with relatively low odometer readings, and in some cases in sub-zero temperatures.

   Recall 96V071000

   What to check: Listen for a repeatable stall or hard-start pattern on a test drive and ask whether the ignition switch recall work was actually performed; a shop can also check the ignition module and wiring connectors.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Engine will quit suddenly and usually at speeds above 45 MPH. I narrowly avoided an accident when the engine stalled because a truck was right behnd me. The truck was able to change lanes quick enough to avoid the accident. The engine failure has occured about 8 times since I have owned the car. I cannot determine the cause of the engine failure I.e. From either ignition failure or from fuel starvation from an unknown cause. In each case, the car would restart after a half hour wait. …”

   NHTSA complaint #737119, filed 2000-12

   “The engine stalls while driving. Sometime it will restart just to stall again after a few miles. The ignition switch was replaced under a previous recall but the problem continues to persist. The electronic control unit was replace twice in the last 12 months. I believe there is a problem with the wiring/module that regulates the electrical pulses that fire the plugs. I will ask the dealer to research. Unfortuantely, this electrical problem seems to be very common on Ford Tempo's but none of the technical service bulletins address it.”

   NHTSA complaint #747522, filed 2001-06
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Smoke or fire from wiring, alternator, or dash

   • 31 complaints (25%)
   • typically at 8.7 yrs old
   • 25 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2004

   Owners describe a hot-wire or burning smell followed by smoke and, in some cases, flames from the dash, steering column, or under the hood. Several complaints point to the alternator connector or wiring harness overheating and melting insulation, and some mention damage around the headlight or brake light switch wiring. In a number of cases the car was a total loss after the fire. Reported mostly on cars of this age during ordinary driving or shortly after parking, with mileage not stated in most complaints.

   Recall 96V071000

   What to check: Inspect the alternator connector and engine-bay harness for melted or brittle insulation, and check under the dash for scorched wiring; ask whether the ignition switch recall was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Nhtsa recall96v 071000/ manufacturer's recall 95s28 concerning ignition fai;ure. Consumer noticed from outside window that vehicle was on fire. Vehicle had been sitting I driveway for 30-45 minutes after being driven home. Vehicle had flames coming from under the hood. Consumer was confirming recall to be serviced. Please provide more information.”

   NHTSA complaint #8007359, filed 2002-04

   “Drove to store, returned home, noticed brake light still on, checked underneath and bundle of wires was smoking, unplugged brake switch, wires overheated. Consumer had to disconnect the battery and repair wires they melted together, consumer was told that the switch wire had melted together causing a hot short.”

   NHTSA complaint #985522, filed 1996-06
3. 3
   Seat belts

   Automatic seat belts and buckle problems

   • 15 complaints (12%)
   • median 34,790 mi at 17.3 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2005

   Complaints describe the motorized front shoulder belts jamming or releasing and re-latching on their own while driving, sometimes with the track motor audible but not moving the belt. Owners also report lap belts that will not stay clasped or will not release, and a cracked plastic sleeve that lets the buckle fall into the seat. Dealers quoted motor and track replacement at the owner's expense in at least one case. Mostly reported on cars well into their service life; one complaint came at about 35,000 miles.

   What to check: Buckle and unbuckle every belt, run the automatic shoulder belt through its full travel, and check that the buckle stalks are intact and latch firmly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving, wife in passenger seat with lap belt engaged. Upon stopping, lap belt would not release. Impossible for her to exit car because of automatic retractor installed on belt assembly. This is a mojor safety item and Ford will not accept any responsibility. Had we been in an accidnet and car was buring, wife would have been burned to death. The only way I could get wife out of the car was to cut the belt and there wouldn't have been time to do this in a burning car! Even with the lap belt cut, I am still unable to release the buckle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #754264, filed 2001-11

   “Dt: the consumer stated she is having retraction problems with her seat belt. The seat belt is not retracting correctly from the lap belt, from the buckle to the door post. This is happening on the drivers side only. The seat belt is allowing too much webbing and not retracting all the way back into the holder on the door post. When the driver is applying brake pressure, the seat belt is not holding the driver securely and safely in the seat. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10127897, filed 2005-07, 34,790 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell, leaks, and repeated fuel pump replacement

   • 9 complaints (7%)
   • typically at 9.4 yrs old
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2002

   Owners report a strong gasoline odor inside the cabin after fueling that fades after several minutes of driving, and in one case gasoline leaking from a vacuum hose connected to the fuel pressure regulator. Another complaint describes repeated stalling treated as vapor lock, with multiple fuel pumps replaced without a lasting fix. Reported on high-age vehicles in everyday use; mileage not stated in these complaints.

   What to check: Smell for fuel after filling the tank and look for wet or stained hoses around the pressure regulator; ask how many times the fuel pump has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This vehicle has stalled on startup position in traffic since it was new and has continued to do so after numerous complaints to the dealer. This presents a safety hazard as cross traffic is not responsible to wait while we restart the vehicle. This is not due to driver error as it occurs with several different drivers.”

   NHTSA complaint #754640, filed 2001-11

   “Driving vehicle, acts like vapor locking; then vehicle would stopped running; took to dealer and he could not fix problem. Took to local mechanic, who informed consumer that it was fuel pump; had it fixed, but problem still exists; working on fifth (5) fuel pump.”

   NHTSA complaint #811964, filed 1997-05

Buying note. On a car this old, condition and repair history matter more than the model's reputation: have the wiring, belts, brakes, and fuel lines inspected before purchase, and confirm whether the ignition switch recall was performed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 43 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.