35 of the 79 complaints about the 1987 Ford Tempo are about the electrical system — 44% of everything reported for this model year.
35
Complaints
1
Crashes
18
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR WHEN STARTING DUE TO TFI MODULE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #565704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
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. THE TEMPO IS HER ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND SHE HAS HAD TO COPE WITH THE STALLING PROBLEMS BECAUSE SHE CAN NOT AFFORD A NEW VEHICLE. SHE RECENTLY STRUCK A UTILITY POLE WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE SHE WAS MAKING A TURN AND DAMAGED HER VEHICLE. SHE DESPARATELY NEEDS SOME ASSISTANCE IN HAVING FORD MAKE HER VEHICLE SAFE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AT THEIR 1.800.392.3673 NUMBER AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE BY THE NAME OF SELVIN, WHO BASICALLY SAID THAT FORD WILL NOT VOLUNTARILY DO ANYTHING TO ASSIST AT THIS TIME AND HE WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL CONTACT INFORMATION. PLEASE HELP!
NHTSA complaint #751648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR REBUILT AND BOUGHT FROM ADVANCE AUTO PARTS. THIS WAS THE SECOND ALTERNATOR WITH PROBLEMS, THE FIRST WAS TAKEN BACK AND THIS ONE THE MECHANIC REPLACED AND SAID THAT WHO DOES ADVANCE'S REBUILDING ISN'T THAT GREAT. THE TIME AND MONEY SPENT FOR THEIR REJECT ALTERNATOR'S IS UNJUST. THE RED LIGHT INDICATOR STAYED ON UNTIL THIS NEW ALTERNATOR WAS PUT IN.
NHTSA complaint #744823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
I AM FINANCIALLY OBLIGATED TO PAST DUE BILLS; HOWEVER I AM TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE CAR PROBLEMS, I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY RECALL ON THIS CAR! AS MENTIONED I WAS GIVEN A FINE OF $50.00 FOR EXPIRED TAGS BY ABOUT A WEEK; I WOULD HAVE WENT TO MVA IF GIVEN A WARNING FOR RENEWAL! WITH ALL OF THE EXPENSES IN A CAR IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET SOME WORK DONE WITHOUT BEING INDEBTED TO A HIGH PRICED MECHANIC? ECONOMICS SHOULD NOT PLAY A PART FOR SAFETY OF A CAR; SHOULD HAVE WAYS TO HELP ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED. PLEASE READ OUT OF CONCERN AND NOT TO BE USED AGAINST ME BUT FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND TO HELP OTHERS WHO WANT A SAFE VEHICLE BUT CAN'T AFFORD ALL OF THE HIGH BILLS.F. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED .
NHTSA complaint #737185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED STALLING CONDITIONS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION MODULE. MJS
NHTSA complaint #545892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ECM, VALVE COVER GASKET AND THERMOSTAT FAILED. MJS
NHTSA complaint #545527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY CAR STARTED ACTING UP 1ST BY CUTTING OUT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE, THE IT WOULD REV UP,AND THEN COMPLETELY QUIT. THEN WHEN I TRIED TO START IT THE TACHOMETER WOULD SPIN AROUND BACKWARDS. AFTER SETTING FOR A FEW HOURS IT WOULD START AND MAYBE RUN FINE FOR A FEW DAYS. THEN PROBLEM 2 HAPPENED. MY HORN STARTED BEEPING FOR NO REASON AND I HAD TO TAKE THE FUSE OUT. THE CAR WILL NOT START AT ALL NOW. WE HAVE CHANGED THE COMPUTER BRAIN AND THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU SHUT THE DOOR THE HORN BEEPS WITH NO FUSE IN THE FUSE BOX. WE ARE NOW THINKING IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. HOW CAN THIS PROBLEM BE FIXED, OR EVEN NARROWED DOWN TO SEE IF THAT IS THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #706894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THICK FILM IGNITION MODULE AND DIST STATOR FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #545656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
AT A STOP WHEN THE ALTERNATOR STARTED TO SMOKE THE CONSUMER UNPLUGGED THE ALTERNATOR AND THE SMOKING STOPPED. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN DETAIL
NHTSA complaint #805291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
AT A STOP LIGHT THE CAR STALLED AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #803257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CAR WAS PARKED AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK 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 AND THE BATTERY.
NHTSA complaint #804284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE DRIVING THE WIRING UNDER THE DASH CONNECTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN BURNT OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #801537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING INTO PARKING LOT, VEHICLE'S RIGHT FRONT CAUGHT ON FIRE, UNDERHOOD; ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, EXACT CAUSE UNKOWN.
NHTSA complaint #985492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION SYSTEM FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #504983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
BURNING ODOR PRIOR TO RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #504198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING HARNESS FIRE IN DASH FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
NHTSA complaint #984549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVEN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. OWNER STATED IGNITION SWITCH WAS CAUSE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #983817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVEN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. OWNER STATED IGNITION SWITCH WAS CAUSE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #983817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #983690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #983690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
UPON STARTING, SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT OF STEERING COLUMN, VEHICLE INTERIOR CAUGHT ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #983670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE ON THE WIRING AT THE FIREWALL.
NHTSA complaint #983440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
AFTER PARKED A FEW MINUTES, VEHICLE IGNITED RIGHT AWAY W/FIRE CONSUMED AND TOTALED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #983184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
AFTER STARTING AND DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE, STEERING COLUMN SMOKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, MELTING COLUMN AND DASHBOARD. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #983042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FIRE, ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #981285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FIRE, ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #981285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE INGITION SWITCH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #980398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE INGITION SWITCH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #980398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT START, DOES NOT WORK. TT
NHTSA complaint #977119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
UNDER THE HOOD ELECTRICAL FIRE WITH WIRING CONNECTOR THAT PLUGS INTO TOP OF ALTERNATOR.
NHTSA complaint #966377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.