FaultScore

1988 Ford Tempo engine problems

34 of the 176 complaints about the 1988 Ford Tempo are about the engine — 19% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 27,000 miles.

F

34

Complaints

0

Crashes

5

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Gasoline 17 50.0%
Engine 7 20.6%
Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 3 8.8%
FAN 2 5.9%
Radiator Assembly 1 2.9%
Exhaust System 1 2.9%
Emission Control 1 2.9%
Cooling System 1 2.9%
Engine 1 2.9%

Engine & Cooling across every Ford Tempo year

1987 15 4.8%
1988 34 10.8%
1989 34 10.8%
1990 20 6.4%
1991 34 10.8%
1992 56 17.8%
1993 73 23.2%
1994 48 15.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 49,000 miles Oregon City, OR

ENGINE

ACK UP.NMENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND MOTOR DIES. STARTS RIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #10750222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONSUMER IS REQUESTING FREE REPAIRS TO 1988 FORD TEMPO GL'S TRANSMISSION AND MOTOR.*MR

NHTSA complaint #10121481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Columbus, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED. *AK *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10017750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,000 miles Indianapolis, IN Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE TREADS OF THE TIRE WARPED WITH ONLY 10000 MILES ON IT (FIRESTONE LEMANS RADIAL AT). *NLM SHORTLY AFTER THE TIRE WAS CHANGED A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10018062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baldwin Park, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WORK DONE ON ENGINE BEFORE RECALL WAS KNOWN. CAR NOT THE SAME SINCE. TOTAL COST TO ME ,ABOUT 1500.00.

NHTSA complaint #752178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carol Stream, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN INJURY BEFORE FORD FIXES!. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY.

NHTSA complaint #744465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Granada HI, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FAILED (THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP). NLM

NHTSA complaint #559307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Granada HI, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED. NLM

NHTSA complaint #559307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Granada HI, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

MUFFLER FAILED. NLM

NHTSA complaint #559307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FOX River Grove, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE FOR A HIGH AMOUNT OF TIME ENGINE DIES OUT WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR EVEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. NO ONE KNOWS PROBLEM.*AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #882463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lockport, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC AND VEHICLE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS.

NHTSA complaint #870369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lake Isabella, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED DUE TO HEAT FROM THE ENGINE .

NHTSA complaint #850574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brooklyn, NY Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS

NHTSA complaint #548224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Temple, TX Fire 1 injured

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON

NHTSA complaint #709904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hawley, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE STALLS AT STOP LIGHTS. MJS

NHTSA complaint #546423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wales Township, MI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED FOR THE SECOND TIME . THE ORIGINAL EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED IN DECEMBER OF 1998. IN JANUARY OF 1999, THE REPLACEMENT USED ALSO CRACKED. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.

NHTSA complaint #840777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Unknown, UN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING CONTINUAL OVERHEATING.

NHTSA complaint #512021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bath, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING CONTINUED STALLING, UNABLE TO RECTIFY.

NHTSA complaint #522390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Riverview, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

CRACK IN EXHAUST MANIFOLD, CAUSING LEAKAGE OF FUMES AND NOISE

NHTSA complaint #702963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEP, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CAN HEAR A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER HAS TO KEEP FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND ACCELEATOR IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE NOT TO CUT OFF. ALSO, VEHICLE IS STALLING AND CUTTING OFF WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #833811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hawley, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT, VEHICLE WILL STALL AND SOUND LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO CUT OFF. ALSO,DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WON'T WORK PROPERLY. WHEN DRIVING THE CONSUMER CAN HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING, BUT THE SEAT BELT GOES OVER THE CONSUMER AND LOCKS RIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #833339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fullerton, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE CONTINUALLY OVERHEATING.

NHTSA complaint #512021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bath, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE IDLE NICE AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT, BUT WHEN START OUT IT WOULD STALL, NO WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #522390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Columbia, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN COOLING FAN MOTOR CAUSED WIRING INSULATION TO BURN, RESULTING IN DESTRUCTION OF MAIN WIRE HARNESS.

NHTSA complaint #523664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Leandro, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE STALLS UPON DECELERATION.

NHTSA complaint #524040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Leandro, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

RADIATOR FAN MOUNT FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #524040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Averne Queens, NY Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #510023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Philadelphia, PA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE .

NHTSA complaint #800206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Halesite, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE STALLS UPON STOPPING AT STOP SIGNS/TRAFFIC LIGHTS.

NHTSA complaint #484429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baltimore, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

GASKET REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #479628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1988 Ford Tempo problems

← Full 1988 Ford Tempo report