FaultScore

1988 Ford Tempo seat belt problems

19 of the 176 complaints about the 1988 Ford Tempo are about the seat belts — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 34,790 miles.

C

19

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Seat Belts 6 31.6%
Buckle Assembly 5 26.3%
Retractor 3 15.8%
Front 2 10.5%
Anchorage 1 5.3%
Webbing 1 5.3%
Warning Light/Devices 1 5.3%

Seat Belts across every Ford Tempo year

1988 19 8.4%
1989 21 9.3%
1990 30 13.2%
1991 13 5.7%
1992 43 18.9%
1993 64 28.2%
1994 37 16.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 34,790 miles Heatsville, VA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

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. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM HAS NOW GONE OUT OF BUSINESS AND SHE HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE. SHE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELT FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. SPEED IS NOT A FACTOR WITH THE SEAT BELT FAILURE. EVEN SITTING STILL THE SEAT BELT IS NOT WORKING.

NHTSA complaint #10127897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Libby, MT

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

THE LAP BELT ON PASSENAGER SIDE FRONT WILL NOT STAY CLASPED. DRIVERS SHOULDER STRAP (AUTOMATIC) WILL NOT SLIDE OPEN. THE MOTOR CAN BE HEARD INSIDE, BUT WILL NOT MOVE.

NHTSA complaint #9005921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Palmdale, CA

SEAT BELTS

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. THE LAW REQUIRES THAT BELTS BE USED YET FORD WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFE AND NORMAL OPERATION OF THE LAP BELT THAT THEY INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. NO PREVIOUS INDICATIONS OF ANYTHING WRONG WITH LAP BELT SYSTEM ON EITHER SIDE OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #754264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lemon Grove, CA

SEAT BELTS

SEAT BELTS MALFUNCTIONED. AUTOMATIC BELTS REALEASED & UNRELEASED WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER TRIED TO FIND MANUEL TO OVERRIDE . TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER FOUND OUT THAT MOTOR & TRACK HAD TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.

NHTSA complaint #860298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hawley, PA

SEAT BELTS

SEAT BELT MOTOR FAILED. MJS

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

Hawley, PA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

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.

Houston, TX

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

DURING VEHICLE COLLISION SEAT BELTS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #507083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Frederick, MD

SEAT BELTS

PASSENGER'S MOTOR BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. (1ST VEHICLE ON #603313)

NHTSA complaint #516580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Frederick, MD

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES

THE FIRST CAR IN THIS DOCUMENT, SEAT BELT WARNING LAMP ON.

NHTSA complaint #516580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alexander, VA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT UNBUCKLE.

NHTSA complaint #987268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lima, OH

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

A MALFUNCTION OF THE LAP SEAT BELT, CLASP IS BROKEN WHERE IT CANNOT BE USED. PLEASE DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM

NHTSA complaint #801521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Erie, PA

SEAT BELTS

DRIVER'S AUTOMATIC RESTRAINT BELT WAS INOPERATIVE, EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT FAILURE, WON'T GO REARWARD ON TRACK.

NHTSA complaint #800269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Minot, ND

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVER'S SIDE FEMALE END BELT BUCKLE IS BROKEN. WILL NOT LOCK TOGETHER. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #986207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alexander, VA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT UNBUCKLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #987268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dunedin, FL

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

PLASTIC SLEEVE THAT SUPPORTS FEMALE PORTION CRACKS. THIS CAUSES BELT TO FALL WITHIN SEAT NOT ABLE TO LATCH BELTS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA complaint #979007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Columbia, OH Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTING TO TIGHT . TT

NHTSA complaint #973829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richmond, VA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

SEAT BELT BUCKLE DRIVER SEAT BUCKLE FAILED. TT DEALER CHARGED TO REPLACE SEAT BELT.

NHTSA complaint #973113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richmond, VA

SEAT BELTS

SEAT BELT BUCKLE DRIVER SEAT BUCKLE FAILED. TT DEALER CHARGED TO REPLACE SEAT BELT.

NHTSA complaint #973113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Jose, CA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

SEATBELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT RETRACT. TT

NHTSA complaint #965742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1988 Ford Tempo problems

← Full 1988 Ford Tempo report