34 of the 168 complaints about the 1989 Ford Tempo are about the engine — 20% of everything reported for this model year.
34
Complaints
0
Crashes
11
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CONSUMER LETTER CONCERNING THE SETTLEMENT IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *TS THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10156250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WHEN ENGINE GETS HOT, CONSUMER STATES THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AND USUALLY OCCURS AT A SIGNAL LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #877761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ANY TIME AT A STOP LIGHT OR STARTING TO MOVE OR GOING AROUND CORNERS VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT FOR NO REASON. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES. MECHANIC CAN NOT DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #875946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
REAR MAIN SEAL IN THE ENGINE FAILED CAUSING FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #782495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHEN DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER VEHICLE STALLS, AND WON'T START BACK UP FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES. MECHANIC REPLACED IGNITION, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.
NHTSA complaint #869691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
IN 1989 WE PAID $40,000 FOR A NEW MOTORHOME THAT IS DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE AND FORD REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD REPEATED FAILURES DURING WARM WEATHER AS IT APPEARS THE SYSTEM VAPORLOCKS AND STALLS THE VEHICLE. THE LASTEST FAILURES HAPPENED ON OUR VACATION LAST WEEK AND WERE VERY DANGEROUS. ONE STALL OCURRED ON A TWO LANE MOUNTAIN ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER AND ON CURVES. WE BLOCKED THE LANE AND HAD TO DIRECT TRAFFIC AROUND TO AVOID A TERRIBLE HEADON. ANOTHER FAILURE WE COULD NOT GET IT OFF THE ROAD AND IT BLOCKED BOTH LANES. VERY DANGEROUS FOR US AND OTHERS. WE HAVE SPENT ABOUT $1000 OVER THE YEARS DOING WHAT FORD RECOMMENDED AND IT DID NOT WORK. MOTORHOME MAGAZINE HAS HAD NUMEROUS ARTICLES ABOUT THIS OVER THE YEARS AND STILL FORD WILL NOT HELP THEIR CUSTOMERS. WE RECIEVED INFORMATION ABOUT A LAW SUIT WHERE PEOPLE WERE KILLED BUT HAVE NOT HEARD THE OUTCOME. UPON SPEAKING TO A FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. TODAY, SHE SAID SHE RECEIVES 40-50 CALLS A DAY REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND STILL FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE ARE FACED WITH DONATING THIS MOTORHOME AS WE CANNOT SELL IT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE TO ANYONE. FORD SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH THIS AND IGNORE A DESIGN FLAW IN THEIR PRODUCT. PLEASE HELP US TO GET FORD'S ATTENTION AND TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY APPARENTLY DO NOT MAKE THE 460 ENGINE ANYMORE DUE TO THE PROBLEMS. WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE OF US WHO ALREADY HAVE ONE?
NHTSA complaint #728044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE. YH
NHTSA complaint #549404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE. YH
NHTSA complaint #549404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE. YH
NHTSA complaint #549404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
REAR MAIN SEAL IN THE ENGINE FAILED CAUSING FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #782495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
AFTER DRIVING SOME DISTANCE, CAR WILL STALL AND FAIL TO START UNTIL IT COOLS DOWN, ESPECIALLY IN WARM WEATHER. PROBLEM IS ONGOING AND SPASMODIC. RESTART AFTER COOLING DOWN IS ALWAYS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM HAS BEEN FLUSHED, REFILLED AND WORKS PERFECTLY.
NHTSA complaint #706838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME ENGINE JUST SHUTS DOWN. POWER STEERING/BRAKING SYSTEM GO OUT, AND ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #837406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL LEAKING FROM VALVE COVER GASKET, REPAIRED, HOWEVER OIL LEAK IS STILL PRESENT, OIL LEAK HAS DAMAGED THE MOTOR.
NHTSA complaint #544453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MOTOR MOUNTS CRACKED TWICE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, AND MAY HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#.
NHTSA complaint #835247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
ODOMETER READING IS NOT REGISTERING MILES, AND SPEEDOMETER IS NOT READING MPH. VEHICLE RUNS HOT, ELECTRONIC FAN IN COOLING SYSTEM DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. ALSO, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND AUTOMATIC LOCK ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. DEALER CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES, AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEMS INCURRED. PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #834793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).
NHTSA complaint #543442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FAILS WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED FULLY IN EITHER DIRECTION. NOT SURE IF THIS IS MAINTENANCE PROBLEM OR A DEFECT INVOLVING THE HALFSHAFT.
NHTSA complaint #537549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE OVERHEATS AND VEHICLE STALLS/HESISTATES.
NHTSA complaint #535214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE STALLS.
NHTSA complaint #524827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ON 22-MAR-97, WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL 30 SECONDS AWAY FROM DRIVER'S HOME THERE WAS LOTS OF SMOKE IN HOOD AREA. CONSUMER THEN BACKED THE VEHICLE INTO HER GARAGE GOT OUT AND OPENED HOOD, THERE WERE FLAMES UNDERNEATH, CONSUMER THEN CLOSED HOOD AND FIRE STOPPED SHORTLY THERE AFTER.
NHTSA complaint #810322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
INTERMITTENT STALLING.
NHTSA complaint #515413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
ENGINE FAN FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #513946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
INTERMITTENT STALLING.
NHTSA complaint #513946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
SERPENTINE BELT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #513946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED DUE TO RUST.
NHTSA complaint #601957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #508313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #506935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #503310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING IN STOP/GO TRAFFIC, VEHICLE OVERHEATED. 2) FAN/HEAT SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE UNDER COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #978664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
PURCHASE CAR USED HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP THREE TIMES AND REPLACED MOTOR MOUNT ONE TIME AND REPLACED THE STARTER TWO TIMES . TT TFI REPLACED. TP SENSOR REPLACED. EGR VALVE REPLACED. INNER TIE ROD END REPLACED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #973969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.