30 of the
1,649 complaints filed about the Ford Tempo
are about the body and structure —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1993.
THE CAR HAS MAJOR LEAKING ISSUES. EVERY TIME IT RAINS/SNOWS/SLEETS/HAIL IT LEAKS INTO THE CAR THROUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE INTO THE ROOF AND ONCE THAT AREA IS SOAKED IT STARTS TO DRIP SLOWLY ONTO THE SEAT AND FLOOR. THERE IS ALSO A LEAK IN THE TRUNK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, OR AT LEAST THAT IS WHERE THE WATER ACCUMULATES UNTIL A SMALL PUDDLE HAS FORMED IN THE WELL THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE. AND IT SEEMS TO ALSO SPREAD INTO THE BACKSEAT AND GATHERS IN THE BACKSEAT FOOTWELL BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10587763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1.) ROUGH IDLE, AND OIL LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON WHEN IDLING AND ONLY GOES OFF WHEN ACCELERATING, BUT OFTEN STALLS OUT, AND DOESN'T WANT TO RE-START. (HAD OIL CHANGED TWICE TO GET EXCESS GAS OUT OF IT FROM TRYING TO START IT.) HAD TO TOW CAR THREE TIMES. PAID $1,000 TO TRY TO GET IT FIXED, BUT ON THE WAY HOME IT DID THE SAME THING. 2.) COOLING FAN QUIT WORKING AND CAR OVERHEATED AND I PAID TO HAVE THE RADIATOR REPLACED, AS PETCOCK WAS LEAKING. MECHANIC DIDN'T NOTICE THAT FAN WASN'T WORKING, SO IT OVERHEATED ON THE WAY HOME WITH A NEW RADIATOR. I FIGURED THAT OUT. ONCE THE FAN WAS REPLACED WITH A WORKING FAN, NO MORE OVERHEATING. AFTER-MARKET RADIATOR WAS BIGGER THAN THE ORIGINAL, CAUSING THE AT FLUID LINE TO GET SAWED OFF BY THE PULLEY 3 TIMES, BEFORE SOMEONE JUST PLUGGED THE LINE AND INSTALLED A SEPARATE AT FLUID "MINI RADIATOR TYPE" COOLER. 3.) TRANSMISSION DRAGS; CAR HAS JUST OVER 70,000 MILES ON IT. HAS REPEATABLE PROBLEM WHEN STARTING OUT AND SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, USUALLY JERKING FORWARD WHEN IT SHIFTS. PUTTING CAR INTO DRIVE AFTER STARTING IT USUALLY ENDS UP IN THE CAR STALLING, AND THE IDLE IS DIFFERENT WHEN IT'S IN GEAR THAN WHEN IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. 4.) I RECEIVED A NOTICE ABOUT A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT REGARDING A DEFECTIVE TFI MODULE, BUT EVERY MECHANIC I SPOKE WITH SAID THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM, BUT THE NOTICE SAID THAT A BAD TFI MODULE WOULDN'T NECESSARILY ALWAYS MAKE THE CAR STALL WHEN IT'S GOING BAD, JUST SOMETIMES. STALLED IN RUSH HOUR ONCE. 5.) THE DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT QUIT WORKING, WHICH CAUSED THE PLASTIC GUIDE FOR THE BELT TO BREAK, AND WHEN I WENT TO FORD TO TRY TO GET THE PART, THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE IT WAS, AND SAID THAT THEY WEREN'T PLANNING TO HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE AFTER 2002 ANYWAY. OFTEN, I ABOUT GOT STRANGLED, AS DID OTHERS WHO RODE IN MY TEMPO, WHEN WE OPENED THE DOOR TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. 6.)FROM THE CAR OVERHEATING, THE FINISH ON THE HOOD IS PEELING AND CRACKING. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10010168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HARNESS STRAPS AND TWO BACK POWER LOCKS ARE DEFECTIVE. HARNESS STRAP WILL STRAP ON CORRECTLY, AND TWO BACK DOORS WON'T EVEN OPEN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO REMEDY SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #875419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR: THE ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUIT ONE SINCE THE ORIGINAL FAILED TO OPERATE ON ANY OF THE INTERMITTENT SETTINGS. IT WOULD WORK ON HIGH AND LOW ONLY. THE ORIGINAL MOTOR WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUILT WIPER MOTOR AND OPERATED FINE BUT MADE A LOUD NOISE. I HAD THE REBUILT WIPER MOTOR REPLACED WITH ANOTHER REBUILT WIPER MOTOR AND HAVE HAD IT FOR 13-14 MONTHS. THE WIPER MOTOR I HAVE CURRENTLY IS NOW MAKING THE SAME NOISE AS WITH THE SECOND WIPER MOTOR. IT IS STILL OPERATIONAL AT THIS POINT ON ALL SETTINGS.DOOR LOCKS: THE POWER DOOR LOCKS HAVE INDIVIDUALLY STOPPED WORKING AT DIFFERENT TIMES. I USED WD-40 ON ALL OF THE LOCKS AND IT HAS HELPED ALL BUT ONE (REAR PASSENGER SIDE) THAT REFUSES TO WORK WHEN DEPRESSING THE LOCK\UNLOCK BUTTON. IT WILL STILL WORK MANUALLY. REVVING OF ENGINE: THE ENGINE WILL REV VERY HIGH WHEN THE CAR IS PLACED IN PARK. PRESSING THE BRAKE OR THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOT DECREASE THE REVVING NOR DOES LIFTING THE GAS PEDAL UP. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND TO TURN IT BACK ON. THIS IS TIED TO THE CAR ACCELERATING WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. THEY BOTH HAPPENED ON THE SAME BRIEF TRIP (20 MILES) BUT HAVE ALSO HAPPENED INDIVIDUALLY ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CAR ACCELERATES SLOWLY - APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE PER SECOND - AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL ABOUT 40 - 50MPH WHERE ITS REMAINS CONSTANT. NO DEALER HAS BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM EVEN AFTER SEARCHING THE CARS COMPUTER FOR A STORED CODE OR CAUSE. IGNITION: THE KEY HAS BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT BECAUSE THE IGNITION DOES NOT RETURN BACK TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU CAN REMOVE THE KEY. TO HELP CLARIFY - IT GETS FROZEN IN THE POSTION WHERE YOU WOULD TURN THE KEY TO ROLL THE WINDOWS UP/DOWN BUT NOT START THE CAR. I HAVE HAD TO MOVE/JIGGLE IT BACK AND FORTH TO GET THE IGNITON TO RETURN BACK TO HOME STATE AND TO THE POSITION WHERE I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY.
NHTSA complaint #729907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE POWER DOOR LOCK ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE IS IN THE LOCK POSITION AND WILL NOT UNLOCK. THE DOOR CANNOT BY OPENED MANUALLY. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.
NHTSA complaint #826206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
WHEN PUTTING NEW TIRES ON THE VEHICLE OWNER DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WELD WAS BROKEN. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT PULLS TO RIGHT AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IT PULLS TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #833470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATBELT (ALL) MOTOR DOESN'T RUN AND BACKSEAT STICK, POWER LOCKS ONLY WORK WHEN IT WARM, DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. CAMSHAFT PULLEY WAS RECALLED AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, JUST AFTER WARRANTY RAN OUT IT BROKE AGAIN. BRAKES GO OUT EVER SIX MONTH, REPLACED WATERPUMP TWICE, IDLE PULLEY, FAN MOTOR AND THE LOWER FRONT BALL JOINTS, STARTER, ALTERNATOR, BATTERY TWICE, ENTIRE MUFFLER SYSTEM 3 TIMES, BAR THAT GOES ACROSS THE FRONT BY THE WHEELS, BLOWER MOTOR CHRIPS AND SQUEEKS AT LOW BLOWING SPEEDS, REPLACE MUFFLER HEAT SHIELDS AND THERE STILL IS CLANGING NOISE IN THE FRONT CRANKSHAFT, ALSO REPLACED MOTOR MOUNTS, SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE BEATER IT WAS MUCH CHEAPER.
NHTSA complaint #541772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHENEVER OPENING DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR THERE IS A NOISE, THE NOISE BEGAN IN MAY. SINCE THEN IT HAS PROGRESSED, ALSO, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR IS NOW MAKING THE SAME NOISE. CONSUMER WILL PROVIDE VIN# LATER ALONG WITH OTHER MISSING INFORMATION. SHE DID NOT HAVE ON HAND AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #826908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHENEVER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS OPENED THERE IS ALWAYS A LOUD NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & SERVICE MANAGER CHECKED. THE MECHANIC HEARD & LOCATED THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE. TOLD CONSUMER VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY & REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE.
NHTSA complaint #826331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE DROPS OUT OF GEAR. THE OWNER HAS TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN PARK .THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK WHEN ACCELERATING FROM LIGHT TRANSMISSION SLIPS DOES NOT SHIFT IN TO HIGHER GEAR. WIPER BLADE FAILED, REAR DOOR HARD TO CLOSE, AND THE HOOD DOES NOT CLOSE RIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #816901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE DROPS OUT OF GEAR. THE OWNER HAS TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN PARK .THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK WHEN ACCELERATING FROM LIGHT TRANSMISSION SLIPS DOES NOT SHIFT IN TO HIGHER GEAR. WIPER BLADE FAILED, REAR DOOR HARD TO CLOSE, AND THE HOOD DOES NOT CLOSE RIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #816901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.