ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ACK UP.NMENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND MOTOR DIES. STARTS RIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10750222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ford Tempo electrical problems
369 of the 1,649 complaints filed about the Ford Tempo are about the electrical system — 22% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1988.
369
Complaints
22%
Share of all complaints
9
Crashes
136
Fires
Electrical System complaints by model year
1981 Tempo
1
0.3%
1987 Tempo
35
9.5%
1992 Tempo
48
13.0%
1994 Tempo
22
6.0%
1995 Tempo
1
0.3%
1998 Tempo
1
0.3%
What owners said
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 FORD TEMPO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE IGNITION MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10434235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
MY 1985 FORD TEMPO GL HAS 3 RECALLS AND FORD SAYS IT DOESN'T. VIN# [XXX] 1.ECU DEFECTIVE THROTTLE REMAINS PARTIALLY OPENED OEM # 85V134000, 2.BACK TIRE REAR CONTROL ARM SPINDLE BOLT OEM # 85V086000, 3.FUEL PUMP OEM # 07E064000.WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?
NHTSA complaint #10381366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TEMPO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND RESUMED OPERATION; HOWEVER, IT STALLED ON THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE IGNITION MODULE WHICH HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
NHTSA complaint #10284061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD TEMPO. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V071000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE DEALER WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 45,000.
NHTSA complaint #10249702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR FIRE---CAR WAS PARKED IN MY MOTHER'S CARPORT---CAUGHT ON FIRE AT NIGHT---BURNED THE HOUSE---KILLED MY MOTHER...
NHTSA complaint #10241634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TEMPO. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER, BUT WHEN THE KEY WAS SLIGHTLY TURNED IN THE IGNITION, SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IN THE VEHICLE WOULD START. WHEN THE CONTACT CHANGES THE KEY SLIGHTLY IN THE IGNITION, HE LOSES ALL POWER AND CAN HEAR AN ELECTRICAL SPARK AS IF IT IS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A CONNECTION. THE VEHICLE GOES FROM HAVING NO POWER TO POWER, DEPENDING ON THE SPARKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR THIS FAILURE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, THE BATTERIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. A NEW BATTERY WAS RECENTLY INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE AND THE FUSES WERE REPLACED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. IN ADDITION, THE STARTER WAS REPLACED, THE TERMINAL CABLES WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES, AND THE VEHICLE HAD MORE TUNE-UPS THAN WHAT WAS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V071000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
NHTSA complaint #10232531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1992 Ford Tempo
Menomonie, WI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
1992 TEMPO RIGHT CALIPER, BATTERY CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE MOTOR NEEDED A COVER. SPRINGS AND STRUTS ALSO NEEDED REPLACING. *TS
NHTSA complaint #10154136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE SHE SMELLED AN ODD ODOR. UPON REENTERING AND STARING THE VEHICLE WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD SHE SAW FLAMES COMING OUT. SHE IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911. THE FIRE WENT OUT ON ITS OWN BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE ALTERNATOR APPEARED TO BE THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. THE PLUG TO THE ALTERNATOR MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. A REPLACEMENT ALTERNATOR WAS PURCHASED, BUT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10145189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR HAS REPEATABLE PROBLEM OF NOT STARTING...HAVE HAD IT TOWED, DUE TO THIS, NUMEROUS TIMES, SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO GET IT FIXED, ETC. ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT IT HAS TWO IGNITION DEFECTS...POTENTIALLY... SINCE THE CAR WAS NOT NEW WHEN I BOUGHT IT 3 YEARS AGO, I HAVE NO RECOURSE BUT TO BEAR THE COST OF REPAIRS MYSELF. I AM OUTRAGED THAT FORD GOT AWAY WITH NOT RECALLING THESE VEHICLES!!!
NHTSA complaint #10096145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AUTOMOBILE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT WHILE I WAS WORKING. TWO POLICE OFFICERS HEARD THE IGNITION CLICKING, BUT COULDN'T SEE A CAR WITH AN INDIVIDUAL IN IT. SHORTLY AFTER THE CAR WAS IN FLAMES. INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE FIRE SHOWS THAT THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN.
NHTSA complaint #10093168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
JUST AFTER PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE . HE OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE TOP OF THE ALTERNATOR PLUG WAS BURNING FOLLOWED BY WIRING BURNING ACROSS TO THE BATTERY. THE TERMINAL BLOCK ON THE LEFT FENDER BEGAN BURNING AND MELTING. *JB
NHTSA complaint #10087776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY THE WINDSHIELDWIPERS BEGAN SLOWING DOWN AND THE CAR WAS LOSING POWER A NEW ALTERNATOR WAS INSTALLED A WEEK PRIOR WHEN I POPPED THE HOOD THERE WAS A SMELL OF BURNING WIRES AND THE WIRES COMING FROM THE CAR TO THE ALTERNATOR WERE COMPLETELY MELTED, AND THERE WAS NO CONNECTION TO THE ALTERNATOR. THE TERMINAL WAS REPLACED AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS ALSO REPLACED, I DROVE 45 MILES FROM THE SHOP TO MY HOUSE AND CHECK UNDER THE HOOD THE CABLE ENTERING THE ALTERNATOR HAD ALREADY BEGAN TO MELT AND BUBBLE.
NHTSA complaint #10067760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE IGNITION SWITCH EXPERIENCED AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE NOT STARTING. RECALL 96V071000 WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10071441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CLASS ACTION FOR FORD TFI MODULE IN FORD TEMPO. *PH THE CONSUMER WAS REIMBURSED FOR THE REPLACEMENT TFI MODULE, HOWEVER HE WAS NOT REIMBURSED FOR THE LABOR AND TOWING BECAUSE THE COST WAS NOT LISTED ON THE INVOICE, BUT IT WAS ON THE PREVIOUS INVOICE WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE IGNITION SWITCH, IT WAS SOON DISCOVERED THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT THE PROBLEM WHEN THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN THE NEXT DAY. *JB
NHTSA complaint #10055466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
SMELLED HOT WIRE SMELL WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. NOTICED 1 INCH FLAME IN LEFT AIRVENT WHICH GREW TO 5 INCHES WHEN STOPPED CAR. UNHOOKED BATTERY, POURED LIQUID OVER DASHBOARD WHICH WAS ON FIRE, CLOSED DOOR, WAITED FOR FIRETRUCK. I THINK IT STARTED IN HEADLIGHT SWITCH. CAR TOTALED, MOST OF DASH BURNT AWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10052515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1993 Ford Tempo
Hemingway, SC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
BECAUSE I'M NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REPAIR MY CAR. I'VE PUT ALOT OF MONEY IN MY CAR AND I'M STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. FROM IT CUTTING OFF WHEN I STOP TO CONSTANTLY HAVING TO GET MY ROTORS TURN . I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW CAN I GET HELP? THEY DON'T EVEN SEND ME RECALL NOTICES. I WAS SURFING THE NET TONIGHT AND MOST OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE WITH MY CAR IT'S LISTED IN THE RECALL LIST.MY CAR IS A 1993 FORD TEMPO.PLEASE HELP ME AS SOON AS YOU CAN BEFORE I HAVE A MAJOR ACCIDENT( MY BRAKES ACT LIKE THEY DON'T WONT TO STOP).THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME OUT. SINCERELY [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10033227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
SINCE 2000, MY 1989 FORD TEMPO HAD BROKEN DOWN FOUR TIMES, TWICE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. EACH TIME, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ALTERNATOR, AND I HAD IT REPLACED. NOW, IN APRIL OF 2003, THE ALTERNATOR IS ABOUT TO DIE YET AGAIN. MY CAR HAS 99,000 MILES AND IS DRIVEN LESS THAN 10,000 MILES PER YEAR. FIVE ALTERNATORS IN THREE YEARS IS NOT FROM NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON A CAR. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE FORD TEMPO SYSTEM THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. AND I SEE FROM OTHER FILED COMPLAINTS I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10013933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR FROM BURDINES HIALEAH PARKING LOT, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SMOKING AND I PULLED INTO THE FIRST PARKING SPOT THAT I SAW. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, BUT THE SMOKE CONTINUED TO INCREASE AND FINALLY THE STEERING WHEEL CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE SECURITY GUARD IN THE PARKING LOT USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO KILL THE FIRE AND THE HIALEAH FIRE DEPART. WAS ALSO CALLED AND CAME IN. WHEN I CALLED MY MECHANIC REGARDING THIS ISSUE, HE TOLD ME IT WAS WEIRD, BECAUSE HE NEVER HEARD OF A STEERING WHEEL CATCHING FIRE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AT THE MECHANIC. ONCE I CAME HOME, I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION. I CALLED FORD THE NEXT DAY AND REPORTED WHAT HAPPENED, THEY AGREED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. THEY TOLD ME NOT TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED UNTIL THEY TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND INVESTIGATE. IN THE MEANTIME, I HAD TO BORROW A CAR BECAUSE FORD REFUSED TO LEND ME A CAR TO GO TO WORK. IT TOOK THEM APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK TO GET BACK TO ME AND THEY CALLED ME TO TELL ME THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE TO HAVE THE CAR FIX AS THEY HAD SENT VIA MAIL SOME RECALL NOTICES. I TOLD THEM THAT I NEVER RECEIVED THESE NOTICES AND THAT I MOVED TO FLORIDA 3 YEARS AGO AND NEVER GOT ANYTHING FROM THEM. I FURTHER EMPHASIZED THAT IF I DID GET THE NOTICE I WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY TAKEN MY CAR TO A FORD DEALER SINCE IT WOULD NOT HAVE COST ME A DIME. THEIR REPRESENTATIVE COULD NOT CARE LESS. SHE TOLD ME THAT FAR AS FORD IS CONCERNED THAT THE FIRE WAS MY FAULT AND THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE AND WOULD NOT HELP/ASSIST WITH THE EXPENSIVE OF REPAIRING THE CAR. IN ANTICIPATION THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO FIND AN AGENCY THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME RECUPERATE MY LOSSES, I RETAINED IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR ALL THE BURNED PARTS INCLUDING THE STEERING WHEEL IN OF THE OF CHANCE THAT I MAY FIND SOME HELP.
NHTSA complaint #10010415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED, THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE IGNITION.
NHTSA complaint #10006832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.