42 consumer complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1986 Ford Tempo. Click any complaint to view the full owner description.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMNovember 4, 2011
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMDecember 14, 2005
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. *AK
Fire reported
NHTSA #10145189ELECTRICAL SYSTEMNovember 16, 2001
ON THE IGNITION PROBLEM, THE CAR DIED ON THE STATE HIGHWAY & I HAD TO GET TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. MY CAR WAS LAID UP FOR 16 DAYS. HE FINALLY FOUND OUT IT WAS THE IGNITION THAT WAS MALFUNCTIONING AFTER DOING A TROUBLESHOOTING START & STALLING CONDITION. IT COST ME 118.07 FO THE REPAIRS AND ANOTHER$30.00 FOR THE TOW. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM EVEN BEFORE YOU DID THE RECALL. AND I WISH I COULD GET COMPENSATED FOR THE EXPENSENSE,BUT YOU SAID ONLY TO 100,000 MILES. I DONT THINK THAT IS FAIR! ON THE DRIVE TRAIN, I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND THN LOST POWER TO THE TRAIN, AND I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR. HAD TO COAST OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENED ON EASTER SUNDAY,AND THE STATE POLICE STOPPED AND TOLD ME I HAD TO MOVE THE CAR OFF THE ROAD AND I COULD NOT LEAVE IT THERE. I AGAIN HAD TO GET TOWED! THE DRIVE AXLE COST ME $100.00. IT JUST FELL OFF THE CAR AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY BECAUSE THE PINS WERE STILL INTACT. IT SHOULD NEVER HAD COME APART LIKE IT DID THEY SAID. IT DID NOT BREAK! IT JUST CAME APART.*AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJanuary 4, 2001
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY, NO MATTER WHAT SPEED. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMOctober 17, 2000
BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE. THERE WERE THREE BATTERIES TESTED FROM PEP BOYS. *AK
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLMarch 24, 2000
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY SPEED VEHICLE COULD ACCELERATE, EVEN WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES. *AK
EXTERIOR LIGHTINGFebruary 24, 2000
HEADLIGHTS ARE MALFUNCTIONING. DEALER SAYS THAT IT'S THE LENS. BUT THEY ARE OUT OF STOCK, AND HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY'LL BE IN. OWNER CANNOT PASS THE STATE SAFETY INSPECTION WITHOUT IT. *AK *ML
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMOctober 21, 1999
CONSUMER WENT TO START UP CAR AND WENT BACK INTO THE HOUSE. CONSUMER CAME BACK OUT AND CAR WAS SMOKING'. CONSUMER SHUT OFF CAR. WENT BACK INSIDE, AND WHEN CONSUMER RETURNED, THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ON FIRE. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER YET. *AK
Fire reported
NHTSA #851402ELECTRICAL SYSTEMOctober 13, 1999
INTERMITTENT STALLING; CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A MALFUNCTIONING COMPUTER MODEL. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRS WERE MADE BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AT CONSUMER EXPENSE OF APPROXIMATELY $600.00. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE INFORMATION OR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEJuly 23, 1999
THE CAR EXCELLERATES ON ITS OWN/PEGS RPMS/THEN LUGS AND WONT RUN SMOOTHLY
POWER TRAINNovember 26, 1997
CV JOINT FAILED.
STEERINGNovember 26, 1997
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICNovember 26, 1997
BRAKE LINES/HOSES FAILED.
SUSPENSIONNovember 26, 1997
SHOCKS FAILED.
VISIBILITYOctober 15, 1997
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR SHORTED OUT, CAUSING THE FIRE. ALSO DASHBOARD MELTED. *AK
Fire reported
NHTSA #817107ELECTRICAL SYSTEMNovember 19, 1996
WHEN AT STOP SIGN AND MAKING A TURN THE CAR STALLS . PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
POWER TRAINSeptember 13, 1996
GEARS JUMPED FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE. PLEASE GIVE MORE INFORMATION. *AK
Fire reported
NHTSA #802352ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGAugust 12, 1996
ENGINE IDLES HIGH, LOSES POWER OVER 20 MPH, AND STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. *DH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICMay 23, 1996
REAR BRAKE ADJUSTER FAILURE, CAUSING PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. *DH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMMay 7, 1996
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DSH
Fire reported
NHTSA #504106SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICMay 6, 1996
HYDRAULIC BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMMay 4, 1996
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING ENGINE FIRE. *DSH
Fire reported
NHTSA #504248ELECTRICAL SYSTEMApril 30, 1996
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
Fire reported
NHTSA #983772PARKING BRAKEApril 30, 1996
REAR EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE STICKS, CAUSES EXCESSIVE BRAKE PAD WEAR. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMApril 30, 1996
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
Fire reported
NHTSA #983772PARKING BRAKEApril 30, 1996
REAR EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE STICKS, CAUSES EXCESSIVE BRAKE PAD WEAR. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMApril 29, 1996
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE IGNITION TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Fire reported
NHTSA #983710ELECTRICAL SYSTEMApril 29, 1996
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE IGNITION TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Fire reported
NHTSA #983710ELECTRICAL SYSTEMApril 22, 1996
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK CAUSED THE VEHICLE WIRES TO CATCH ON FIRE UNDER THE DASH WHILE PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
Fire reported
NHTSA #983243ELECTRICAL SYSTEMApril 19, 1996
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE, ELECTRICAL WIRES AROUND STEERING WHEEL CAUGHT FIRE.
Fire reported
NHTSA #983082STEERINGApril 19, 1996
POWER STEERING PUMP IS LEAKING POWER STERING FLUID UNTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFebruary 26, 1996
INTERIOR SYSTEM FIRE, IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE. *AK
Fire reported
NHTSA #979697ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFebruary 26, 1996
INTERIOR SYSTEM FIRE, IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE. *AK
Fire reported
NHTSA #979697VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLJanuary 29, 1996
CONSUMER PUT CAR INTO REVERSE AND CAR ACCELERATED AND HIT A HOUSE PURCHASE CAR USED . TT
Crash reported
NHTSA #978326TIRESSeptember 28, 1995
ALL TIRES REPLACED. *SD
POWER TRAINSeptember 28, 1995
TRANSMISSION COOLING PIPE LEAKS. *SD
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINESeptember 28, 1995
FUEL PUMP REPLACED. *SD
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGSeptember 28, 1995
INTERMITTENTLY STALLING. *SD
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICSeptember 28, 1995
BRAKES REPLACED. *SD
AIR BAGSApril 25, 1995
2 COLLISIONS AND THE AIRBAG HAS NEVER COME OUT. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
Crash reported
NHTSA #964277SEAT BELTSFebruary 15, 1995
DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT DOES NOT PROPERLY RETAIN DRIVER WHEN DRIVING DUE TO FRAYING AND TOO MUCH SLACK. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
SEATSFebruary 15, 1995
SEAT LATCHES FAILED, CAUSING DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS DURING ACCIDENT. *AW