1987 Ford Tempo Problems & Complaints

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY SPEED WHEN ENGINE IS HOT. DEALER HAS REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS, INCLUDING FUEL PUMP. BUT IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK *YH

THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR WHEN STARTING DUE TO TFI MODULE FAILURE. *YH

THE VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING MAKING BRAKING AND STEERING MORE DIFFICULT, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE SOLVED, ON ONE OCCASION THE DRIVE STRUCK A UTILITY POLE AND DAMAGED THE VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE MAKING A TURN.

THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT NOTICE DURING SEVERAL DIFFERENT SCENARIOS AND THE BRAKING AND STEERING BECOME DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS, INCLUDING THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND ALTHOUGH THE STALLING WAS EVEIDENT, NO ONE COUL;D CLARIFY WHY AND HOW TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I AM REPROTING THIS PROBLEM ON BEHALF OF MY ELDERLY MOTHER, WHO HAS HAD THIS STALLING PROBLEM SINCE SHE PURCHASED THIS USED VEHICLE AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANYONE TO SUCCESSFULLY REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE TEMPO IS HER ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND SHE HAS HAD TO COPE WITH THE STALLING PROBLEMS BECAUSE SHE CAN NOT AFFORD A NEW VEHICLE. SHE RECENTLY STRUCK A UTILITY POLE WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE SHE WAS MAKING A TURN AND DAMAGED HER VEHICLE. SHE DESPARATELY NEEDS SOME ASSISTANCE IN HAVING FORD MAKE HER VEHICLE SAFE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AT THEIR 1.800.392.3673 NUMBER AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE BY THE NAME OF SELVIN, WHO BASICALLY SAID THAT FORD WILL NOT VOLUNTARILY DO ANYTHING TO ASSIST AT THIS TIME AND HE WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL CONTACT INFORMATION. PLEASE HELP!*AK

ALTERNATOR REBUILT AND BOUGHT FROM ADVANCE AUTO PARTS. THIS WAS THE SECOND ALTERNATOR WITH PROBLEMS, THE FIRST WAS TAKEN BACK AND THIS ONE THE MECHANIC REPLACED AND SAID THAT WHO DOES ADVANCE'S REBUILDING ISN'T THAT GREAT. THE TIME AND MONEY SPENT FOR THEIR REJECT ALTERNATOR'S IS UNJUST. THE RED LIGHT INDICATOR STAYED ON UNTIL THIS NEW ALTERNATOR WAS PUT IN.*AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING OFF AND ON SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, NUMEROUS REPAIRS. CANNOT REMEDY.*AK

I AM FINANCIALLY OBLIGATED TO PAST DUE BILLS; HOWEVER I AM TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE CAR PROBLEMS, I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY RECALL ON THIS CAR! AS MENTIONED I WAS GIVEN A FINE OF $50.00 FOR EXPIRED TAGS BY ABOUT A WEEK; I WOULD HAVE WENT TO MVA IF GIVEN A WARNING FOR RENEWAL! WITH ALL OF THE EXPENSES IN A CAR IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET SOME WORK DONE WITHOUT BEING INDEBTED TO A HIGH PRICED MECHANIC? ECONOMICS SHOULD NOT PLAY A PART FOR SAFETY OF A CAR; SHOULD HAVE WAYS TO HELP ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED. PLEASE READ OUT OF CONCERN AND NOT TO BE USED AGAINST ME BUT FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND TO HELP OTHERS WHO WANT A SAFE VEHICLE BUT CAN'T AFFORD ALL OF THE HIGH BILLS.F. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED . *AK

WHILE DRIVING INTO A DRIVEWAY TIE ROD: INNER BROKE OUT OF GEAR BOX, CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING. FORD HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK

CAR WONT RESTART AFTER IT HAS BEEN DRIVIN AND OR STOPPED AT IDLE SPEED. CAUSING ME TO BE STRANDED CONTINUALLY. FORD MOTOR WAS SUPPOSE TO FIX THE FUEL PUMP , BUT INSTEAD REPLACED TFI SWITCH AND TWO OTHER SENSORS , BUT AM STILL HAVING SAME SYMTOMS SENT CAR BACK AND NOW THEY TELL ME ITS THE FUEL PUMP WICH IS WHY I TOOK THE CAR TO THEM TO BEGIN WITH.. THEN I HERE ON THE NEWS ABOUT THIS TFI SWITCH THAT FORD MOTOR CHARGED ME AN ARM A LEG AND A FOOT FOR 640.00... I SEE A COVER UP OR SOMTHING IS NOT RIGHT AT MY EXPENSE.. NOT TO MENTION THE STEARING PROBLEMS AND THE BRAKE FAILURE.. AND NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS NEVER AGAIN WILL I TRUST FORD.AND I CURRENTLY HAVE A COMPLAINT FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MY STATE WE WANT OUR MONEY BACK AND OUR CAR FIXED RIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING I HAVE SUNK 700 PLUS ANOTHER 400 FOR BAKES ON A CAR THAT ONLY HAD 40.000 MILES WHEN I PURCHASED IT FROM A FAMILY MEMBER.*AK

FUEL PUMP FAILED. MJS

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED STALLING CONDITIONS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION MODULE. MJS

TRANSMISSION FAILED. MJS

MY CAR STARTED ACTING UP 1ST BY CUTTING OUT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE, THE IT WOULD REV UP,AND THEN COMPLETELY QUIT. THEN WHEN I TRIED TO START IT THE TACHOMETER WOULD SPIN AROUND BACKWARDS. AFTER SETTING FOR A FEW HOURS IT WOULD START AND MAYBE RUN FINE FOR A FEW DAYS. THEN PROBLEM 2 HAPPENED. MY HORN STARTED BEEPING FOR NO REASON AND I HAD TO TAKE THE FUSE OUT. THE CAR WILL NOT START AT ALL NOW. WE HAVE CHANGED THE COMPUTER BRAIN AND THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU SHUT THE DOOR THE HORN BEEPS WITH NO FUSE IN THE FUSE BOX. WE ARE NOW THINKING IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. HOW CAN THIS PROBLEM BE FIXED, OR EVEN NARROWED DOWN TO SEE IF THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

THICK FILM IGNITION MODULE AND DIST STATOR FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING.

BRAKES FAILED. MJS

IDLE SPEED CONTROL ACTUATOR AND VALVE FAILED. MJS

ECM, VALVE COVER GASKET AND THERMOSTAT FAILED. MJS

WHILE TRAVELING REAR SUBFRAME MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE, CAUSING ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO DROP, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

TRANSMISSION IS FAILING TO OPERATE PROPERLY. VEHICLE MAKING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING INTO HIGH GEAR. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK

ENGINE FAILED CAUSING FIRE. OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT.

ENGINE FIRE DESTROYED CAR(OHIO STATE POLICE)

EGR SENSORS FAILED CAUSING STALLING

VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY LOSES POWER/STALLS.

FILLED UP A QUARTER OF A TANK OF 87 OCTANE, SOON AFTER, VEHICLE STRUGGLED TO IDLE/STALLED. SUBSEQUENTLY, FILLED UP WITH GAS AT ANOTHER STATION AND VEHICLE RAN BETTER. HAD TO ADD GAS FOR TREATMENT FOR VEHICLE TO RUN NORMALLY. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES CONTINUED STALLING, UNABLE TO RECTIFY OR FIND FAULTY COMPONENT.

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 10-15 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER VEHICLE STALLED OUT. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STARTED UP. OWNER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE DIES WHEN COMING TO A STOP, AND WHEN TURNING A CORNER. OWNER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT STARTED TO STALL. WHEN OWNER PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT TOOK ONLY 15MIN FOR THE WHOLE VEHICLE TO BURN DOWN. *AK

SEAT FRAME CRACKED, ALSO SLIDE RAIL SUPPORTS CRACKED.

THE SPRING THAT SUPPORTS THE SEAT CUSHIONS WERE CUTTING THROUGH THE MATERIAL AROUND THEIR ATTACHMENT HOLES.

AT A STOP WHEN THE ALTERNATOR STARTED TO SMOKE THE CONSUMER UNPLUGGED THE ALTERNATOR AND THE SMOKING STOPPED. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN DETAIL *AK

AT A STOP LIGHT THE CAR STALLED AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE. *AK

CAR WAS PARKED AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE SWITCH APPARENTLY FAILED ,GAS WAS PUMPED INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUMES MADE THEIR WAY BACK INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, THESE FUMES ENCOUNTERED THE SWITCH WHICH MUST HAVE BEEN PUTTING OUT A SPARK, THE FIRE MOVED FROM THE TOP RIGHT STEERING COLUMN TO THE RIGHT TOWARD THE OUTLET FOR THE GAS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO SUSTAIN THIS FIRE, THE FUEL PUMP RAN UNTIL THE ELECTRICIAL SYSTEM SHORTED BETWEEN THE FUEL PUMP AND THE BATTERY.*JB

WHILE DRIVING THE WIRING UNDER THE DASH CONNECTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN BURNT OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK

MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED.

STEERING WHEEL FAILED.

WHILE DRIVING INTO PARKING LOT, VEHICLE'S RIGHT FRONT CAUGHT ON FIRE, UNDERHOOD; ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, EXACT CAUSE UNKOWN. *AK

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT.

REAR BRAKE ADJUSTER FAILURE, THE REAR ADJUSTERS FALL OUT OF POSTION, PE96-005A. *AK

REAR BRAKE ADJUSTER FAILURE, THE REAR ADJUSTERS FALL OUT OF POSTION, PE96-005A. *AK

IGNITION SYSTEM FAILED.

REAR BRAKE SHOES FAILED.

FUEL PUMP/FILTER FAILED.

WHEEL CYLINDERS FAILED. DH

EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING HARNESS FIRE IN DASH FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK

BURNING ODOR PRIOR TO RECALL. *SD

WHILE DRIVEN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. OWNER STATED IGNITION SWITCH WAS CAUSE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVEN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. OWNER STATED IGNITION SWITCH WAS CAUSE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK

UPON STARTING, SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT OF STEERING COLUMN, VEHICLE INTERIOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE ON THE WIRING AT THE FIREWALL. *AK

AFTER PARKED A FEW MINUTES, VEHICLE IGNITED RIGHT AWAY W/FIRE CONSUMED AND TOTALED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

AFTER STARTING AND DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE, STEERING COLUMN SMOKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, MELTING COLUMN AND DASHBOARD. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FIRE, ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *AK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FIRE, ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *AK

ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE INGITION SWITCH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE. *AK

ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE INGITION SWITCH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE. *AK

MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER IS ONLY A SINGLE RESERVIOR, SHOULD BE DUAL. *SD

THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT START, DOES NOT WORK. TT

BOTH HEADLIGHTS EVEN THOUGH ILUMINATED PROJECTED TO LIGHTING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

UNDER THE HOOD ELECTRICAL FIRE WITH WIRING CONNECTOR THAT PLUGS INTO TOP OF ALTERNATOR. *AK

REAR WINDOW SHATTERED, CAUSING INJURY. *SKD

WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESS WAY, SUDDENLY ROAD DEBRIS FLEW UNDERNEATH VEHICLE, WHICH SLIT GAS TANK CAUSING GASOLINE TO LEAK ALL OVER ROAD WAY. TT

ENGINE STALLS WHILE STOPPED, DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEED, AND TURNING CORNERS; RPMS GOES UP/DOWN WITHOUT APPLYING ACCELERATOR; COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT. TT

WOULD ACCELERATE AT NORMAL SPEED AND THEN DROP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. TT

REPLACED STARTER MOTOR TWICE. *AK

REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP TWICE. *AK

TRANSMISSION MOUNTS FAILED, ALSO TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. *AK

REPLACED RADIATOR FAN MOTOR DUE TO A LEAK. *AK

PCV VALVE FAILED TWICE, CAUSING SURGING; ALSO REPLACED CANISTER PURGE/VACUUM RESISTOR/CONNECTOR SENSOR. *AK

REPLACED ALTERNATOR. *AK

REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS/ROTORS. *AK

REPLACED BATTERY. *AK

FRONT END STARTED SHAKING, CAUSING DRIVER TO JERK STEERING WHEEL, RESULTING IN LOSE OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT (NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE ACCIDENT REPORT). *AMK