IllustrationVEHICLE 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
1987 Ford Tempo
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1987 Ford Tempo do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 30.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tempo years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 53 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports17 fire reports1 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
14 reportsTHE 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.
VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING OFF AND ON SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, NUMEROUS REPAIRS. CANNOT REMEDY.*AK
BRAKES FAILED. MJS
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.
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES CONTINUED STALLING, UNABLE TO RECTIFY OR FIND FAULTY COMPONENT.
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
Official recalls
187V060000 · Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Apr 27, 1987
LUG NUTS COULD GALL AND POSSIBLY SEIZE ON THE WHEEL STUDS WITHOUT PROVIDING ADEQUATE CLAMPING LOAD ON THE WHEELS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: WHEEL STUDS COULD FRACTURE CREATING A RISK OF A WHEELSEPARATING WITH LITTLE FOREWARNING.
Remedy: REPLACE WHEEL LUG NUTS AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE WHEELS AND WHEEL STUDS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
6PE96005 · Rear Brk Adjuster Failure
Opened Jan 19, 1996 · Closed May 28, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1984 - 1991 FORD TEMPO/MERCURY TOPAZ
DP96002 · Rear Brake System Failure
Opened Jan 11, 1996 · Closed Jan 19, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
EA91052 · Seat Belt Separation
Opened Nov 27, 1991 · Closed Nov 24, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
PE91025 · Fuel Pump Failure
Opened Dec 17, 1990 · Closed Apr 10, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA90008 · Failed Passive Restraint
Opened Dec 27, 1989 · Closed Dec 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
WE HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS REPORTS WHICH ALLEGE A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM.ADDITIONAL REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED TO RESTRAIN/ADEQUATELY PROTECT THE OCCUPANT DURING AN ACCIDENT
PE89118 · Speed Control Malfunction
Opened Apr 19, 1989 · Closed Sep 6, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
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