IllustrationWHILE 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
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 reportsOWNER 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
MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED.
WOULD ACCELERATE AT NORMAL SPEED AND THEN DROP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. TT
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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