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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 →
53Owner complaints

Model-year median: 30

1Recall campaigns

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6Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
14
198430
198531
198653
1987126
1988124
1989133
1990
Compare all Tempo years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
28Engine And Engine Cooling
14Fuel System, Gasoline
6Steering
5Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4
All reported categories
Power Train
3Vehicle Speed Control
2Exterior Lighting
1Seat Belts
1Seats
1Structure
1Suspension
1Visibility
1

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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 26, 1999
Electrical SystemSteeringVehicle Speed Control

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 …

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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.

NHTSA ODI #706894

Mileage unknown · May 13, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES FAILED. MJS

NHTSA ODI #545527

Official recalls

1

87V060000 · 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

6

PE96005 · 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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