IllustrationVEHICLE FIRE DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.
1988 Ford Tempo
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Tempo years
Owner complaints for the 1988 Ford Tempo are substantially higher than 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: 3 of 126 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 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports35 fire reports8 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
50 reportsON THREE OCCASIONS THE ALTERNATOR HAS BURN OUT.*AK POWER CONNECTOR ON THE ALTERNATOR MELTED AND THE WHOLE ALTERNATOR AND CONNECTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD THIS ONLY AFFECTS THE 65 AMP ALTERNATOR MADE IN JAPAN.*JB
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL.
MALE PLUG ON THE BACK OF THE ALTERNATOR BURNT UP. PLUG IS A PART OF THE WIRING HARNESS. *AK
CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN IGNITION SWITCH. CAR WAS TOTALED. *AK CONSUMER STATES APPROXIMATELY 2 BLOCKS FROM HOME CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE AND THEN SAW SMOKE COMING UP FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, WENT APPROXIMATELY 100 TO 125 FEET STOPPED, HEARD A POPPING SOUND TURNED OFF KEY SAT IN VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES NOTHING HAPPENED, CONSUMER…
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CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN IGNITION SWITCH. CAR WAS TOTALED. *AK CONSUMER STATES APPROXIMATELY 2 BLOCKS FROM HOME CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE AND THEN SAW SMOKE COMING UP FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, WENT APPROXIMATELY 100 TO 125 FEET STOPPED, HEARD A POPPING SOUND TURNED OFF KEY SAT IN VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES NOTHING HAPPENED, CONSUMER WENT TO A HOME ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF STREET TO CALL LOCAL FORD GARAGE, A FEW MINUTES LATER THE NEIGHBOR INFORMES CONSUMER THAT SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF DOOR AND WENT BACK TO PHONE TO INFORM GARAGE THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE THE CAUSE WAS THE IGNITION SHORTED OUT IN WHICH THERE WAS AN IGNITION SWITCH RECALL ACCORDING TO DEALER BUT CONSUMER STATES HE WAS NEVER INFORMED.*JB
DROVE TO STORE, RETURNED HOME, NOTICED BRAKE LIGHT STILL ON, CHECKED UNDERNEATH AND BUNDLE OF WIRES WAS SMOKING, UNPLUGGED BRAKE SWITCH, WIRES OVERHEATED. *AK CONSUMER HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND REPAIR WIRES THEY MELTED TOGETHER, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE SWITCH WIRE HAD MELTED TOGETHER CAUSING A HOT SHORT.*JB
CONSUMER PARKED, THE CAR CUT OFF AND CAR STARTED IT UP AND HIT A TRUCK.*AK CONSUMER STATES WHENSHE CAME OUT OF STORE SHE COULD NOT FIND HER VEHICLE, SHE STATES SOMEONE TOLD HER THAT VEHICLE STARTED UP WENT BACKWARDS MADE A U-TURN, THE BACK OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE.*JB
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL. *SD
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE. *SD
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION, CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO CATCH ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Official recalls
296V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
88V024000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Mar 1, 1988
TWO ATTACHMENT SCREWS FOR THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS COULD LOOSEN AND BACK OUT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF BOTH SCREWS COME OUT, SENSORS COULD DISENGAGE FROMTHE THROTTLE SHAFT, PREVENTING RETURN OF THE THROTTLE FROM MID POSITION.
Remedy: REPLACE ATTACHMENT SCREWS WITH SCREWS WITH PRE APPLIED ADHESIVE THAT WILL BE TIGHTENED TO A HIGHER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.
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
5PE96005 · 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
EA90042 · Throttle Sticking
Opened Aug 31, 1990 · Closed Dec 31, 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