1993 Ford Tempo

TRANSMISSION MOUNT HAS SHEARED 4 TIMES SINCE 85,000 MILES EACH TIME RESULTING ONLY IN AN ANNOYING THUNK GOING INTO REVERSE EXCEPT THIS TIME WHEN IT SHEARED AT BOTTOM IT ALLOWED THE TRANSAXLE TO FALL DOWN 6 INCHES, FORCING PARK WHILE ACCELERATING, JAMMING THE CRANK PULLEY AND RIPPING OUT THE LEFT HALF SHAFT. I AM APPALLED THAT FORD WOULD NOT THINK OF A CATCH PLATE TO FIT UNDER THE MOUNT AREA FORWARD AND OR A SAFETY WIRE AROUND THE MOUNT'S TWO STUDS TO DISALLOW FALLING TO THE STREET LEVEL WHICH IT DID AT 5MPH ACCELERATING TO A INTERSECTION. THIS IS A KILLER FLAW AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU THINK OF RIPPING OUT A HALF SHAFT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND FORCING PARK MODE AND JAMMING THE CRANK PULLEY SO,AS TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND RPMS. I REALLY WISH THAT FORD WOULD FIX THIS CAR FOR FREE AS IT IS INEXCUSABLE THAT I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT TWICE A YEAR USING AFTERMARKET MFR FOR $35 WHEN FORD WANTS $91 FOR SAME AND EVEN THE OEM MOUNT RIPPED AT 85,000 MILES..BUT RIPPED AT THE TOP AREA WHICH WAS BENIGN IN SYMPTOMS. I AM DISGUSTED AT THIS DESIGN...MOUNT IS FITTED AT 75 DEGREES ANGLE AND ENGINE-TRANSAXLE HAS NO SAFETY CATCH PLATE OR SAFETY WIRE. PLEASE NOTE THAT SUDDEN SHEAR-TEAR OF THIS LIQUID FILLED RUBBER MOUNT IS LIFE-THREATENING IN NATURE !!!

4TH FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION MOUNT...OEM FAILED AT 85,000 MILES CAUSING THUMP IN REVERSE...NO REAL HAZARD...THREE AFTERMARKET MOUNTS ALSO SHEARED AND THE LAST ONE (M6056) SHEARED AT BOTTOM ALLOWING TRANSAXLE TO DROP NEAR TOUCHING THE ROAD SURFACE. I LOST A HALF SHAFT, SET PARK CONDITION AS A RESULT AT 5MPH, DAMAGED LEFT FRONT HALF SHAFT AND WEDGED THE ENGINE DAMPER PULLET TO BODY WALL. THIS WILL COST NEAR $2500 FIX. FORD SHOULD INSTALL A CATCH PLATE UNDER THE MOUNT OR A SAFETY WIRE AROUND THE MOUNT TO PREVENT SUDDEN DROP OF TRANSAXLE FROM REAR WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS IS POTENTIAL KILLER AND FATAL DEFECT. I AM APPALLED AT THE DESIGN OF SUCH MOUNT AND THE SLANT THAT FORD PUTS IT ON (75 DEGREES) WITH NO SAFETY CATCH PLATE UNDER IT. THIS SHOULD BE NOTED TO FORD AND IMMEDIATELY DISSEMINATED!

WHILE TRAVELING IN HOT TEMPERATURES IT WAS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL OUT APPROX\IMATELY EVERY 100 MILES. WHEN IT GOT HOTTER IT WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL OUT AGAIN AT APPROXIMATELY EVERY 50 MILES. TOOK VEHICLE TO A GAS STATION AND INSPECTED. REPAIRED BY REPLACING A TFI MODULE; PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. INSIDE TEMPERATURE GAUGES READ NORMAL. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT. *AK