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1987 Ford TempoProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 53 owner complaints about the 1987 Ford Tempo, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 1 safety recall.

69
CarFlaw IndexOne of the best years54% below the Tempo median · #8 of 11 years by complaints
Safety recalls1Free fix at dealersOwner complaints5320 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem28Electrical system

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 4, 2002. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1987 Ford Tempo has problems

53 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system2815
Engine and engine cooling143
Fuel system, gasoline60
Steering50
Service brakes, hydraulic40
Power train30
Vehicle speed control20
Visibility11
Exterior lighting10
4 other systems41

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

1987 Ford Tempo recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

Recall 87V-060 · Apr 27, 1987 · 350 vehicles

Risk. WHEEL STUDS COULD FRACTURE CREATING A RISK OF A WHEELSEPARATING WITH LITTLE FOREWARNING.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.

Best & worst years

1987 vs. every other Tempo year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Tempo median. How we score

'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
6 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1987 Ford Tempo, and the recalls they led to.

  1. REAR BRAKE SYSTEM FAILUREDP96002 · closed Jan 19, 1996
    No recall
  2. FAILED PASSIVE RESTRAINTEA90008 · closed Dec 31, 1991
    No recall
  3. SEAT BELT SEPARATIONEA91052 · closed Nov 24, 1992
    No recall
  4. SPEED CONTROL MALFUNCTIONPE89118 · closed Sep 6, 1989
    No recall
  5. FUEL PUMP FAILUREPE91025 · closed Apr 10, 1991
    No recall
  6. REAR BRK ADJUSTER FAILUREPE96005 · closed May 28, 1996
    No recall
In owners' words

What Tempo owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

WHILE DRIVING INTO PARKING LOT, VEHICLE'S RIGHT FRONT CAUGHT ON FIRE, UNDERHOOD; ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, EXACT CAUSE UNKOWN. *AK
Complaint 985492 · Jul 26, 1996
AFTER STARTING AND DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE, STEERING COLUMN SMOKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, MELTING COLUMN AND DASHBOARD. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
Complaint 983042 · Apr 19, 1996
ENGINE STALLS WHILE STOPPED, DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEED, AND TURNING CORNERS; RPMS GOES UP/DOWN WITHOUT APPLYING ACCELERATOR; COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT. TT
Complaint 962730 · Mar 29, 1995

Own a 1987 Tempo?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.