1986 Ford Tempo Recalls

No recalls on record Updated July 2026

No NHTSA recalls on record for the 1986 Ford Tempo. That means NHTSA has no open safety campaign for this vehicle — it does not guarantee the absence of problems. Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
7
7fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
4
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
2
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2
1crashes
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1
1crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
1
Total complaints42

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Tl* the contact owns a 1986 ford tempo. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where they advised him that the ignition module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2007-11-01

“Dt: the contact stated when exiting the vehicle she smelled an odd odor. Upon reentering and staring the vehicle white smoke came from under the hood. When checking under the hood she saw flames coming out. She immediately called 911. The fire went out on its own before the fire department…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR · reported 2005-12-04

“Battery was defective. There were three batteries tested from pep boys. *ak”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY · reported 2000-08-01

“On the ignition problem, the car died on the state highway & I had to get towed to my mechanic. My car was laid up for 16 days. He finally found out it was the ignition that was malfunctioning after doing a troubleshooting start & stalling condition. It cost me 118.07 fo the repairs and…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION · reported 2000-04-24

“While driving about any speed vehicle could accelerate, even when stepping on the brakes. *ak”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · reported 2000-03-23

“Headlights are malfunctioning. Dealer says that it's the lens. But they are out of stock, and have no idea when they'll be in. Owner cannot pass the state safety inspection without it. *ak *ml”

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS · reported 1999-12-30

“Consumer went to start up car and went back into the house. Consumer came back out and car was smoking'. Consumer shut off car. Went back inside, and when consumer returned, the entire car was on fire. Consumer has not contacted the dealer yet. *ak”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING · reported 1999-10-21

“Vehicle stalls intermittently, no matter what speed. *ak”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION · reported 1998-01-01

Defect investigations

Investigation DP96002 Opened 1996-01-11 · closed 1996-01-19

REAR BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA86010 Opened 1986-03-26 · closed 1989-07-28

SEATBACK FAILURE

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:FORD BELIEVES THAT THE AL-LEGED DEFECT ONLY OCCURS IN A SMALL NUMBER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ANDRECALLED ABOUT 195,732 1984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986.ANALYSIS: VEHICLES POTENTIALLY INVOLVED INCLUDE TEMPO/TOPAZ, ESCORT/LYNX/EXP, MUSTANG/CAPRI, LTD/MARQUIS, AND…

Investigation EA89037 Opened 1989-09-06 · closed 1990-11-30

SPEED CNTRL MALFUNCTION

===

Investigation EA91052 Opened 1991-11-27 · closed 1992-11-24

SEAT BELT SEPARATION

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE87028 Opened 1987-05-01 · closed 1988-01-21

STALLING

NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN DETECTED.===

Investigation PE88034 Opened 1988-03-18 · closed 1988-09-19

HALFSHAFT FAILURE

SUMMARY:THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH EITHER A 2.3 LITER4 CYLINDER ENGINE OR A 2.0 LITER DIESEL ENGINE.THE TRANSAXLE MAY BEEITHER A 5 SPEED MANUAL OR A 3 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.THEHALFSHAFT ASSEMBLIES ARE IDENTICAL FOR AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL USE, BUT THERIGHT INTERCONNECTING SHAFT ON A DIESEL EQUIPPED…

Investigation PE89118 Opened 1989-04-19 · closed 1989-09-06

SPEED CONTROL MALFUNCTION

===

Investigation PE91025 Opened 1990-12-17 · closed 1991-04-10

FUEL PUMP FAILURE

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE91098 Opened 1991-07-12 · closed 1991-11-27

SAFETY BELT CUT AT WEBBING

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE96005 Opened 1996-01-19 · closed 1996-05-28

REAR BRK ADJUSTER FAILURE

1984 - 1991 FORD TEMPO/MERCURY TOPAZ

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1986 Ford Tempo as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.