RecallRepo

1987 Ford Tempo Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1987 Ford Tempo has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 350 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 79 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

WHEELS 87V060000 1987-04-27 350 affected
Defect

LUG NUTS COULD GALL AND POSSIBLY SEIZE ON THE WHEEL STUDS WITHOUT PROVIDING ADEQUATE CLAMPING LOAD ON THE WHEELS.

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.

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
11
10fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
10
3fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
7
3fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
7
1crashes1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
2
2fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
2
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2
Total complaints79

What owners report

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

“The vehicle would stall intermittently when stopped at a traffic light or when starting due to tfi module failure. *yh”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE · reported 2001-06-19

“Car wont restart after it has been drivin and or stopped at idle speed. Causing me to be stranded continually. Ford motor was suppose to fix the fuel pump , but instead replaced tfi switch and two other sensors , but am still having same symtoms sent car back and now they tell me its the fuel pump…”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP · reported 2000-03-20

“Thick film ignition module and dist stator failed causing vehicle to stall without warning.”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION · reported 1999-04-14

“Idle speed control actuator and valve failed. Mjs”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL · reported 1999-04-13

“Ecm, valve cover gasket and thermostat failed. Mjs”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE · reported 1999-04-13

“Ecm, valve cover gasket and thermostat failed. Mjs”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE · reported 1999-04-13

“Ecm, valve cover gasket and thermostat failed. Mjs”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY · reported 1999-04-13

“Brakes failed. Mjs”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS · reported 1999-03-05

Defect investigations

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

REAR BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA90008 Opened 1989-12-27 · closed 1991-12-31

FAILED PASSIVE RESTRAINT

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

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

SEAT BELT SEPARATION

There is no summary currently available

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 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 1987 Ford Tempo as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.