Defect
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
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.
1988 Ford Tempo Recalls
Recalls on record Updated July 2026
The 1988 Ford Tempo has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 7,991,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 176 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
Defect
TWO ATTACHMENT SCREWS FOR THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS COULD LOOSEN AND BACK OUT.
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.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
17fires1deaths
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
4fires1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
4fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1crashes2fires1injuries1deaths
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
2fires
SEAT BELTS
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
Total complaints176
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Ack up.nmengine light comes on and motor dies. Starts right.”
“Ack up.nmengine light comes on and motor dies. Starts right.”
“Consumer is requesting free repairs to 1988 ford tempo gl's transmission and motor.*mr *nm”
“Consumer is requesting free repairs to 1988 ford tempo gl's transmission and motor.*mr *nm”
“Dt: the consumer stated she is having retraction problems with her seat belt. The seat belt is not retracting correctly from the lap belt, from the buckle to the door post. This is happening on the drivers side only. The seat belt is allowing too much webbing and not retracting all the way back…”
“While driving the vehicle stalled. *ak *nlm”
“The treads of the tire warped with only 10000 miles on it (firestone lemans radial at). *nlm shortly after the tire was changed a fire started under the hood. *nlm”
“The tread of the tire failed (bridgestone weather force tire). *nlm”
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 EA90042 Opened 1990-08-31 · closed 1991-12-31
THROTTLE STICKING
There is no summary currently available
Investigation EA91052 Opened 1991-11-27 · closed 1992-11-24
SEAT BELT SEPARATION
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 1988 Ford Tempo as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.