1990 FORD Tempo Problems & Complaints

CAR HAS REPEATABLE PROBLEM OF NOT STARTING...HAVE HAD IT TOWED, DUE TO THIS, NUMEROUS TIMES, SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO GET IT FIXED, ETC. ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT IT HAS TWO IGNITION DEFECTS...POTENTIALLY... SINCE THE CAR WAS NOT NEW WHEN I BOUGHT IT 3 YEARS AGO, I HAVE NO RECOURSE BUT TO BEAR THE COST OF REPAIRS MYSELF. I AM OUTRAGED THAT FORD GOT AWAY WITH NOT RECALLING THESE VEHICLES!!!

JUST AFTER PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE . HE OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE TOP OF THE ALTERNATOR PLUG WAS BURNING FOLLOWED BY WIRING BURNING ACROSS TO THE BATTERY. THE TERMINAL BLOCK ON THE LEFT FENDER BEGAN BURNING AND MELTING. *JB *NM

96 V 071 000/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IGNITION: VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OR WHILE PULLING OFF FROM A STOP POSITION. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL. BUT, DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL. *AK *SLC

I HAD TO HAVE MY IGNITION MODUAL REPLACED BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD STALL ON ME WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I READ IN THE PAPER TODAY THAT FORD IS FIGHTING THE RECALL ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM. I HAVE E-MAILED FORD IN HOPES OF RECTIFING THIS SITUATION, BUT THOUGHT I WOULD ALSO CONTACT YOU FOR HELP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.*AK

GENERATOR IGNITED A SPARK, AND COATING ON ROOF CAUGHT ON FIRE. MECHANIC SAID THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THER WAS PROBLEM WITH HARNESS CONNECTOR. CONSUMER FELT ITS WAS A MANUFACTURER' DEFECT. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR SEAT BELT WITHOUT PAYMENT. *AK

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 9-29-01. A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I HIT THE FRONT OF MY CAR INTO THE LEFT FRONT (PASSANGERS) CORNER PANEL. THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN TOTALED HAD I HAD FULL COVERAGE. THE SEATBELT IS AN AUTOMATIC SEATBELT, SO WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED ON, THE SEAT BELT AUTOMATICALLY COMES BACK ON THE DOOR. WELL, THAT DAY IN THE ACCIDENT, THE SEATBELT NEVER LOCKED, THE TOP DIDNT, THE AUTOMATIC PART. WHAT SAVED ME FROM HITTING THE WINDSHEILD WAS THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE LAP BELT. I KNOW HAVE LUMPS IN MY BREAST THAT WONT GO AWAY FROM BOUNCING OFF THE STEERING WHEEL. I DONT HAVE A JOB AND THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT. I STILL AND WILL AWALYS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY UPPER BACK, CHEST AND NECK FROM BOUNCING OFF THE STEERING WHEEL. AND YES, I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL RIGHT AFTER THE ACCIDENT IN AN AMBULENCE ON A STRETCHER. I CONTACTED FORD THROUGH THEIR WEB SITE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SEATBELTS AND THEY SAID THEYC OULNT COME UP WITH ANYTHING CAUSE OF THE YEAR OF THE CAR. AS FOR THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR, I AM UNSURE, I KNOW IT HAD HIGH MILEAGE. ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT OR LESS THAN THAT, I HAD TO SELL THE CAR, I COULDNT AFFORD TO KEEP IT IN STORAGE AND I WASNT ALLOWED TO HAVE IT LIKE IT WAS AT MY APARTMENT. THANK YOU. *AK

ARE MY DEFECTIVE SEATBELTS (DRIVER'S SIDE CLASP DOES NOT WORK) COVERED AND WHERE DO I GET THEM REPLACED?

CONSUMER HAD BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. WHEN OPENING THE DOOR RETRACTOR WON'T MOVE.*AK

SHOULDER BELT ON DRIVER'S SEAT DOESN'T WORK. WHEN CONSUMER TRIES USING THE SHOULDER BELT ALL THAT HE HEARS IS THE MOTOR RUNNING. THE CONSUMER THINKS THE SEATS ARE OFF TRACK. ALSO, PASSENGER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT IS STUCK IN THE FRONT, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS STUCK IN THE BACK. *AK

VEHICLE HAS HAD FIVE SETS OF BRAKES INSTALLED. MJS

REAR BRAKES FAILED THREE TIMES DUE TO UNEVEN WEAR.

IN ORDER TO BRAKE, PUMPING THE PEDAL IS SOMETIMES REQUIRED. BRAKES SEEM TO FADE. REAR BRAKE ADJUSTERS ARE NOT WORKING.*AK *JB

REAR BRAKE ADJUSTERS FAILED, CAUSING REAR BRAKE FAILURE.

REAR BRAKE ADJUSTERS REPLACED 3 TIMES. *SD

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY ALTERNATOR BELT SNAPPED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

VEHICLE CUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING, BUT IT WILL START BACK UP AGAIN. ALSO, CONSUMER CAN HEAR IT WHEN IT IS GETTING READY TO CUT, WHICH GIVES HER TIME TO APPLY BRAKES AND PULL TO SIDE OUT OF TRAFFIC.*AK

CONSUMER STATES AS SHE WAS DRIVING, VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL, SHE THEN PULLED OVER AND THAT IS WHEN SHE SAW THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, POSSIBLY ENGINE RELATED.(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT#10-90-330)*JB

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE PROBLEM STARTED IN 7/99 AND CONTINUES 9/00. AT APPROX. 65 MILES PER HOUR WITH TEMPERATURE AT 85 DEGREES + THE ENGINE CUTS OUT(STOPS). THIS MEANS NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. WE ARE SENIOR CITIZENS AND HAVE ALMOST BEEN KILLED ON THE FREEWAY 6 TIMES. THE LAST TIME AN 18 WHEELER ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND JUST MISSED A SCHOOL BUS LOADED WITH KIDS. WE NOW DO NOT LEAVE HEMET WHERE WE DRIVE 45MPH AND GET ANYWHERE IN 20 MINUTES. MY FAMILY MUST VISIT US OR COME AND PICK US UP. WE HAVE REPLACED THE TFI MODULE WITH A NEW FORD PART FOR $130 AT PEP BOYS A LOCAL REPAIR CHAIN. THERE ARE NO TESTS TO DISCOVER A FAILING COMPONENT. PLEASE HELP BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE FREEWAY THAT MAY NOT BE AS GOOD A DRIVER AS MY WIFE AND I.*AK

CONSUMER SLOWED DOWN TO TURN A CORNER AND VEHICLE STOPPED IN ITS TRACKS.ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH STEERING. CONSUMER INDICATED TIRES WERE STUCK IN TURNING POSITION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING HOME, TURNED INTO DRIVEWAY, AFTER ARRIVING AT HOUSE, FRONT STEERING TIE ROD (INSIDE) WAS SHEARED/BROKE OFF, COVERED W/RUBBER BOOT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING HOME, TURNED INTO DRIVEWAY, AFTER ARRIVING AT HOUSE, FRONT STEERING TIE ROD (INSIDE) WAS SHEARED/BROKE OFF, COVERED W/RUBBER BOOT. *AK

BEARING THAT HOLDS THE STEERING COLUMN IN POSITION FELL APART IN THE STEERING ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT . TT

STEERING FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *DH

THE TREAD ON ALL FOUR TIRES SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH (KELLY METRIC RADIAL SIZE 18570R14). PLEASE PROVIDE THE DOT NUMBER. *NLM

TWO TIRES FAILED. MJS

TWO TIRES FAILED. MJS

TWO TIRES FAILED. MJS

RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAUGHT FIRE. *DH

LIGHT LENSES HAVE TURNED FROM CLEAR TO WHITE AND NO LONGER FOCUS THE BEAM AHEAD, LIGHT LENES ARE MADE FROM PLASTIC, SUSPECT THAT UV PROTECTION PROVIDED ON OUTSIDE SURFACE TO PROTECT PLASTIC FROM SUNLIGHT AND NOT ALSO TO THE INSIDE SURFACE TO PROTECT LIGHT FROM UV RAYS GIVEN OFF BY QUARTZ BULBS. THIS PROBLEM WAS ALSO ON AN 85 TEMPO AND SEEMS TO BE ON MANY OTHER CARS. NLM

PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENS HAS BECOME DISCOLORED, CAUSING BRIGHTNESS OF HEADLIGHTS TO BE EXTREMELY DIM. *AK *JB

THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS BARELY PROVIDE ENOUGH LIGHT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. THE GLASS IS VERY FOGGY AND MOISTURE SEEMS TO COLLECT IN THEM. I HAVE HAD THE BULBS REPLACED BUT THIS DOES NOT HELP TO LIGHT THE ROADWAYS. CAN FORD FIX THIS PROBLEM? THANK YOU.

THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHTS HAVE BECOME CLOUDED CUTTING DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY ON THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT THAT PASSES THROUGH. HAVE NOTICED THIS ON A LOT OF CARS. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO SEALED BEAM HEADLIGHTS? AREN'T THERE HEADLIGHT LENS TRANSPARENCY STANDARDS? *AK

REPLACED HEADLIGHTS DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING OF THE BRIGHTS AT NIGHT.

WINDOW WIPER MOTOR FAILED. MJS

WINDOW WIPER MOTOR FAILED. MJS

WINDOW WIPER MOTOR FAILED. MJS

WINDSHIELD BROKE. (ANN ARBOR POLICE REPORT)

TRANSMISSION FAILED RESULTING IN SLIPPAGE.

LINKING TRANSMISSION OIL, CAUSING TO BLOW THE CEIL.

TRANSMISSION LEAK. *AK

REPLACED TRANSAXLE. *AK

WHILE IN REVERSE POSITION AND FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE ACCERLATED TO 60 MPH, CRASHING INTO A HOME AND BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT WORK, CAUSING INJURIES AND DAMAGES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THIS PROBLEM. *AK

1) VEHICLE WILL STALL AT ANYTIME WITH NO WARNING DUE TO POSSIBLE THROTTLE FAILURE. 2) REAR BRAKE STAR WHEEL FAILS . TT

REPLACED TPS.

FRONT SEAT BACKS COLLAPSED DURING COLLISION, CAUSING INJURIES.

INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL AND REAR IMPACT. AFTER BEING HIT FROM THE FRONT THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S FRONT SEATBACKS GAVE OUT(COLLAPSED) AND WENT BACK INTO THE UPRIGHT POSITION AND CAUSED DRIVER TO HIT HIS FACE ON STEERING WHEEL; THE PASSENGER'S SEAT REMAINED WHERE IT WAS, PINNING THE PASSENGER'S LEGS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED BACKREST ADJUSTMENT GEAR FAILURE, WHEN DRIVER'S BACKREST COLLASPED AT APPROX. 25MPH, DRIVER RECLINED REARWARD. *AK

BRAKE ADJUSTERS FAILED 3 TIMES CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE

FIVE SET OF BRAKE INSTALLED, THREE WERE SEMI-METALLIC BRAKE SHOES.

BRAKE LIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE,. WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKES BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON. ALSO, STOPPING DISTANCE HAS INCREASED. *AK

WHILE AT A STOP SIGN ANOTHER DRIVER PULLED ALONG SIDE OF CONSUMER AND STATED THAT BRAKE LIGHTS WERE OUT. CONSUMER PRESSED BRAKE PEDAL, AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE AT A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT, VEHICLE STALLS AT TAKE OFF. PAINT IS PEELING OFF OF VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE TFI IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED AFTER ONE INCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START BUT DID NOT HELP THE PROBLEM, VEHICLE SURGES FOWARD AT TIMES, IT CAN MOVE FOWARD UP AN INCLINE WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR.*JB

WHILE DRIVING STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE GAS PEDAL STUCK. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE, VEHICLE WOULD TURN OFF ,CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND THEY INSPECTED IT, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DETRATEAL SENSOR WAS BAD, WHICH WAS CASUING VEHICLE TO STALL, CONSUMER GOT THE THROTTLE FIXED AND LATER THERE WAS A RECALL AND WHEN CONSUMER REQUESTED HIS MONEY BACK DEAKER ADVISED HIM THEY COULD NOT GO THAT FAR BACK INTO COMPUTER.*JB

THE CAR STALLS CONSTANTLY - WHEN YOUR AT A STOP THE CAR WILL STALL OR FALTER

REPLACED FUEL PUMP.

1.) ROUGH IDLE, AND OIL LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON WHEN IDLING AND ONLY GOES OFF WHEN ACCELERATING, BUT OFTEN STALLS OUT, AND DOESN'T WANT TO RE-START. (HAD OIL CHANGED TWICE TO GET EXCESS GAS OUT OF IT FROM TRYING TO START IT.) HAD TO TOW CAR THREE TIMES. PAID $1,000 TO TRY TO GET IT FIXED, BUT ON THE WAY HOME IT DID THE SAME THING. 2.) COOLING FAN QUIT WORKING AND CAR OVERHEATED AND I PAID TO HAVE THE RADIATOR REPLACED, AS PETCOCK WAS LEAKING. MECHANIC DIDN'T NOTICE THAT FAN WASN'T WORKING, SO IT OVERHEATED ON THE WAY HOME WITH A NEW RADIATOR. I FIGURED THAT OUT. ONCE THE FAN WAS REPLACED WITH A WORKING FAN, NO MORE OVERHEATING. AFTER-MARKET RADIATOR WAS BIGGER THAN THE ORIGINAL, CAUSING THE AT FLUID LINE TO GET SAWED OFF BY THE PULLEY 3 TIMES, BEFORE SOMEONE JUST PLUGGED THE LINE AND INSTALLED A SEPARATE AT FLUID "MINI RADIATOR TYPE" COOLER. 3.) TRANSMISSION DRAGS; CAR HAS JUST OVER 70,000 MILES ON IT. HAS REPEATABLE PROBLEM WHEN STARTING OUT AND SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, USUALLY JERKING FORWARD WHEN IT SHIFTS. PUTTING CAR INTO DRIVE AFTER STARTING IT USUALLY ENDS UP IN THE CAR STALLING, AND THE IDLE IS DIFFERENT WHEN IT'S IN GEAR THAN WHEN IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. 4.) I RECEIVED A NOTICE ABOUT A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT REGARDING A DEFECTIVE TFI MODULE, BUT EVERY MECHANIC I SPOKE WITH SAID THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM, BUT THE NOTICE SAID THAT A BAD TFI MODULE WOULDN'T NECESSARILY ALWAYS MAKE THE CAR STALL WHEN IT'S GOING BAD, JUST SOMETIMES. STALLED IN RUSH HOUR ONCE. 5.) THE DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT QUIT WORKING, WHICH CAUSED THE PLASTIC GUIDE FOR THE BELT TO BREAK, AND WHEN I WENT TO FORD TO TRY TO GET THE PART, THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE IT WAS, AND SAID THAT THEY WEREN'T PLANNING TO HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE AFTER 2002 ANYWAY. OFTEN, I ABOUT GOT STRANGLED, AS DID OTHERS WHO RODE IN MY TEMPO, WHEN WE OPENED THE DOOR TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. 6.)FROM THE CAR OVERHEATING, THE FINISH ON THE HOOD IS PEELING AND CRACKING. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING 40MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, ENGINE STALLED, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP RESULTING IN A COLLISION, WHICH TOTALED VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT VEHICLE SHUT OFF 4 TIMES, DEALER REPLACED BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, PLUGS/WIRES, AND STARTER BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

REPLACED SEATBELT AND THEY DO THE SAME THING LOCK IN THE BUCKLE POSITION WHEN WIFE PUT IN DITCH SHE HAD TO SQUEZE TO GET OUTEVEN WHEN OPEN DOOR WOULD NOT RELEASE THE HEATER CONTROL HAS BEEN BURNT 3 TIMES AND CURRENTLY IS BURNT AGAIN THEN THE IGNITION HAS BEEN REPLACED UNDER A RECALL AND THAT DINGS NOW WHEN THE KEY ISN'T EVEN IN IT NICE RECALL I WENT TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE SEATBELTS THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ABOUT 300.00 PER DOOR TO FIX MY WIFE WAS QUITE UPSET ABOUT IT WROTE FORD MOTOR A LETTER THEY NEVER ECNOLLEDGE IT. SHE WON'T EVEN LET ME REPLACE THE ENGINE IN IT CAUSE SHE SAYS SHE WILL NOT DRIVE THAT CAR THAT COULD GO UP IN FLAMES OR DOESN'T HAVE SEATBELT THAT WORK CAUSE FORD DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE SOMETHING THAT WORKS PROPER SHE FEELS THE FORD COMPANY HAS DONE NOTHING BUT ENDANGERED MANY ADULTS AND CHILDRENS LIVES WITH THESE PROBLEMS AND SAYS SOMEONE OTTA TAKE CONTROL OVER THIS MATTER SINCERELY [XXX] AND [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE REAR SUSPENSION FAILED, THE PART WHICH CAME OFF OF SUSPENSION IS NEAR THE EXHAUST AND IS CAUSING RUST ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS NO RUST. *JB

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, AND WAS SIDE CRASHED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE UPCOMING TRAFFIC. CURRENTLY, PROBLEM WAS COMING BACK. 2 TRANSMISSIONS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE. VEHICLE EXPERIENCING AN OIL LEAK. *AK *SLC

KOLCRAFT MODEL # 871536R, DOM 07/16/1998:WHILE CARRING CHILD IN HAND CARRIER, HANDLE POPPED OUT OF POSITION ON ONE SIDE, AND MOVED A NOTCH OR TWO. *AK

LOWER BALL JOINTS/LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH SIDES, AND INNER TIE ROD ASSEMBLY FAILED.

THE ELECTRIC LOCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT WORK. THE DRIVER'S DOOR CAN ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE

CONSUMER WAS IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY, DRIVER WAS INJURED . PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

MOTOR MOUNTS DISINTEGRATED, TIE ROD END BUSTED, CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, NO WARNING, SPEED 25 MPH. NO ACCIDENT. *AK