VehicleVerdict

1988 Ford Tempo engine problems

The 1988 Ford Tempo has 34 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 19% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

34

Engine complaints

19%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Tempo engine complaints by model year73 complaints1984: 2 complaints1985: 7 complaints1986: 2 complaints1987: 15 complaints1988: 34 complaints1989: 34 complaints1990: 20 complaints1991: 34 complaints1992: 56 complaints1993: 73 complaints1994: 48 complaints2000: 1 complaints
Tempo engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

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

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · June 1, 2003 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1988 Ford Tempo have?

NHTSA has 34 complaints about the 1988 Ford Tempo engine — 19% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.