1986 Ford TEMPO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
24 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
90,280 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1986 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 24 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 25.0% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 20.8% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 8.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 8.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 4 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 4; Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Electrical System: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 22 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 4 |
| 1996 | 13 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
1995: 4; 1996: 13; 2000: 3; 2001: 2; 2005: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10145189 · 2005-12-14 (December 14, 2005)
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 ARRIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE ALTERNATOR APPEARED TO BE THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. THE PLUG TO THE ALTERNATOR MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. A REPLACEMENT ALTERNATOR WAS PURCHASED, BUT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,560 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145189 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10434235 · 2011-11-04 (November 4, 2011)
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 FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10434235 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481674 · 1995-02-15 (February 15, 1995)
SEAT LATCHES FAILED, CAUSING DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS DURING ACCIDENT. *AW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481674 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 488691 · 1995-09-28 (September 28, 1995)
BRAKES REPLACED. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 488691 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504106 · 1996-05-07 (May 7, 1996)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504106 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504248 · 1996-05-04 (May 4, 1996)
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING ENGINE FIRE. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504248 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504903 · 1996-05-23 (May 23, 1996)
REAR BRAKE ADJUSTER FAILURE, CAUSING PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504903 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 754610 · 2001-11-16 (November 16, 2001)
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 ANOTHER$30.00 FOR THE TOW. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM EVEN BEFORE YOU DID THE RECALL. AND I WISH I COULD GET COMPENSATED FOR THE EXPENSENSE,BUT YOU SAID ONLY TO 100,000 MILES. I DONT THINK THAT IS FAIR! ON THE DRIVE TRAIN, I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND THN LOST POWE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 754610 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.