1991 Ford Tempo

Defect. THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

SHOULDER HARNESS FOR BOTH FRONT OCCUPANTS FAILS TO LOCK WHEN VEHICLE MAKES A DRASTIC STOP. FORD SHOWS NO RECALL. I HAD TO MODIFY THE LOCKING HARNESS TO MAKE IT A FULL TIME RESTRAINT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD TEMPO. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V071000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE DEALER WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 45,000.

1991 FORD TEMPO STARTED SMOKING AND THEN DEBRIS FLEW OFF AND HIT THE VEHICLE BEHIND HER. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AS SHE ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND LOOKED UNDER IT AND DISCOVERED OIL WAS LEAKING AND PIECE OF FROM THE VEHICLE WAS MISSING. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT)*JB

CONSUMER PURCHASED A 1991 TEMPO AND WAS UNAWARE OF THE DEFECTS. *TS *JB

DT: THE CALLER TOOK VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR BRAKES, ROTORS, PADS AND CALIPERS REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE CAME BACK IN WORSE SHAPE THAN IT WAS BEFORE THE REPAIRS. THE CAR WAS MUCH HARDER TO HANDLE, AND SHOOK VIOLENTLY. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND STEERED TO THE LEFT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DROPPED OFF ON JUNE 21, 2005 THE GAS TANK WAS FULL, AND THE TRIP ODOMETER HAD JUST BEEN RESET, AND MILEAGE WAS 0. CONSUMER PICKED UP THE CAR 6 DAYS LATER AND THE CAR WAS ON EMPTY AND THE TRIP ODOMETER SHOWED 136 MILES. THE SHOP OWNER WAS CALLED THE NEXT MORNING AND WAS VERY ANGRY WITH THE CONSUMER BECAUSE SHE HAD THE NERVE TO BRING THIS TO HIS ATTENTION, THAT WAS WHAT THE REPAIR SHOP OWNER SAID. THERE WAS A SODA POP LID IN THE POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR WHEN THE CONSUMER CHECKED THE VEHICLE AFTER SHE RETURNED HOME. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS AS OF YET. THE CONSUMER WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP TWICE FOR BRAKES. OWNER CHARGED THE CONSUMER $425.00 AND THE BRAKES STILL DID NOT WORK. CONSUMER HAS NO INFORMATION ON THE DEALER, OR AN ADDRESS. THE REPAIR SHOP WAS EXPRESS, SMOG AND TUNE ON 1234 NORTH BOULDER HIGHWAY, HENDERSON,NEVADA.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED TO FUNCTION. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MOTOR TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. *AK *NM

TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY THE WINDSHIELDWIPERS BEGAN SLOWING DOWN AND THE CAR WAS LOSING POWER A NEW ALTERNATOR WAS INSTALLED A WEEK PRIOR WHEN I POPPED THE HOOD THERE WAS A SMELL OF BURNING WIRES AND THE WIRES COMING FROM THE CAR TO THE ALTERNATOR WERE COMPLETELY MELTED, AND THERE WAS NO CONNECTION TO THE ALTERNATOR. THE TERMINAL WAS REPLACED AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS ALSO REPLACED, I DROVE 45 MILES FROM THE SHOP TO MY HOUSE AND CHECK UNDER THE HOOD THE CABLE ENTERING THE ALTERNATOR HAD ALREADY BEGAN TO MELT AND BUBBLE. *AK

DOOR OPERATED SHOULDER BELT FAILED, IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A LARGE NUMBER OF THIS THING HAPPENING, ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS IN THIS AREA. NO PART OF RESTRAINT SYSTEM SHOULD EVER FAIL. MANUFACTURERS HAVE DISCONTINUED USING THIS. WONDER WHY? *JB

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN UP AN INCLINE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE BACKWARD. *NLM

DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION STEERING WHEEL BROKE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

MY CAR HAS A STALLING PROBLEM. SOMETIMES IT JUST DIES WHEN YOU STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND SOMETIMES IT TRY'S TO DIE WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING IT AND I HEARD A RECALL ON THE YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL OF MY CAR ON THE NEWS BUT I DIDN'T GET A LETTER TELLING ME OR SOMETHING THAT I COULD TAKE TO THE DEALER SO I CAN GET IT FIXED. BECAUSE IF I DON'T I'M GOING TO BE IN AN ACCADIENT IF I DON'T AND I HAD LIKE TO GET THE RECALL FIXED BECAUSE I HAVE A 7 MONTH OLD BABY AND DON'T WANT TO BE IN AN ACCADIENT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, IT STARTED EXPERIENCING STALLING MOSTLY AFTER COMING TO A STOP, CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO SEVERAL FORD DEALERS WHO CAN NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM AND HAS SPENT A LOT OF MONEY, THE STALLING HAS ALMOST CAUSED A COLLISION, VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 89767 MILES. *SLC

WHEN TRAVELING AT 50MPH AND COMING UP TO A STOP LIGHT/SIGN, VEHICLE WOULD STALL FOR NO REASON. HAD TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR PROBLEM. EACH TIME A TEMPORARY FIX, AND THEN IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. MECHANIC HAD TEST DRIVEN VEHICLE AND IT STALLED.*AK *SLC

CAR STALLED IN A INTERSECTION JUST MISSED BEING HIT BY A LARGE TRUCK. CAR STALLS ALOT. FORD ATTEMPED TO FIX BUT IT CONTINUES TO STALL. *AK

I ALWAYS BLAMED MY PROBLEM ON THE TYPE OF GAS I WAS USING! FIRST TIME VEHICLE STALLED WAS WHEN IT WAS JUST A YEAR OR SO OLD. SINCE THEN, OVER THE YEARS, IT ALWAYS MANAGES TO STALL ON A HOT DAY. WE DON'T HAVE MANY HOT DAYS HERE. HAVE ONLY BEEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ONCE - HAD TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER TO WAIT FOR COOLING. DID THIS MANY TIMES. AM 73 YR. OLD DUMB BLONDE!! HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY A MECHANIC, HE COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. PEOPLE THREW OUT IDEAS - FUEL PUMP? WAS ALERTED BY THE CALIFORNIA CASE - NOW I KNOW WHAT MY PROBLEM IS!*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON TURNPIKE, CONSUMERS MUFFLER/RESONATOR FELL OFF CAUSING DAMAGE TO LEFT REAR BUMPER, ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE.(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT#10-90-340)*JB

WHEN DRVING AT ANY TIME AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE CUTS OFF IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE WOULD STOP WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. *AK

I HAVE TO DRIVE THROUGH AS MANY AS 15 RED LIGHTS, AND I HAVE TO DRIVE THROUGH THESE LIGHTS AT A RATE OF 5 TIMES A WEEK. SEVERAL OF THESE RED LIGHTS ARE LOCATED IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS. MY CAR HAS STALLED/DIED DURING IDLING OVER 50 TIMES AND COUNTING. USUALLY WHEN IT IS WARM WEATHER AND THE CAR IS IDLING AND HEATED UP TO A NORMAL TEMPERATURE. ITS RANDOM BASED, IN THE SUMMER COULD BE 10-20 STOPS BEFORE IT STALLS AND DIES, USUALLY WHEN I START TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN. I REPLACED ALL THE ELECTRICAL EQUIPTMENT AND EGR PARTS, AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURED. DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPTMENT SHOWS NO PROBLEMS. I DID NOT LEARN ABOUT THIS HIDDEN DEFECT UNTIL THE NEWS MEDIA ANNOUNCED MAJOR LAWSUITS AGAINST FORD FOR THIS HIDDEN PROBLEM, WHICH MATCHES MY SYMPTOMS EXACTLY. IT IS A SHAME THAT FORD KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND DID NOT PUT OUT ANY SERVICE ADVISORIES, AND IN FACT, DISCLAIMED THIS PROBLEM! I INVITED THE FORD PEOPLE TO COME RIDE IN THE CAR SINCE THEY CLAIM THE CAR IS SAFE. IT IS NOT FUN AND SAFE FOR AN 18-WHEELER TO HAVE TO STOP AT A GREEN-LIGHT WHEN I AM STALLED AND TRYING TO START MY FORD TEMPO!!!*AK

IGNITION LOCK DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN STICKING KEY INTO IGNITION LOCK IT SEEMS LIKE HAVING THE WRONG KEY.AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON DASH, AND VEHICLE CUTS OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STALLED 7 DIFFERENT TIMES BEFORE THE CONSUMER GOT IT HOME. *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERLR STATED IGNITION COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

RIGHT SIDE OF WHEEL IS UNSTABLE DUE TO AUTO ACCIDENT. *AK

VEHICLE STALLED WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS AFTER IT HAS BEEN WARMED UP. OR IF IT WAS SHOT. CONSUMER MUST WAIT TO COOL DOWN VEHICLE IN ORDER TO RESTART. IF CONSUMER DID NOT WAIT LONG ENOUGH IT WILL STALL OUT AGAIN. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO FORD, BUT DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. DEFECT HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR 2-3 YEARS. *AK

IN ALL THREE INSTANCES OF VEHICLE COMPONENT FAILURES, VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN VEHICLE STALLED ON RAODWAY. IN EACH INSTANCE, DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF ROADWAY WITHOUT ACCIDENT. IN THE TWO SUSPECTED IGNITION MODULE FAILURE CASES, TEMPERATURES WERE AT 100 DEGREES IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO. IN SUSPECTED IGNITION FAILURE CASE OF JAN. 1998, VEHICLE HAD BEEN RUNNING ON HIGHWAY IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO COMING INTO EL PASO WHEN VEHICLE STALLED.

AUTOMATIC BRAKE ADJUSTER FELL OUT OF PLACE CAUSING WHEEL TO LOCK UP. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

DROVE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THEN PARKED IN A PARKING GARAGE. CAME BACK, AND VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AK

VEHICLE WILL STALL INTERMITTENTLY AT A STOP WHILE DRIVING, POSSIBLY DUE TO A VAPOR LOCK THAT CANNOT BE FIXED. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *ML

WHEN USING GAS PEDAL SOMETIMES A WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON. THEN, MINUTES LATER THE CAR WILL JUST CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO DEALER.*AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES WHEELS WOULD LOCK UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID. MECHANIC HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE STALLS OUT AND DIES. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO REPAIR VEHICLE PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *ML

THE CAR STALLS OUT WHEN COMING TO A STOP, ANOTHER TIME IT STALLED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR. WHEN I COME TO A STOP I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN "N" AND GIVE IT GAS THEN PUT IN DRIVE AND FLOOR IT SO IT DOSE NOT STALL. IT ALSO STALLS AS I'M COMING TO A STOP OR I'VE STOPPED AND THEN GIVE IT GAS TO PROCEED. I HAVE HAD SO MANY CLOSE CALLS OF BEING REAR ENDED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I'M VERY LUCKY TO HAVE NOT SUFFERED ANY PERSONAL INJURY HOWEVER, MY NERVES ARE ALWAYS ON EDGE WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR. IF I COULD GET RID OF IT I WOULD BUT THAT IS NOT AN OPTION. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL FORD DEALERS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM OR SAY THERE IS NOT PROBLEM BUT FIX OTHER THINGS, THAT HAVE NOT HELPED. MY SITUATION SOUNDS JUST LIKE THE FORD SUIT REGARDING "STALLING PROBLEMS" THAT I READ ABOUT IN THE DAILY BULLENTIN ON MAY 3, 1999. THIS IS WHY I'M WRITING TO FIANALLY GET SOME HELP FOR A CAR THAT HAS DONE THIS SINCE I PURCHASED IT. IF YOU NEED ANY DOCUMENTATION I CAN PROVIDE IT. THANK YOU. A.DAVIS. *AK

HEADLIGHTS VERY DIM BECAUSE COVERS FADED BADLY. HAVE TALKED TO LOCAL DEALER AND SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT IS COMMON ON THIS MODEL TEMPO AS WELL AS MUSTANGS AND OTHER FORD VEHICLES. VERY DANGEROUS VISIBILITY LEVELS AT NIGHT. MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ALMOST ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE POOR LIGHTING, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE HALOGEN BULBS, THE ARE INEFFECTIVE. *AK

WHEN PUTTING NEW TIRES ON THE VEHICLE OWNER DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WELD WAS BROKEN. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT PULLS TO RIGHT AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IT PULLS TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE STALLED.

SEAT BELT COMES UNDONE IF THE OCCUPANT TWISTS IN THE SEAT OR THE VEHICLE STOPS SUDDENLY.

VEHICLE TENDS TO STALL AT INTERSECTIONS AND WHEN BACKING UP. NO CAUSE CAN BE FOUND FOR PROBLEM.

THERE IS HOLE IN THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE FUEL TANK, RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT RUN. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK BROKE AND SEAT WENT INTO A RECLINING POSITION DURING A REAR END COLLISION. *AK

VEHICLE STALLS CONTINUOUSLY IN TRAFFIC RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS.

VEHICLE STALLS AT MOST ANY SPEED FROM IDLE AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS TO HIGH SPEED CRUISE ON FREEWAYS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS HOT OUTSIDE. DEALER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK ANCHOR BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS. *AK

VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY STALLS, REPAIRS ON VEHICLE, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT REASON.

ENGINE CONTINUOUSLY STALLS .