FordTempo1988Overview/ford/tempo/1988/base/

1988 Ford Tempo

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1988 Tempo.

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1988 Ford Tempo pairs a 5.0-quart oil fill using 10W-30 viscosity with an automatic 3-speed transmission and EPA ratings of 19 city/24 highway/21 combined mpg. Reliability records for this model year list 164 owner complaints, identify the electrical system as the top problem area, and note two recalls on file. Those figures sit outside the broader Tempo complaint history, which covers only 1990 through 2000 and peaked at 283 complaints in 1993 before dropping to just one in 1998. That placement means the 1988 Tempo should be treated as a pre-period reference point rather than part of the documented rise-and-fall reliability curve.

Model year199419931992199119901989198819871986

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy19/24/21 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

ThermostatRT1062

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length176.4 in
Overall width68.1 in
Overall height52.8 in
Wheelbase100 in
Curb weight2460 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 24 / 21 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume90 cu ft
Cargo volume13 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.0 qt of 10W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil10W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The federal record supplied covers model years 1990 through 2000, with no entries for 1988 or earlier years. Consequently, there are no complaint, recall, investigation, or TSB figures available for the 1988 Ford Tempo to place it within a year‑by‑year trend. The data show a general decline in complaints after a peak in the mid‑1990s (283 complaints in 1993 falling to single‑digit levels by 1995), but this pattern cannot be extrapolated back to 1988 without explicit figures. Although the target year’s top complaint areas are listed (Electrical System, Engine & Engine Cooling, Seat Belts, Fuel System), the absence of comparative volume metrics prevents gauging their severity relative to other years. Given the lack of comparative federal data, a definitive recommendation on whether 1988 is a good year to buy cannot be made from the supplied record; additional sources would be needed for a reliable assessment.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
34
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
5
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
164
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 39 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 164 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System55
Engine & Engine Cooling27
Seat Belts17
Fuel System, Gasoline10
Service Brakes, Hydraulic7
Exterior Lighting7
Power Train5
Tires4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

96V071000Electrical System:IgnitionReported 25/04/1996

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

88V024000Vehicle Speed ControlReported 01/03/1988

TWO ATTACHMENT SCREWS FOR THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS COULD LOOSEN AND BACK OUT. Remedy: REPLACE ATTACHMENT SCREWS WITH SCREWS WITH PRE APPLIED ADHESIVE THAT WILL BE TIGHTENED TO A HIGHER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 34 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
011562001-08-06VisibilitySOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
011572001-08-06Unknown Or OtherINFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
00152000-01-10Power TrainINFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
992221999-10-18Electrical SystemSUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING…
991961999-09-20EquipmentINFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Tempo. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1988 Tempo take?

5.0 qt of 10W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 1988 Tempo have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Tempo get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 24 highway / 21 combined mpg.