1988 Ford Tempo vs 1988 Mercury Topaz
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1988 Ford Tempo | 1988 Mercury Topaz |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 126 | 21 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 34 | 32 |
| Investigations | 5 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 3 | 1 |
| Fire reports | 36 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–24 | 19–24 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Tempo | Mercury Topaz |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 50 | 7 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 26 | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 16 | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 11 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 | 2 |
| Power Train | 5 | 1 |
| Tires | 5 | 0 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 14 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 8 | 0 |
1988 Ford Tempo
1988 Mercury Topaz
Compare all Ford Tempo vs Mercury Topaz years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.