IllustrationTL*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
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Tempo years
Owner complaints for the 1991 Ford Tempo are substantially higher than the model-year median of 30.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tempo years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 6 of 110 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports6 fire reports8 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
22 reportsTRAVELING 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 …
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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
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 …
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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
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 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
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…
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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.
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 …
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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
Official recalls
196V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
4EA96024 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened Sep 30, 1996 · Closed Apr 15, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
PE96033 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened May 2, 1996 · Closed Sep 30, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
IN DECEMBER 1995, FORD RECALLED 119,313 VEHICLES IN CANADA TO REMEDY THE SUBJECT CONDITION IN CERTAIN 1992-95 TAURUS, SABLE, TEMPO, TOPAZ AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES.FORD IS AWARE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS OCCURRING IN NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT MAINTAINS THAT THE FREQUENCIES DO NOT WARRANT A FINDING OF AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.
PE96005 · Rear Brk Adjuster Failure
Opened Jan 19, 1996 · Closed May 28, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1984 - 1991 FORD TEMPO/MERCURY TOPAZ
DP96002 · Rear Brake System Failure
Opened Jan 11, 1996 · Closed Jan 19, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available