IllustrationDRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
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
What owners actually said
110 reportsMY 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 DO…
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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 …
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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
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
VEHICLE WOULD STOP WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. *AK
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
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 NORMA…
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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
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