IllustrationAFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *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.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →110Owner complaints
Model-year median: 30
1Recall campaignsView recall details →
4InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1991 Ford Tempo
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 110 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 4 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 31 reports
- Electrical System: 22 reports
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 18 reports
- Seat Belts: 13 reports
- Fuel System, Gasoline: 9 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tempo years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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 reportsINTERMITTENT STALLING DUE TO FUEL INJECTION FAILURE; ALSO, CV BOOTS FAILED, RESULTING IN CLICKING NOISE. *AK
SHOULDER BELT DID NOT TIGHTEN UP DURING REAR END COLLISION, LEAVING DRIVER UNRESTRAINED, OCCUPANT'S CHEST HIT STEERING WHEEL; VEHICLE IMPACTED WITH A MOVING TRUCK. *AK
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IS STUCK IN THE FORWARD POSITION. *AK *JB
LIGHT CAME ON, HIGH PITCH WHINEY, AND A LOSS OF POWER DUE TO ALTERNATOR FAILURE. *AK
SEAT BELT FAILED. NLM
WHEN TAKING CAR OUT OF PARK TO DRIVE THE CAR STALLS , HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS.*AK ALSO REPLACED FUEL PUMP 4 TIMES ALSO HAS NEEDE MULTIPL GAKETS REPAIRS.*JB
CLAMPS HOLDING MUFFLER IN PLACE BREAK AT NORMAL/HIGH SPEEDS.
REAR BRAKE ADJUSTER FAILURE, COMPLAINTS INDICATE THAT THE REAR BRAKE ADJUSTER FELL OUT OF POSITION, CAUSING SEVERE SCORING OF DRUM. PE96-005. *AK
TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK CAUSED ENGINE FIRE.
Recall campaigns
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 ↗
Defect 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
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.