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1992 Ford Tempo

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Tempo years

Owner complaints for the 1992 Ford Tempo are substantially higher than the model-year median of 30.

About this comparison →
176Owner complaints

Model-year median: 30

2Recall campaigns

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2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
124
1989133
1990110
1991176
1992227
1993161
19943
1995
Compare all Tempo years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
45Electrical System
43Seat Belts
41Vehicle Speed Control
16Power Train
12
All reported categories
Steering
11Fuel System, Gasoline
10Service Brakes, Hydraulic
9Unknown Or Other
8Suspension
7Air Bags
6Exterior Lighting
5Visibility
5Equipment
4Structure
4Latches/locks/linkages
2Wheels
2Seats
1

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 176 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 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 41 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 reports20 fire reports12 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

45 reports
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66,000 miles · Mar 26, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD TEMPO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT SOME OF THE LUG NUTS WERE MISSING. A LOCAL MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND TO CONTAIN NO CATALYTIC CONVERTER; FURTHERMORE, NEITHER THE HORN AND NOR ANY OF T…

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TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD TEMPO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT SOME OF THE LUG NUTS WERE MISSING. A LOCAL MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND TO CONTAIN NO CATALYTIC CONVERTER; FURTHERMORE, NEITHER THE HORN AND NOR ANY OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY. THE CONTACT RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 66,000. UPDATED 5/12/10 *CN UPDATED 06/11/10. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10322369

89,000 miles · May 27, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

ALL GASKETS & SEALS LEAK. NEEDS ABOUT A QUART OF OIL PER 15 MILES. BECAUSE OF OIL DRIPPING, CAR CATCHES ON FIRE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT PROBLEM, TOO EXPENSIVE!

NHTSA ODI #10122321

170,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingFuel System, Gasoline

THE HORN QUIT WORKING, THE COOLING FAN HAS QUIT TWICE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED , NOW THE FAN PROBLEN IS IN THE WIRING , HAVENT FIXED IT YET, THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE RIGH HEADLIGHT HS BEEN REPLACED 7 TIMES IN 3 YEARS, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT NO LONGER WORKS , THE TRANSMISSION LEAKS AT THE DRIVERS SIDE CV AXLE A…

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THE HORN QUIT WORKING, THE COOLING FAN HAS QUIT TWICE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED , NOW THE FAN PROBLEN IS IN THE WIRING , HAVENT FIXED IT YET, THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE RIGH HEADLIGHT HS BEEN REPLACED 7 TIMES IN 3 YEARS, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT NO LONGER WORKS , THE TRANSMISSION LEAKS AT THE DRIVERS SIDE CV AXLE AND THE DRIVERS SIDE CV ASLE HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS , THE MAX FUEL ECONOMY IS 16 MPG (HIGHWAY), THE ENGINE IDLES UP AND DOWN AT STOP SIGNS , THE IGNITION SWITCH ON THE STEERING WHEEL HAS CAME UNPLUGGED WHILE DRIVING TWICE , THE A/C HAS QUIT WORKING , THE CLEAR COAT HAS JUST ABOUT ALL PEELED OFF , THE REAR BRAKES HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED MANUALLY ABOUT ONCE EVERY 2 MONTHS , THE ALTERNATOR SQUEELS , THE RACK-N-PINION STEERING SEAL BURSTED SO THE POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKS , .

NHTSA ODI #10071044

Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE ENGINE BLEW A ROD WHILE DRIVING MAKING A 3 INCH WHOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE AND CAUSING SMOKE AND OIL TO EXPELL FROM THE ENGINE. NLM

NHTSA ODI #567195

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE EXPERINCEING ON GOING/INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH STALLING, MOSTLY IN HOT WEATHER CONDITION. VEHICLE WOULD RESTART APROXIMATELY 1/2 HRS LATER ON. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATON.*AK

NHTSA ODI #890317

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE TRAVELING ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH ON/OFF. SOON AFTER VEHICLE WOULD STALL, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE STARTER SWITCH AND THE GAS FILTER EVERY 6 MONTHS, BUT THE STALLING STILL OCCURS, POSSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEM. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #873028

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY ON THE FORD TEMPO IS DEFECTIVE. WE CONTACTED THE COMPANY ABOUT IT AND THEY TOLD THEY KNEW IT WAS A PROMBLEM, BUT THAT NOTHING WOULD BE DONE. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY FORD OWNERS AND MANY MECHANICS AND THEY ALL SAY THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS THAT DRIVE THESE CARS TO AND FROM COLLEGE. ONE BRO…

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THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY ON THE FORD TEMPO IS DEFECTIVE. WE CONTACTED THE COMPANY ABOUT IT AND THEY TOLD THEY KNEW IT WAS A PROMBLEM, BUT THAT NOTHING WOULD BE DONE. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY FORD OWNERS AND MANY MECHANICS AND THEY ALL SAY THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS THAT DRIVE THESE CARS TO AND FROM COLLEGE. ONE BROKE DOWN WITH THIS PULLEY PROBLEM AND WAS COMPLETELEY STRANDED. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECAL OR REIMBERS OWNERS FOR THE HUGE EXSPENSENCE OF THEIR FAULTY CAR COMPONENETS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #717148

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE CONTINUALLY DOES NOT START, SEVERAL REPLACEMENTS/REPAIR ATTEMPTS OF THE (STARTER/SOLENOID/MOTOR,BATTERY,ALTERNATOR/REGULATOR, HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE NO START FAILURE. MJS

NHTSA ODI #549566

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY, BULLETIN 94M83 DENIED DUE TO TIME LIMIT. MJS

NHTSA ODI #548764

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE IS A LOUD NOISE COMING THE ENGINE. DEALER STATES THE NOISE IS COMING FROM THE CRANKSHAFT: PULLEY, AND THE DEALER GAVE THE CONSUMER A REPLACEMENT PART FOR THE VEHICLE. THE PART DOESN'T FIT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #832126

Official recalls

2

97V019000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan

Feb 25, 1997

THESE VEHICLES ARE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, IOWA, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA. THE VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE 1992-1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES WITH 3.0L ENGINES; 1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ WITH 2.3L ENGINES; 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.8L ENGINES; 1994-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.0L ENGINES AND 1992-1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL VEHICLES WITH 3.8L ENGINES. DURING HIGH WINDS, HEAVY, BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW, AND LOW TEMPERATURES, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CAN BECOME BLOCKED OR FROZEN WITH SNOW. THE FAN MOTOR MAY NOT ROTATE AND COULD OVERHEAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE SMOKE OR FLAMES FROM THE FAN AND/OR SHROUD, THE FAN ELECTRICAL WIRING, OR THE FAN MOTOR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.

96V071000 · 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

2

EA96024 · 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.