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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 →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
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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 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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

16 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2002
Seat BeltsVehicle Speed Control

REGARDING THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WHEN OPENING THE CAR DOOR, THE MOTOR BELT RUNS BUT THE SEAT BELT STAYS IN PLACE INSTEAD OF RETRACTING TO ALLOW ME IN THE CAR SEAT. ONCE THE LAP BELT IS ATTACHED, THE PANEL LIGHT FLASHES CONSTANTLY THAT THE SEATBELT IS NOT WORKING. THE RETRACTOR ONLY GOES AS FAR AS THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE DOOR.…

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REGARDING THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WHEN OPENING THE CAR DOOR, THE MOTOR BELT RUNS BUT THE SEAT BELT STAYS IN PLACE INSTEAD OF RETRACTING TO ALLOW ME IN THE CAR SEAT. ONCE THE LAP BELT IS ATTACHED, THE PANEL LIGHT FLASHES CONSTANTLY THAT THE SEATBELT IS NOT WORKING. THE RETRACTOR ONLY GOES AS FAR AS THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE DOOR. THE MOTOR RUNS BUT IT WILL NOT ALLOW THE RETRACTOR TO COMPLETE ITS FULL ASCENDING AND DESCENDING POSITION. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO AMERICAN FORD IN GLENDIVE, MT - I WAS TOLD THE PART AND LABOR WOULD BE IN EXCESS OF $300. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS A LAW TO WEAR A SEATBELT, BUT HOW DO YOU DO THAT WHEN THE PART IS DEFECTIVE. LUCKILY, THERE IS STILL THE LAP SEATBELT. REGARDING THE CRUISE CONTROL - WE HAVE BEEN AT SPEEDS OF 70-75 MPH AND THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL STICKS. ONCE YOU TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL - THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO GO SPEEDS OF 55-60 MPH WITHOUT HAVING TO PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL. WE HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES (4 TIMES COMING DOWN A MOUNTAIN PASS - NOT A PRETTY PICTURE). WE NO LONGER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL. DT

NHTSA ODI #769198

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2001
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT IN A SHOPPING CENTER VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT VEHICLE WHICH KEPT IDLING.DRIVER HAD TO TURN OFF VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #877925

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

THROTTLE STICKS CAUSING LATE SHIFTING OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SAME PROBLEM CAUSES EARLY AND ROUGH DOWNSHIFTING. WHILE EARLY DOWNSHIFTING IS MERELY UNCOMFORTABLE NOW, THIS COULD BE A SEVERE SAFTY HAZARD ON ICE AND SNOW. ALSO THE STICKING THROTTLE HAS REQUIRED EXTRA BRAKING EFFORT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM RUNNING AWAY. YOUR…

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THROTTLE STICKS CAUSING LATE SHIFTING OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SAME PROBLEM CAUSES EARLY AND ROUGH DOWNSHIFTING. WHILE EARLY DOWNSHIFTING IS MERELY UNCOMFORTABLE NOW, THIS COULD BE A SEVERE SAFTY HAZARD ON ICE AND SNOW. ALSO THE STICKING THROTTLE HAS REQUIRED EXTRA BRAKING EFFORT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM RUNNING AWAY. YOUR WEBSITE LISTS ELEVEN DIFFERENT SERVICE BULLETINS RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM, AND SEVERAL PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO ABOUT THIS MATTER, AND THEY HAVE REPLIED THAT FIXING THEIR DEFECT IS MY PROBLEM. IN LIGHT OF THE NUMEROUS BULLETINS AND COMPLAINTS, THE POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEMS(I.E. LOSS OF CONTROL ON ICE AND SNOW AND RUNNING AWAY), I FEEL THAT AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE MADE AND A RECALL INSTITUTED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #736236

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 1997
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

MUFFLER FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #516314

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 1997
Seat BeltsVehicle Speed Control

SEAT BELT SHOULDER STRAP TIGHTENS ON OCCUPANT.

NHTSA ODI #516349

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 1996
Seat BeltsVehicle Speed Control

SUDDEN ACCELERATION DURING COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ODI #512207

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 1996
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY IDLE CONROL VALVE FAILED, CAUSING INCREASE IN VEHICLE SPEED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #804995

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 1996
Vehicle Speed Control

THE BYPASS VALVE CONTINUOUSLY MALFUNCTIONS AFFECTING THE IDLE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. THE MALFUNCTION ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF FUEL IN ANY GEAR INCLUDING PARK.

NHTSA ODI #508260

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 1996
Vehicle Speed Control

THE GAS PEDAL STICKS, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #801257

Mileage unknown · May 24, 1996
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE SURGED THREE TIMES. *DH

NHTSA ODI #504889

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.