IllustrationTHE DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT GUIDE RAIL IS INOPERATIVE. WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. BEEN REPLACED, 2 YEARS LATER THE DRIVER'S SHOULDERBELT IS INOPERATIVE AGAIN. *AK
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
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 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
What owners actually said
176 reportsRECALL ON IGNITION SWITCH DENIED DUE TO MILEAGE.
WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR APPROACHING STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK
FUEL TANK LEAKS AND IT HAS RUSTED COMPLETELY OUT. OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY BECAUSE FUEL TANK SITS VERY CLOSE TO MUFFLER WHICH CAN IGNITE FUEL, CAUSING POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. *AK
ENGINE COOLING FAN DEFECTIVE.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SMOKE CAME FROM THE TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SMOKE STOPPED ONCE THE CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER. IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL # 96V071000 IN THE SUMMER OF 96. *AK
HORN FAILED.
VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM FAILED, CAUSING ODOR.
WHEN OPENING DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, WOULD HEAR GRINDING NOISE; DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT MOVE; SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT IN OR OUT; WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED SEAT MOTOR IS STILL GOING. *AK
THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ARE CAUSING THE BRAKE SHOES TO MALFUNCTION, AND THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THERE ARE NO BRAKES. *AK THE OIL PAN DRAIN PLUG REPLACED FOUR TIMES AND IT STILL LEAKS. *YH
Official recalls
297V019000 · 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
2EA96024 · 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.