← New search

1993 Ford Tempo

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Tempo years

Owner complaints for the 1993 Ford Tempo are substantially higher than the model-year median of 30.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 7 of 227 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 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports5 fire reports14 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

37 reports
Clear category filter
95,000 miles · Sep 15, 2009
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TEMPO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND RESUMED OPERATION; HOWEVER, IT STALLED ON THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE IGNITION MODULE WHIC…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TEMPO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND RESUMED OPERATION; HOWEVER, IT STALLED ON THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE IGNITION MODULE WHICH HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ODI #10284061

40,000 miles · Jun 27, 2008
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TEMPO. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER, BUT WHEN THE KEY WAS SLIGHTLY TURNED IN THE IGNITION, SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IN THE VEHICLE WOULD START. WHEN THE CONTACT CHANGES THE KEY SLIGHTLY IN THE IGNITION, HE LOSES ALL POWER AND CAN HEAR AN ELECTRICAL SPARK AS IF IT IS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A CONNECTION…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TEMPO. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER, BUT WHEN THE KEY WAS SLIGHTLY TURNED IN THE IGNITION, SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IN THE VEHICLE WOULD START. WHEN THE CONTACT CHANGES THE KEY SLIGHTLY IN THE IGNITION, HE LOSES ALL POWER AND CAN HEAR AN ELECTRICAL SPARK AS IF IT IS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A CONNECTION. THE VEHICLE GOES FROM HAVING NO POWER TO POWER, DEPENDING ON THE SPARKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR THIS FAILURE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, THE BATTERIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. A NEW BATTERY WAS RECENTLY INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE AND THE FUSES WERE REPLACED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. IN ADDITION, THE STARTER WAS REPLACED, THE TERMINAL CABLES WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES, AND THE VEHICLE HAD MORE TUNE-UPS THAN WHAT WAS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V071000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10232531

22,400 miles · Apr 23, 2004
Electrical System

THE IGNITION SWITCH EXPERIENCED AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE NOT STARTING. RECALL 96V071000 WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10071441

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2003
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolinePower Train

BECAUSE I'M NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REPAIR MY CAR. I'VE PUT ALOT OF MONEY IN MY CAR AND I'M STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. FROM IT CUTTING OFF WHEN I STOP TO CONSTANTLY HAVING TO GET MY ROTORS TURN . I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW CAN I GET HELP? THEY DON'T EVEN SEND ME RECALL NOTICES. I WAS SURFING THE NET TONIGHT…

Read full complaint

BECAUSE I'M NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REPAIR MY CAR. I'VE PUT ALOT OF MONEY IN MY CAR AND I'M STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. FROM IT CUTTING OFF WHEN I STOP TO CONSTANTLY HAVING TO GET MY ROTORS TURN . I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW CAN I GET HELP? THEY DON'T EVEN SEND ME RECALL NOTICES. I WAS SURFING THE NET TONIGHT AND MOST OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE WITH MY CAR IT'S LISTED IN THE RECALL LIST.MY CAR IS A 1993 FORD TEMPO.PLEASE HELP ME AS SOON AS YOU CAN BEFORE I HAVE A MAJOR ACCIDENT( MY BRAKES ACT LIKE THEY DON'T WONT TO STOP).THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME OUT. SINCERELY [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10033227

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2003
Electrical SystemFire

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED, THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE IGNITION.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10006832

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2002
Electrical System

CONSUMER STATES WHEN WEATHER IS HOT THE ENGINE WILL DIE OUT. CONSUMER STATES AFTER VEHICLE HAS COOLED DOWN, CONSUMER IS ABLE TO RESTART. *JB THE CONSUMER HAD MODULE REPLACED AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION OF ENGINE SHUTTING OFF, BUT THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS RECALLING OTHER VEHICLES FO…

Read full complaint

CONSUMER STATES WHEN WEATHER IS HOT THE ENGINE WILL DIE OUT. CONSUMER STATES AFTER VEHICLE HAS COOLED DOWN, CONSUMER IS ABLE TO RESTART. *JB THE CONSUMER HAD MODULE REPLACED AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION OF ENGINE SHUTTING OFF, BUT THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS RECALLING OTHER VEHICLES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *YH

NHTSA ODI #8013247

Mileage unknown · May 17, 2001
Electrical System

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #888503

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2001
Electrical System

THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCED STALLING, USUALLY IN WARM WEATHER AFTER 40 MINUTES OF DRIVING, FORD HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE STALLING PROBLEMS WHICH IS PROBABLY RELATED TO THE IGNITION SYSTEM. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #785390

Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

FAN MOTOR OVER HEATS, MAKES A SOUND LIKE SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IS SHORTING OUT AND SMOKES. HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. WE HAVE HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTIONS SYTEM AND THE BATTERY. THE CAR SHOCKS YOU EVEYTIME YOU TOUCH IT. IT FEELS LIKE IT IS SKIPPING GEARS WHEN YOU TURN ALSO. WE ARE CONSTANTLY REPLACING SOMETHING ON…

Read full complaint

FAN MOTOR OVER HEATS, MAKES A SOUND LIKE SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IS SHORTING OUT AND SMOKES. HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. WE HAVE HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTIONS SYTEM AND THE BATTERY. THE CAR SHOCKS YOU EVEYTIME YOU TOUCH IT. IT FEELS LIKE IT IS SKIPPING GEARS WHEN YOU TURN ALSO. WE ARE CONSTANTLY REPLACING SOMETHING ON IT AND IT HAS BECOME A REAL PAIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #739673

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2001
Electrical System

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #878553

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.