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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 →
227Owner 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
133
1990110
1991176
1992227
1993161
19943
19952
1996
Compare all Tempo years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
61Seat Belts
61Electrical System
37Power Train
21Service Brakes, Hydraulic
20
All reported categories
Vehicle Speed Control
11Fuel System, Gasoline
10Tires
8Air Bags
7Steering
7Visibility
7Structure
6Unknown Or Other
5Latches/locks/linkages
4Seats
4Suspension
4Equipment
3Fuel System, Other
3Exterior Lighting
2Wheels
2Interior Lighting
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: 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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

61 reports
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58,000 miles · Nov 24, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER DROVE TO A NEAR-BY MECHANIC, WHO DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLES. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE WORN, THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT AND THE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ALSO INOPERABLE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUF…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER DROVE TO A NEAR-BY MECHANIC, WHO DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLES. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE WORN, THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT AND THE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ALSO INOPERABLE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE INFORMED OF THE PROBLEMS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10048562

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10026206

137,582 miles · Feb 16, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 1993 FORD TEMPO, THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY STOPED SPINNING.I FOUND A RECALL ON THE INTERNET FOR MY CAR,AND THE SAME PROBLEM.I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR CAME FROM A DIFFERENT LOCATION SO THE RECALL DOES NOT PERTAIN TO ME.APPARENTLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10007603

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

AFTER HALF HOUR OF DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, ENGINE GAUGE INDICATE IS OVERHEAT, DUE TO A FAULTY ENGINE SENSOR. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER. PH *TR

NHTSA ODI #10006613

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER ON BEHALF OF DAUGHTER. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FOR CONSUMERS DAUGHTER, WHO STARTED HEARING NOISES. A COUPLE OF REPAIR SHOPS AGREED IT WAS THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY. THIS REPAIR WAS ON RECALL AND WAS REPAIRED SIX YEARS PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS. UPON CHECKING THE VEHIC…

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CONSUMER ON BEHALF OF DAUGHTER. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FOR CONSUMERS DAUGHTER, WHO STARTED HEARING NOISES. A COUPLE OF REPAIR SHOPS AGREED IT WAS THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY. THIS REPAIR WAS ON RECALL AND WAS REPAIRED SIX YEARS PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS. UPON CHECKING THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC, INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS BAD. AFTER REPAIRING, THE NOISE WAS STILL PRESENT. THE MECHANIC CHANGED THE PULLEY AT NO COST TO CONSUMER. *JG

NHTSA ODI #567822

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THE MOTOR AND/OR TRANSMISSION MOUNTS ON THE DESCRIBED VEHICLE HAVE FAILED THREE(3) TIMES, THE FIRST AS NOTED, OCCURRED AFTER ONLY 18,000 MILES AND AT THE TIME THE CAR HAD JUST PASSED THE 36 MONTH NEW CAR WARRANTY. WADE FORD IN SMYRNA ,GA REPLACED THE MOUNTS THE FIRST TIME AT NO LABOR CHARGE...ONLY PARTS BECAUSE THE DATE WAS SO …

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THE MOTOR AND/OR TRANSMISSION MOUNTS ON THE DESCRIBED VEHICLE HAVE FAILED THREE(3) TIMES, THE FIRST AS NOTED, OCCURRED AFTER ONLY 18,000 MILES AND AT THE TIME THE CAR HAD JUST PASSED THE 36 MONTH NEW CAR WARRANTY. WADE FORD IN SMYRNA ,GA REPLACED THE MOUNTS THE FIRST TIME AT NO LABOR CHARGE...ONLY PARTS BECAUSE THE DATE WAS SO CLOSE TO THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION. SINCE THEN, THE MOUNTS HAVE FAILED TWO MORE TIMES. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANY OTHER CAR OWNERS OF THIS MAKE/MODEL HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM?*AK

NHTSA ODI #756830

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT NOTICE. ONCE IT STALLED ON HIGHWAY. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. *AK DEALER CAN NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE STALLING. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #894122

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR CUTS OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING. THIS ONLY HAPPENS IN DAYTIME WHEN WEATHER IS VERY HOT. I HAVE TO LET THE CAR SIT ABOUT 20-30 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL START AGAIN. NO PROBLEMS AT NIGHT, OR EARLY MORNING WHEN IT'S COOL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #747534

Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE STALLS OUT AT ANY SPEED STANDING STILL OR IN MOTION. VEHICLE SEEMS TO HAVE THE PROBLEM MOST IN DO THE SUMMER. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM TO CORRECT IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #890523

Mileage unknown · May 8, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

VEHICLE WAS STALLING IN HOT WEATHER/ 80-100 DEGREES. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #887707

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.