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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 →

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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Mileage unknown · May 4, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE WILL STALL DURING ANY HIGHWAY DRIVING OR WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATES PAST 50 MPH. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #887481

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #744413

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE STALLS ON HIGHWAY AND TURNS OFF WITH NO POWER AT ALL. CONSUMER WAITED ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND IT STARTED UP AGAIN. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IF THEY CORRECT IT, IT MAY HAPPENED AGAIN BECAUSE TFI MODULER WAS TOO CLOSE TO ENGINE BLOCK. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN ITS WARM OUTSIDE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #883844

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE STALLS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED FOR ABOUT 45-60 MINUTES. LOSES POWER AND AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WILL NOT IMMEDIATLEY RESTART , OR IF IT RESTARTS RUNS ROUGH WITH ONLY ENOUGH POWER TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE TO STOP. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY SINCE WE OWNED THE CAR. FORD DEALERS IN PUERTO RICO HA…

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ENGINE STALLS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED FOR ABOUT 45-60 MINUTES. LOSES POWER AND AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WILL NOT IMMEDIATLEY RESTART , OR IF IT RESTARTS RUNS ROUGH WITH ONLY ENOUGH POWER TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE TO STOP. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY SINCE WE OWNED THE CAR. FORD DEALERS IN PUERTO RICO HAVE INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM WITHOUT SUCCESS. ON ONE OCCASION THE DEALER REPLACED THE COOLING FAN, BELIEVING THE PROBLEM WAS COOLING RELATED. IT STILL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE LOCAL FORD SERVICE MANAGER ONLY OFFERS TO DRIVE THE CAR TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM REOCCURS. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS IT IS SUCH AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THERE IS LITTLE CHANCE STALLING WILL HAPPEN UNLESS THE CAR IS DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED FOR NEARLY AN HOUR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #740361

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

CATALYTIC CONVERTER LEAVES A SULPHUR SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE. DEALER DOESN'T BELIEVE SMELL IS COMING FROM CATALYTIC CONVERTER. CONSUMER WILL ADD MORE INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #879221

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…

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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 2, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE HERMONIC BALENCER BROKE DOWN CAUSING A RATTLEING NOISE AND BROKE ANOTHER PART I KNOW TWO OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME MODEL AND MAKE AS MY CAR ONE OF THEIRS IS A 94 THE OTHER IS A 93 THEY BOTH ARE EXSPERIANCEING THE SAME PROBLEM AND WE ARE ALL AROUND THE SAME MILAGE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #738681

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING, MORE SO DURING THE HOT SEASON, THEN THE COLD SEASON. ALSO, MORE FREQUENT WHEN ENGINE WAS RUNNING LONGER PERIODS OF TIME. BEEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM STILLOCCURRING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #873540

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

TEMPO STALLS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE (AIR) IS HOT, MUST WAIT 15-30 MINUTES FOR COOL DOWN BEFORE THE CAR WILL RUN. NO NOTICE THAT THE CAR IS ABOUT TO FAIL, ONE OF THESE TIMES I AM GOING TO BE PASSING SOMEONE, AND WILL FIND MYSELF IN A REAL PREDICAMENT

NHTSA ODI #731257

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingStructure

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR: THE ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUIT ONE SINCE THE ORIGINAL FAILED TO OPERATE ON ANY OF THE INTERMITTENT SETTINGS. IT WOULD WORK ON HIGH AND LOW ONLY. THE ORIGINAL MOTOR WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUILT WIPER MOTOR AND OPERATED FINE BUT MADE A LOUD NOISE. I HAD THE REBUILT WIPER MOTO…

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WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR: THE ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUIT ONE SINCE THE ORIGINAL FAILED TO OPERATE ON ANY OF THE INTERMITTENT SETTINGS. IT WOULD WORK ON HIGH AND LOW ONLY. THE ORIGINAL MOTOR WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUILT WIPER MOTOR AND OPERATED FINE BUT MADE A LOUD NOISE. I HAD THE REBUILT WIPER MOTOR REPLACED WITH ANOTHER REBUILT WIPER MOTOR AND HAVE HAD IT FOR 13-14 MONTHS. THE WIPER MOTOR I HAVE CURRENTLY IS NOW MAKING THE SAME NOISE AS WITH THE SECOND WIPER MOTOR. IT IS STILL OPERATIONAL AT THIS POINT ON ALL SETTINGS.DOOR LOCKS: THE POWER DOOR LOCKS HAVE INDIVIDUALLY STOPPED WORKING AT DIFFERENT TIMES. I USED WD-40 ON ALL OF THE LOCKS AND IT HAS HELPED ALL BUT ONE (REAR PASSENGER SIDE) THAT REFUSES TO WORK WHEN DEPRESSING THE LOCK\UNLOCK BUTTON. IT WILL STILL WORK MANUALLY. REVVING OF ENGINE: THE ENGINE WILL REV VERY HIGH WHEN THE CAR IS PLACED IN PARK. PRESSING THE BRAKE OR THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOT DECREASE THE REVVING NOR DOES LIFTING THE GAS PEDAL UP. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND TO TURN IT BACK ON. THIS IS TIED TO THE CAR ACCELERATING WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. THEY BOTH HAPPENED ON THE SAME BRIEF TRIP (20 MILES) BUT HAVE ALSO HAPPENED INDIVIDUALLY ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CAR ACCELERATES SLOWLY - APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE PER SECOND - AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL ABOUT 40 - 50MPH WHERE ITS REMAINS CONSTANT. NO DEALER HAS BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM EVEN AFTER SEARCHING THE CARS COMPUTER FOR A STORED CODE OR CAUSE. IGNITION: THE KEY HAS BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT BECAUSE THE IGNITION DOES NOT RETURN BACK TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU CAN REMOVE THE KEY. TO HELP CLARIFY - IT GETS FROZEN IN THE POSTION WHERE YOU WOULD TURN THE KEY TO ROLL THE WINDOWS UP/DOWN BUT NOT START THE CAR. I HAVE HAD TO MOVE/JIGGLE IT BACK AND FORTH TO GET THE IGNITON TO RETURN BACK TO HOME STATE AND TO THE POSITION WHERE I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY.

NHTSA ODI #729907

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.