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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

View recall details →

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

Steering complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · May 20, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

ENGINE STALLS AT STOPS AND CUTS OFF WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION WHICH CAUSES STEERING COLUMN TO LOCK, MAKING CAR UNCONTROLLABLE. THE LAST TIME I WENT ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. (THANK GOD NO CARS WERE COMING TOWARD ME!!) THIS IS A LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEM BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE CAR IS GOING TO CUT OFF. WHAT IS WRONG?? IS T…

Read full complaint

ENGINE STALLS AT STOPS AND CUTS OFF WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION WHICH CAUSES STEERING COLUMN TO LOCK, MAKING CAR UNCONTROLLABLE. THE LAST TIME I WENT ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. (THANK GOD NO CARS WERE COMING TOWARD ME!!) THIS IS A LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEM BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE CAR IS GOING TO CUT OFF. WHAT IS WRONG?? IS THIS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS BEING ADDRESSED IN THE CLASS-ACTION SUIT FOR TEMPO'S? IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON WHILE DRIVING, BUT GOES OFF WHEN I BRAKE??*AK

NHTSA ODI #722944

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2000
Steering

WHEN TRAVELING AND UPON MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP,CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT, RESULTING IN A NEAR CRASH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO REPLACE PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #855730

Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 1999
Steering

WHILE DRIVING TILT STEERING COLUMN BROKE, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO FALL DOWN. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED BY DEALERSHIP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #839118

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, OtherSteering

VEHICLE STALLS CONTINUOUSLY SINCE OWNERSHIP, SEVERAL REPAIRS MADE HOWEVER NO REMEDY.

NHTSA ODI #524953

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 1997
Steering

OWNER CLAIMS THAT SMOKE IS COMING OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL AREA WHILE DRIVING. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #815920

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 1997
Power TrainSteering

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR; ALSO WORN OUT TIE ROD END DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #515427

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 1995
Steering

THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP CAUSING A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL. TT

NHTSA ODI #969143

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.