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
What owners actually said
227 reports
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 30, 2001
Seat Belts
AUTOMATIC OVER-THE-SHOULDER SEATBELT NO LONGER WORKS. THAT IS, IT NEVER ACTS AS A RESTRAINT. INSTEAD, IT REMAINS IN THE PASSIVE POSITION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #740129
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 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
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 · Nov 22, 2000
Seat BeltsStructure
HARNESS STRAPS AND TWO BACK POWER LOCKS ARE DEFECTIVE. HARNESS STRAP WILL STRAP ON CORRECTLY, AND TWO BACK DOORS WON'T EVEN OPEN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO REMEDY SITUATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #875419
Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2000
Seat Belts
MOTORBELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE IS HUNG UP AT THE TOP OF THE DOOR. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #557242
Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2000
Electrical System
VEHICLE STALLS AND DIES AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, CONSUMER THINKS ITS A DESIGN FLAW IN DISTRIBUTOR MOUNTED TFI-1V MODULE.*AK CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE MAKE TO CORRECT THE DESIGN FLAW. *YH
NHTSA ODI #873739
Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2000
Electrical System
WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON LONG TRIPS, IT JUST DIED. AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES VEHICLE WOULD START BACK UP AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS. DEALERSHIP COULD NEVER DETERMINE WOULD CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
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.
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.
1993 Ford Tempo Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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