IllustrationDROVE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THEN PARKED IN A PARKING GARAGE. CAME BACK, AND VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AK
1991 Ford Tempo
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Tempo years
Owner complaints for the 1991 Ford Tempo are substantially higher than the model-year median of 30.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tempo years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 6 of 110 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 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports6 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
110 reportsVEHICLE WILL STALL INTERMITTENTLY AT A STOP WHILE DRIVING, POSSIBLY DUE TO A VAPOR LOCK THAT CANNOT BE FIXED. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *ML
WHEN USING GAS PEDAL SOMETIMES A WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON. THEN, MINUTES LATER THE CAR WILL JUST CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO DEALER.*AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES WHEELS WOULD LOCK UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID. MECHANIC HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE STALLS OUT AND DIES. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO REPAIR VEHICLE PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *ML
THE CAR STALLS OUT WHEN COMING TO A STOP, ANOTHER TIME IT STALLED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR. WHEN I COME TO A STOP I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN "N" AND GIVE IT GAS THEN PUT IN DRIVE AND FLOOR IT SO IT DOSE NOT STALL. IT ALSO STALLS AS I'M COMING TO A STOP OR I'VE STOPPED AND THEN GIVE IT GAS TO …
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THE CAR STALLS OUT WHEN COMING TO A STOP, ANOTHER TIME IT STALLED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR. WHEN I COME TO A STOP I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN "N" AND GIVE IT GAS THEN PUT IN DRIVE AND FLOOR IT SO IT DOSE NOT STALL. IT ALSO STALLS AS I'M COMING TO A STOP OR I'VE STOPPED AND THEN GIVE IT GAS TO PROCEED. I HAVE HAD SO MANY CLOSE CALLS OF BEING REAR ENDED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I'M VERY LUCKY TO HAVE NOT SUFFERED ANY PERSONAL INJURY HOWEVER, MY NERVES ARE ALWAYS ON EDGE WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR. IF I COULD GET RID OF IT I WOULD BUT THAT IS NOT AN OPTION. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL FORD DEALERS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM OR SAY THERE IS NOT PROBLEM BUT FIX OTHER THINGS, THAT HAVE NOT HELPED. MY SITUATION SOUNDS JUST LIKE THE FORD SUIT REGARDING "STALLING PROBLEMS" THAT I READ ABOUT IN THE DAILY BULLENTIN ON MAY 3, 1999. THIS IS WHY I'M WRITING TO FIANALLY GET SOME HELP FOR A CAR THAT HAS DONE THIS SINCE I PURCHASED IT. IF YOU NEED ANY DOCUMENTATION I CAN PROVIDE IT. THANK YOU. A.DAVIS. *AK
HEADLIGHTS VERY DIM BECAUSE COVERS FADED BADLY. HAVE TALKED TO LOCAL DEALER AND SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT IS COMMON ON THIS MODEL TEMPO AS WELL AS MUSTANGS AND OTHER FORD VEHICLES. VERY DANGEROUS VISIBILITY LEVELS AT NIGHT. MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ALMOST ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE POOR LIGHTING, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE HAL…
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HEADLIGHTS VERY DIM BECAUSE COVERS FADED BADLY. HAVE TALKED TO LOCAL DEALER AND SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT IS COMMON ON THIS MODEL TEMPO AS WELL AS MUSTANGS AND OTHER FORD VEHICLES. VERY DANGEROUS VISIBILITY LEVELS AT NIGHT. MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ALMOST ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE POOR LIGHTING, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE HALOGEN BULBS, THE ARE INEFFECTIVE. *AK
WHEN PUTTING NEW TIRES ON THE VEHICLE OWNER DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WELD WAS BROKEN. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT PULLS TO RIGHT AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IT PULLS TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
VEHICLE STALLED.
SEAT BELT COMES UNDONE IF THE OCCUPANT TWISTS IN THE SEAT OR THE VEHICLE STOPS SUDDENLY.
Official recalls
196V071000 · 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
4EA96024 · 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.
PE96005 · Rear Brk Adjuster Failure
Opened Jan 19, 1996 · Closed May 28, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1984 - 1991 FORD TEMPO/MERCURY TOPAZ
DP96002 · Rear Brake System Failure
Opened Jan 11, 1996 · Closed Jan 19, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available