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1992 Ford Tempo

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Tempo years

Owner complaints for the 1992 Ford Tempo are substantially higher than the model-year median of 30.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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 176 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 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 41 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 reports20 fire reports12 injury reports

Visibility complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
170,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingFuel System, Gasoline

THE HORN QUIT WORKING, THE COOLING FAN HAS QUIT TWICE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED , NOW THE FAN PROBLEN IS IN THE WIRING , HAVENT FIXED IT YET, THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE RIGH HEADLIGHT HS BEEN REPLACED 7 TIMES IN 3 YEARS, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT NO LONGER WORKS , THE TRANSMISSION LEAKS AT THE DRIVERS SIDE CV AXLE A…

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THE HORN QUIT WORKING, THE COOLING FAN HAS QUIT TWICE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED , NOW THE FAN PROBLEN IS IN THE WIRING , HAVENT FIXED IT YET, THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE RIGH HEADLIGHT HS BEEN REPLACED 7 TIMES IN 3 YEARS, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT NO LONGER WORKS , THE TRANSMISSION LEAKS AT THE DRIVERS SIDE CV AXLE AND THE DRIVERS SIDE CV ASLE HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS , THE MAX FUEL ECONOMY IS 16 MPG (HIGHWAY), THE ENGINE IDLES UP AND DOWN AT STOP SIGNS , THE IGNITION SWITCH ON THE STEERING WHEEL HAS CAME UNPLUGGED WHILE DRIVING TWICE , THE A/C HAS QUIT WORKING , THE CLEAR COAT HAS JUST ABOUT ALL PEELED OFF , THE REAR BRAKES HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED MANUALLY ABOUT ONCE EVERY 2 MONTHS , THE ALTERNATOR SQUEELS , THE RACK-N-PINION STEERING SEAL BURSTED SO THE POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKS , .

NHTSA ODI #10071044

Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 1999
VisibilityFireInjury

WHILE USING THE AIR CONDITION DURING A WARM DAY THE BLOWER CAME ON AND WAS NOT ABLE TO BE CONTROLLED BY THE KNOB. THE AIR BLEW AT HIGH SPEED FOR 10 MINUTES. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WENT TO SHOP. RETURNED TO CAR, DROVE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND THE BLOWER SUDDENLY STOPPED, THE CAR PROCEEDED ANOTHER 3 BLOCKS WHEN I NOTICE SMOKE …

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WHILE USING THE AIR CONDITION DURING A WARM DAY THE BLOWER CAME ON AND WAS NOT ABLE TO BE CONTROLLED BY THE KNOB. THE AIR BLEW AT HIGH SPEED FOR 10 MINUTES. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WENT TO SHOP. RETURNED TO CAR, DROVE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND THE BLOWER SUDDENLY STOPPED, THE CAR PROCEEDED ANOTHER 3 BLOCKS WHEN I NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENT. I PULLED THE CAR OVER AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, NO FIRE RETURNED TO THE INSIDE OF CAR AND SAW MORE SMOKE. I LOOKED UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND SAW A RED GLOW OF A FIRE WHICH WAS NOW BURNING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. I MANAGED TO BEAT THE FIRE OUT AND BURNED MY HAND IN THE PROCESS. I HAD SOME ONE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE FIRE WAS OUT A,ND PROCEEDED TO AN EMERGENCY HOSPITAL TREATMENT FOR THE BURNS. I DID SEE WHERE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE HEATERS AND AIRCONDITIONERS FANS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM THAT MIGHT CAUSE A FIRE AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE DAMAGE REPAIRED TO MY AUTOMOBILE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #705314

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 1997
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

HORN FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #519587

Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 1997
Visibility

AFTER TURNING RADIO ON, AREA AROUND LEFT SIDE OF RADIO GETS TOO HOT.

NHTSA ODI #514583

Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 1996
Visibility

REAR VIEW MIRRORS MUST BE ADJUSTED MANUALLY DUE TO MISSING PART. *SD

NHTSA ODI #507171

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.