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
What owners actually said
176 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2002
Electrical System
NHTSA RECALL 96 V 071 000/IMANUFACTURER'S RECALL 95S28 CONCERNING IGTURN SIGNAL AND THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHEN START KEY CHIME WOULD CONTINUE TO GO OFF EVEN AFTER REMOVING THE KEY. CONSUMER HAD TO TAP STEERING COLUMN TO DEACTIVATE THE CHIME. DEALER NOTIFIED,AND INFORMED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE …
Read full complaint
NHTSA RECALL 96 V 071 000/IMANUFACTURER'S RECALL 95S28 CONCERNING IGTURN SIGNAL AND THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHEN START KEY CHIME WOULD CONTINUE TO GO OFF EVEN AFTER REMOVING THE KEY. CONSUMER HAD TO TAP STEERING COLUMN TO DEACTIVATE THE CHIME. DEALER NOTIFIED,AND INFORMED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT 1992 TEMPO WAS NOT INVOLVED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8017597
Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE ENGINE BLEW A ROD WHILE DRIVING MAKING A 3 INCH WHOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE AND CAUSING SMOKE AND OIL TO EXPELL FROM THE ENGINE. NLM
NHTSA ODI #567195
Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2002
Seat Belts
FRONT DRIVER 'SSEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS ALL STIPPED OUT. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8016382
Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2002
Suspension
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE THERE WAS A BAD NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THAT NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8011124
Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2002
SteeringCrashInjury
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. TRIED TO STEER VEHICLE BACK. STEERING WHEEL SPUN AROUND. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE,GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT,CAUSING INJURIES.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8011123
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2001
Electrical System
STALLS/STOPS WHEN WARM, WON'T START AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR A LONG DISTANCE, RUNS ROUGH, HAS SHORTED OUT 2 DISTRIBUTORS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #753715
Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2001
Power Train
WHEN VEHICLE GETS UP TO 60 MPH IN SPEED ODOMETER READS 65MPH AND 85MPH. WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER DOESN'T KNOW HOW FAST HE IS GOING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER.*AK *SLC
NHTSA ODI #892348
Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE EXPERINCEING ON GOING/INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH STALLING, MOSTLY IN HOT WEATHER CONDITION. VEHICLE WOULD RESTART APROXIMATELY 1/2 HRS LATER ON. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATON.*AK
NHTSA ODI #890317
Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2001
Electrical System
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #889657
Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2001
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED WITH A CLANKING NOISE, THEN IT BEGAN TO SHAKE, AND SKIP GEARS.*AK CONSUMER STATES PART HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. *JB
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.
1992 Ford Tempo Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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