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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

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2Investigations

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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

Air Bags complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2000
Air Bags

CLOCK SPRING ACTIVATOR - SENSOR UNIT FAILED AGAIN. DRIVER AIR BAG LIGHT WARNING FLASHES CODE 32. ORIGINAL PART REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS CRITICAL AIR BAG PART SHOULD NOT FAIL. FORD MOTOR TOLD ME TO CONTACT DEALER. DEALER SAID REPLACEMENT NOT COVERED AND TO REPLACE WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE. THIS CRITICAL ACTIVATION COMPONE…

Read full complaint

CLOCK SPRING ACTIVATOR - SENSOR UNIT FAILED AGAIN. DRIVER AIR BAG LIGHT WARNING FLASHES CODE 32. ORIGINAL PART REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS CRITICAL AIR BAG PART SHOULD NOT FAIL. FORD MOTOR TOLD ME TO CONTACT DEALER. DEALER SAID REPLACEMENT NOT COVERED AND TO REPLACE WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE. THIS CRITICAL ACTIVATION COMPONENT IS DEFECTIVE IN DESIGN AND SHOULD NOT FAIL. PLEASE ADVISE IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE TO ASSIST ME AND OTHER DRIVERS WITH THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG OPTION ON THE 1993 FORD TEMPO. THANKS FOR YOU ASSISTANCE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #724633

Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 2000
Air BagsCrash

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING VEHICLE COLLISION. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER) *MJS

NHTSA ODI #550992

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 1999
Air Bags

WHILE TRAVLING THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY FLASHING ON AND OFF. DEALER SAID THEY WOULD CHARGE 75 DOLLARS JUST TO LOOK AT IT. CONSUMER FELT THAT AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #852745

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 1999
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

HOSE/LINE COMING OFF THE BACK OF COMPRESSOR, LINE FROM MANIFOLD TO CONDENSOR FAILED ALSO. MJS

NHTSA ODI #546517

Mileage unknown · May 10, 1999
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF, DUE TO FAILURE OF THE AIR BAG MONITOR SYSTEM. *YC

NHTSA ODI #545452

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 1999
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #833204

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 1997
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrash

VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE PASSENGER'S RIGHT SIDE AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY , ALSO THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETAIN THE DRIVER IN THE SEAT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #807853

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.