HOSE/LINE COMING OFF THE BACK OF COMPRESSOR, LINE FROM MANIFOLD TO CONDENSOR FAILED ALSO. MJS
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 →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: 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.
Electrical System complaints
37 reportsI HAVE THE FOLLOWING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH MY CAR SINCE LAST FEBRUARY: WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MILES OF DRIVING, THE CAR SHUTS DOWN. IT START UP AGAIN AFTER ANYWHERE FROM ONE MINUTE TO TWO MINUTES. AFTER I GO ABOUT 3 MILES WITHOUT IT HAPPENING, IT WON'T SHUT DOWN AGAIN. ALSO, SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF TO RUN IN THE …
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I HAVE THE FOLLOWING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH MY CAR SINCE LAST FEBRUARY: WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MILES OF DRIVING, THE CAR SHUTS DOWN. IT START UP AGAIN AFTER ANYWHERE FROM ONE MINUTE TO TWO MINUTES. AFTER I GO ABOUT 3 MILES WITHOUT IT HAPPENING, IT WON'T SHUT DOWN AGAIN. ALSO, SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF TO RUN IN THE STORE, AND WHEN I TRY TO START IT WHEN I COME OUT, IT WON'T START. THEN AFTER ABOUT 1 TO 2 MINUTES IT STARTS. I BROUGHT IT TO A FORD DEALER, THEY CHECKED OUT THE COMPUTER AND SENSORS, CLEANED THE INJECTION SYSTEM FOR THE FUEL, BUT COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. SINCE THEN THE FOLLOWING PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITHOUT THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. IGNITION MODULE, DISTRIBUTOR CAP, ROTOR, PLUG WIRES, SPARK PLUGS, GAS FILTER, IGNITION COIL, PICKUP COIL, AND THE COMPUTER. THE CAR WOULD NOT START FOR A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THERE WAS NO SPARK, SO THE PROBLEM IS ELECTRICAL. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THIS WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. *AK
I HAVE THE FOLLOWING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH MY CAR SINCE LAST FEBRUARY: WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MILES OF DRIVING, THE CAR SHUTS DOWN. IT STARTS UP AGAIN AFTER ANYWHERE FROM ONE MINUTE TO TWO MINUTES. AFTER I GO ABOUT 3 MILES WITHOUT IT HAPPENING, IT WON'T SHUT DOWN AGAIN. ALSO, SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF TO RUN IN THE…
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I HAVE THE FOLLOWING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH MY CAR SINCE LAST FEBRUARY: WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MILES OF DRIVING, THE CAR SHUTS DOWN. IT STARTS UP AGAIN AFTER ANYWHERE FROM ONE MINUTE TO TWO MINUTES. AFTER I GO ABOUT 3 MILES WITHOUT IT HAPPENING, IT WON'T SHUT DOWN AGAIN. ALSO, SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF TO RUN IN THE STORE, AND WHEN I TRY TO START IT WHEN I COME OUT, IT WON'T START. THEN AFTER ABOUT 1 TO 2 MINUTES IT STARTS. I BROUGHT IT TO A FORD DEALER, THEY CHECKED OUT THE COMPUTER AND SENSORS, CLEANED THE INJECTION SYSTEM FOR THE FUEL, BUT COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. SINCE THEN THE FOLLOWING PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITHOUT THE PROBLEM BEING FIXED. IGNITION MODULE, DISTRIBUTOR/CAP/ROTOR/PLUG WIRES AND SPARK PLUGS, GAS FILTER, IGNITION COIL, PICKUP COIL, AND THE COMPUTER. THE CAR WOULD NOT START FOR A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THERE WAS NO SPARK, SO THE PROBLEM IS ELECTRICAL. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THIS, WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.
THIS ARE SAFETY RECALLS BY NHTSA THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO FIX PUTTING ME AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER! PLEASE HELP THIS CAR IS A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. THE ENGINE COOLING FAN IS DEFECTIVE, THE IGNITION SWITCH WON'T EVEN TURN MOST OF THE TIME, AND THE PCV IS ALSO DEFECTIVE AND MAKES THE ENGINE VIBERATE! ALSO THE CRANK…
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THIS ARE SAFETY RECALLS BY NHTSA THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO FIX PUTTING ME AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER! PLEASE HELP THIS CAR IS A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. THE ENGINE COOLING FAN IS DEFECTIVE, THE IGNITION SWITCH WON'T EVEN TURN MOST OF THE TIME, AND THE PCV IS ALSO DEFECTIVE AND MAKES THE ENGINE VIBERATE! ALSO THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ALL OF THOSE PROBLEMS WAS RECALLED BY NHTSA AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS TOLD TO FIX IT AT NO COST TO THE OWNERS OF FORD TEMPO! NOW THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT THEREFORE PUTTING ME IN DANGER! PLEASE HELP. *AK
FLOOR MAT BECAME STUCK UNDER GAS PEDAL CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE.
SEATBELT (ALL) MOTOR DOESN'T RUN AND BACKSEAT STICK, POWER LOCKS ONLY WORK WHEN IT WARM, DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. CAMSHAFT PULLEY WAS RECALLED AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, JUST AFTER WARRANTY RAN OUT IT BROKE AGAIN. BRAKES GO OUT EVER SIX MONTH, REPLACED WATERPUMP TWICE, IDLE PULLEY, FAN MOTOR AND THE LOWER FRONT BALL J…
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SEATBELT (ALL) MOTOR DOESN'T RUN AND BACKSEAT STICK, POWER LOCKS ONLY WORK WHEN IT WARM, DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. CAMSHAFT PULLEY WAS RECALLED AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, JUST AFTER WARRANTY RAN OUT IT BROKE AGAIN. BRAKES GO OUT EVER SIX MONTH, REPLACED WATERPUMP TWICE, IDLE PULLEY, FAN MOTOR AND THE LOWER FRONT BALL JOINTS, STARTER, ALTERNATOR, BATTERY TWICE, ENTIRE MUFFLER SYSTEM 3 TIMES, BAR THAT GOES ACROSS THE FRONT BY THE WHEELS, BLOWER MOTOR CHRIPS AND SQUEEKS AT LOW BLOWING SPEEDS, REPLACE MUFFLER HEAT SHIELDS AND THERE STILL IS CLANGING NOISE IN THE FRONT CRANKSHAFT, ALSO REPLACED MOTOR MOUNTS, SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE BEATER IT WAS MUCH CHEAPER.
IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED ON JANUARY 15, 97. THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE, AND THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN AND DEALER STATED NO WARRANTY. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS HAPPENED AT STOP SIGNS/ TRAFFIC LIGHTS,WHILE TURNING CORNERS AND IN TRAFFIC. ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF STALLING.*AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE GENERAL AREA OF DASHBOARD DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH. FIRE CAUSED LOSS OF HOUSE/GARAGE. CAR WAS TOTALED. *AK *JB
VEHICLE STALLS IN TRAFFIC. DEALER CANNOT FIX. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. *AK
Official recalls
297V019000 · 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
2EA96024 · 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.
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