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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.

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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

5 reports
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58,000 miles · Nov 24, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER DROVE TO A NEAR-BY MECHANIC, WHO DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLES. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE WORN, THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT AND THE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ALSO INOPERABLE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUF…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER DROVE TO A NEAR-BY MECHANIC, WHO DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLES. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE WORN, THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT AND THE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ALSO INOPERABLE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE INFORMED OF THE PROBLEMS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10048562

Mileage unknown · May 8, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

VEHICLE WAS STALLING IN HOT WEATHER/ 80-100 DEGREES. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #887707

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2000
Unknown Or Other

I HAVE MADE ABOUT $10000 REPAIR AND IT IS IN THE SHOP @ LEAST 1 MONTH. I AM VERY UNSATISFIED WITH THE RESPONSE I HAVE GOTTON WITH FORD. RECALLS HAVE BEEN DONE AND I STILL HAVE LOTS OF PROBLEMS. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #717856

Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 1997
Unknown Or Other

SECOND OCCURRENCE, WHEN DRIVING FLOOR MAT OBSTRUCTED ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING SUDDENLY UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION, PEDAL BECAME STUCK UNDERNEATH FLOOR MAT, AS RESULT SPEED INCREASED FROM 50-75MPH, FRONT SEAT PASSENGER HAD TO REACH DOWN TO PULL UP PEDAL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #809130

Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED.

NHTSA ODI #511107

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.