1996 Ford Tempo

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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2Owner complaints

Model-year median: 30

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

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: 0 of 2 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.

Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

2 reports

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2000

Power Train

I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1996 FORD CONTOUR AND DON'T KNOW IF THE RECALLS HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. DO I NEED A RECALL AUTHORIZATION OR SOMETHING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THE FLOOR SHIFTER ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY NEED TO BE REPAIRED. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS PART OF THE RECALL #98V23300. PLEASE ADVISE…

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I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1996 FORD CONTOUR AND DON'T KNOW IF THE RECALLS HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. DO I NEED A RECALL AUTHORIZATION OR SOMETHING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THE FLOOR SHIFTER ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY NEED TO BE REPAIRED. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS PART OF THE RECALL #98V23300. PLEASE ADVISE HOW I SHOULD PROCEED. I DID NOT SEE ANOTHER FORM TO REQUEST THIS INFORMATION. THANK YOU, KAREN L. JOHNSON

NHTSA ODI #738027

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 1996

Power Train

HEARD NOISE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES DUE TO WEAR OF THE OUTER FRONT WHEEL BEARING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #985909

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.