FORD TEMPO · model year

1993 FORD TEMPO

316 NHTSA complaints, 21 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1993FORDTEMPO carries 316 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 21 crashes, 5 fires, 31 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1993 TEMPO is seat belts with 38 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (26) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (26). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1993 TEMPO, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

316
Complaints
21
Crashes
5
Fires
31
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

316 filings

Crashes Reported

21 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SEAT BELTS38
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE26
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE26
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION18
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION14
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR8
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE8
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL7
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS5
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM5

Recent Complaints

20090915ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TEMPO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND RESUMED OPERATION; HOWEVER, IT STALLED ON THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE IGNITION MODULE WHICH HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

Mileage: 95,000

20080627ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TEMPO. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER, BUT WHEN THE KEY WAS SLIGHTLY TURNED IN THE IGNITION, SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IN THE VEHICLE WOULD START. WHEN THE CONTACT CHANGES THE KEY SLIGHTLY IN THE IGNITION, HE LOSES ALL POWER AND CAN HEAR AN ELECTRICAL SPARK AS IF IT IS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A CONNECTION. THE VEHICLE GOES FROM HAVING NO POWER TO POWER, DEPENDING ON THE SPARKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR THIS FAILURE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, THE BATTERIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. A NEW BATTERY WAS RECENTLY INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE AND THE FUSES WERE REPLACED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. IN ADDITION, THE STARTER WAS REPLACED, THE TERMINAL CABLES WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES, AND THE VEHICLE HAD MORE TUNE-UPS THAN WHAT WAS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V071000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION). THE CURRENT MILEAG

Mileage: 40,000

20051031TIRES:TREAD/BELT

DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE A LARGE BULGE APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES IN LENGTH AND 3 INCHES WIDE WAS FOUND IN THE TREAD OF THE TIRE NEAR THE SIDEWALL. THE NAME OF THE TIRE IS CORDOVAN NOVA 70 METRIC RADIAL AND IS MADE IN BRAZIL. *NM

20050331TIRES:TREAD/BELT

ALL FOUR TIRES DEVELOPED SLIPPED BELTS, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO CURRENT RECALLS ON THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF TIRE.*AK

20041024FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

INTERMITENTLY RANDOM STALLING. CAR WILL NOT START FOR A FEW MINUTES. THEN, EVERYTHING SEEMS OKAY, AND CAR RUNS FINE. CONSUMER ISOALTED PROBLEM TO FUEL PUMP RELAY INSIDE "CONSTANT CONTROL" RELAY BOX. REPLACING THIS MODULE COMPLETELY CORRECTED PROBLEM. YOU CAN ISOLATE THIS PROBLEM BY PUTTING A VOLT-METER ON INPUT AND OUTPUT OF RELAY. THEN, WHEN PROBLEM OCCURS, THE INPUT WILL BE HIGH (12V), BUT THERE WILL BE NO OUTPUT FROM RELAY, PROVING BAD RELAY. I HAVE KEPT THIS MODULE IF WANTED FOR TESTING/INSPECTION. CONSUMERS HAVING STALLING PROBLEM CAN CONTACT ME AT OSPAMCHRIS_LAWSON@YAHOO.COM (REMOVE "NOSPAM.) *AK

Mileage: 78,000

20040423ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

THE IGNITION SWITCH EXPERIENCED AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE NOT STARTING. RECALL 96V071000 WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

Mileage: 22,400

20031124ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

Mileage: 58,000

20031124UNKNOWN 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 MANUFACTURER WILL BE INFORMED OF THE PROBLEMS. *JB

Mileage: 58,000

20030821POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

BECAUSE I'M NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REPAIR MY CAR. I'VE PUT ALOT OF MONEY IN MY CAR AND I'M STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. FROM IT CUTTING OFF WHEN I STOP TO CONSTANTLY HAVING TO GET MY ROTORS TURN . I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW CAN I GET HELP? THEY DON'T EVEN SEND ME RECALL NOTICES. I WAS SURFING THE NET TONIGHT AND MOST OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE WITH MY CAR IT'S LISTED IN THE RECALL LIST.MY CAR IS A 1993 FORD TEMPO.PLEASE HELP ME AS SOON AS YOU CAN BEFORE I HAVE A MAJOR ACCIDENT( MY BRAKES ACT LIKE THEY DON'T WONT TO STOP).THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME OUT. SINCERELY [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

20030821ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

BECAUSE I'M NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REPAIR MY CAR. I'VE PUT ALOT OF MONEY IN MY CAR AND I'M STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. FROM IT CUTTING OFF WHEN I STOP TO CONSTANTLY HAVING TO GET MY ROTORS TURN . I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW CAN I GET HELP? THEY DON'T EVEN SEND ME RECALL NOTICES. I WAS SURFING THE NET TONIGHT AND MOST OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE WITH MY CAR IT'S LISTED IN THE RECALL LIST.MY CAR IS A 1993 FORD TEMPO.PLEASE HELP ME AS SOON AS YOU CAN BEFORE I HAVE A MAJOR ACCIDENT( MY BRAKES ACT LIKE THEY DON'T WONT TO STOP).THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME OUT. SINCERELY [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

20030821FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

BECAUSE I'M NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REPAIR MY CAR. I'VE PUT ALOT OF MONEY IN MY CAR AND I'M STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. FROM IT CUTTING OFF WHEN I STOP TO CONSTANTLY HAVING TO GET MY ROTORS TURN . I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW CAN I GET HELP? THEY DON'T EVEN SEND ME RECALL NOTICES. I WAS SURFING THE NET TONIGHT AND MOST OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE WITH MY CAR IT'S LISTED IN THE RECALL LIST.MY CAR IS A 1993 FORD TEMPO.PLEASE HELP ME AS SOON AS YOU CAN BEFORE I HAVE A MAJOR ACCIDENT( MY BRAKES ACT LIKE THEY DON'T WONT TO STOP).THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME OUT. SINCERELY [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

20030630ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING.*AK

20030619LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

AUTOMATIC SYSTEM, NEITHER THE MANUAL ON THE FRONT PASSENGER AND THE DRIVER REAR SIDE DOORS CAN'T OPEN. EALER HAS REPAIREDEVERAL TIMES,AND PROBLEM IS OCCURRING.*AK

20030421TIRES:TREAD/BELT

AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLES TIRES WERE 6 MONTHS OLD AT TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE CONSUMER HAD THE TIRES CHECKED FOR SAFETY BEFORE BEGINNING THE TRIP (TIRE INFO: GOODYEAR, 185/70R14, PLEASE PROVIDE THE DOT #). *NLM

20030421TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 THE RIGHT DRIVER SIDE GOODYEAR TIRE TREAD SEPARTED FROM THE TIRE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

20030416TIRES

THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT. *JB THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD SPLIT APART. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE TIRE WHICH WAS SOLD TO HER NEW WAS PLUGGED PRIOR TO INCIDENT. *SCC

20030302VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

WITHOUT WARNING, REAR POWER WINDOW CAME UP PINNING MY WIFES ARM BETWEEN GLASS AND TOP OF DOOR. WE WERE UNABLE TO STOP WINDOW FROM CONTINUING TO TRY TO CLOSE. WE TURNED THE CAR OFF AT THIS POINT, BUT IT CONTINUED TO RISE, FINALLY AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF TRYING TO RELEASE THE WINDOW MY WIFE WAS IN SUCH PAIN THAT I WAS FORCED TO BEND THE WINDOW AND IT SHATTERED RELEASING HER ARM. SHE WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WHERE SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BAD SPRAIN. I THANK GOD THAT I WAS THERE TO HELP AND THAT MY SEVEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS NOT THERE AT THE TIME AS SHE ALWAYS SITS IN HER CAR SEAT IN THE REAR SEAT. THANK YOU. *JB

Mileage: 180,000

20030216ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

I HAVE A 1993 FORD TEMPO, THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY STOPED SPINNING.I FOUND A RECALL ON THE INTERNET FOR MY CAR,AND THE SAME PROBLEM.I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR CAME FROM A DIFFERENT LOCATION SO THE RECALL DOES NOT PERTAIN TO ME.APPARENTLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR.

Mileage: 137,582

20030210FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED, THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE IGNITION.*JB

20030205ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

AFTER HALF HOUR OF DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, ENGINE GAUGE INDICATE IS OVERHEAT, DUE TO A FAULTY ENGINE SENSOR. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER. PH *TR

Compare 1993FORDTEMPO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1993 FORD TEMPO have?
The 1993 FORD TEMPO has 316 NHTSA complaints, 21 crashes, 5 fires, 31 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 FORD TEMPO?
The most-complained component for the 1993 FORD TEMPO is SEAT BELTS with 38 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1993 FORD TEMPO safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.