Total Complaints
2 filings
FORD TEMPO · model year
1996 FORD TEMPO
2 NHTSA complaints. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996FORDTEMPO carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1996 TEMPO is power train:axle assembly:axle shaft with 1 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:floor shift (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 179 investigation files overlapping the 1996 TEMPO, and 6 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20010118POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
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
19960620POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
HEARD NOISE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES DUE TO WEAR OF THE OUTER FRONT WHEEL BEARING. *AK
Compare 1996FORDTEMPO to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 6 Open
EA26004Engineering AnalysisOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP26004Defect PetitionOpen
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionClosed
Underbody shields detachment
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1996 FORD TEMPO have?▼
The 1996 FORD TEMPO has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 FORD TEMPO?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 FORD TEMPO is POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT.
Is the 1996 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 vintage: August 2026. 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.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1996 FORD TEMPO; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.