Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 110 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 Ford Tempo, most frequently naming the engine, electrical and brakes categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 4 NHTSA investigations name it; and 42 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 1995 | 2 | 10 |
| Jul 1995 | 1 | 11 |
| Aug 1995 | 1 | 12 |
| Sep 1995 | 3 | 15 |
| Oct 1995 | 2 | 17 |
| Nov 1995 | 1 | 18 |
| Dec 1995 | 2 | 20 |
| Jan 1996 | 2 | 22 |
| Feb 1996 | 3 | 25 |
| Mar 1996 | 2 | 27 |
| Apr 1996 | 2 | 29 |
| May 1996 | 5 | 34 |
| Jul 1996 | 4 | 38 |
| Aug 1996 | 2 | 40 |
| Sep 1996 | 2 | 42 |
| Oct 1996 | 5 | 47 |
| Dec 1996 | 1 | 48 |
| Jan 1997 | 4 | 52 |
| Feb 1997 | 2 | 54 |
| Mar 1997 | 1 | 55 |
| May 1997 | 1 | 56 |
| Jun 1997 | 2 | 58 |
| Aug 1997 | 1 | 59 |
| Oct 1997 | 3 | 62 |
| Nov 1997 | 2 | 64 |
| Jan 1998 | 1 | 65 |
| Feb 1998 | 1 | 66 |
| Mar 1998 | 1 | 67 |
| Apr 1998 | 1 | 68 |
| May 1998 | 1 | 69 |
| Jul 1998 | 2 | 71 |
| Oct 1998 | 1 | 72 |
| Jan 1999 | 1 | 73 |
| May 1999 | 2 | 75 |
| Aug 1999 | 2 | 77 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 78 |
| Feb 2000 | 1 | 79 |
| Mar 2000 | 1 | 80 |
| Jun 2000 | 1 | 81 |
| Aug 2000 | 1 | 82 |
| Sep 2000 | 2 | 84 |
| Oct 2000 | 3 | 87 |
| Nov 2000 | 1 | 88 |
| Jan 2001 | 1 | 89 |
| Feb 2001 | 4 | 93 |
| Jul 2001 | 1 | 94 |
| Aug 2001 | 1 | 95 |
| Sep 2001 | 2 | 97 |
| Oct 2001 | 1 | 98 |
| Mar 2002 | 1 | 99 |
| Jun 2002 | 2 | 101 |
| Apr 2003 | 1 | 102 |
| May 2003 | 1 | 103 |
| Apr 2004 | 1 | 104 |
| Jun 2004 | 1 | 105 |
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 106 |
| Apr 2006 | 1 | 107 |
| Oct 2007 | 1 | 108 |
| Nov 2008 | 1 | 109 |
| Dec 2008 | 1 | 110 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES
There is no summary currently available
ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES
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.
REAR BRK ADJUSTER FAILURE
1984 - 1991 FORD TEMPO/MERCURY TOPAZ
REAR BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
SHOULDER HARNESS FOR BOTH FRONT OCCUPANTS FAILS TO LOCK WHEN VEHICLE MAKES A DRASTIC STOP. FORD SHOWS NO RECALL. I HAD TO MODIFY THE LOCKING HARNESS TO MAKE IT A FULL TIME RESTRAINT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD TEMPO. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V071000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE DEALER WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 45,000.
1991 FORD TEMPO STARTED SMOKING AND THEN DEBRIS FLEW OFF AND HIT THE VEHICLE BEHIND HER. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AS SHE ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND LOOKED UNDER IT AND DISCOVERED OIL WAS LEAKING AND PIECE OF FROM THE VEHICLE WAS MISSING. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT)*JB
CONSUMER PURCHASED A 1991 TEMPO AND WAS UNAWARE OF THE DEFECTS. *TS *JB
DT: THE CALLER TOOK VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR BRAKES, ROTORS, PADS AND CALIPERS REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE CAME BACK IN WORSE SHAPE THAN IT WAS BEFORE THE REPAIRS. THE CAR WAS MUCH HARDER TO HANDLE, AND SHOOK VIOLENTLY. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND STEERED TO THE LEFT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DROPPED OFF ON JUNE 21, 2005 THE GAS TANK WAS FULL, AND THE TRIP ODOMETER HAD JUST BEEN RESET, AND MILEAGE WAS 0. CONSUMER PICKED UP THE CAR 6 DAYS LATER AND THE CAR WAS ON EMPTY AND THE TRIP ODOMETER SHOWED 136 MILES. THE SHOP OWNER WAS CALLED THE NEXT MORNING AND WAS VERY ANGRY WITH THE CONSUMER BECAUSE SHE HAD THE NERVE TO BRING THIS TO HIS ATTENTION, THAT WAS WHAT THE REPAIR SHOP OWNER SAID. THERE WAS A SODA POP LID IN THE POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR WHEN THE CONSUMER CHECKED THE VEHICLE AFTER SHE RETURNED HOME. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS AS OF YET. THE CONSUMER WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP TWICE FOR BRAKES. OWNER CHARGED THE CONSUMER $425.00 AND THE BRAKES STILL DID NOT WORK. CONSUMER HAS NO INFORMATION ON THE DEALER, OR AN ADDRESS. THE REPAIR SHOP WAS EXPRESS, SMOG AND TUNE ON 1234 NORTH BOULDER HIGHWAY, HENDERSON,NEVADA.*AK
INTERMITTENTLY FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED TO FUNCTION. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MOTOR TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. *AK *NM
TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY THE WINDSHIELDWIPERS BEGAN SLOWING DOWN AND THE CAR WAS LOSING POWER A NEW ALTERNATOR WAS INSTALLED A WEEK PRIOR WHEN I POPPED THE HOOD THERE WAS A SMELL OF BURNING WIRES AND THE WIRES COMING FROM THE CAR TO THE ALTERNATOR WERE COMPLETELY MELTED, AND THERE WAS NO CONNECTION TO THE ALTERNATOR. THE TERMINAL WAS REPLACED AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS ALSO REPLACED, I DROVE 45 MILES FROM THE SHOP TO MY HOUSE AND CHECK UNDER THE HOOD THE CABLE ENTERING THE ALTERNATOR HAD ALREADY BEGAN TO MELT AND BUBBLE. *AK
DOOR OPERATED SHOULDER BELT FAILED, IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A LARGE NUMBER OF THIS THING HAPPENING, ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS IN THIS AREA. NO PART OF RESTRAINT SYSTEM SHOULD EVER FAIL. MANUFACTURERS HAVE DISCONTINUED USING THIS. WONDER WHY? *JB
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.