RoadVitals

1991 Ford Tempo Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
110
Latest Dec 20, 2008
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
17
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 16, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 110 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 Ford Tempo. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 110 · page 1 of 5

Seat belts
Filed Dec 20, 2008

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

NHTSA ID
10252353
Incident
Dec 9, 2008
Mileage
38,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 24, 2008

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.

NHTSA ID
10249702
Incident
Mar 14, 2005
Mileage
45,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 23, 2007

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

NHTSA ID
10207171
Incident
Sep 21, 2007
Filed Apr 6, 2006

CONSUMER PURCHASED A 1991 TEMPO AND WAS UNAWARE OF THE DEFECTS. *TS *JB

NHTSA ID
10155201
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
BrakesDriver assistanceFuel system
Filed Jul 1, 2005

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

NHTSA ID
10127279
Incident
May 15, 2005
Mileage
40,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jun 22, 2004

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

NHTSA ID
10074147
Incident
Oct 9, 2000
Mileage
105,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 24, 2004

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

NHTSA ID
10067760
Incident
Apr 20, 2004
Mileage
112,633 mi
Seat belts
Filed May 13, 2003

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

NHTSA ID
10018597
Incident
Apr 25, 2003
Mileage
89,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 14, 2003

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN UP AN INCLINE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE BACKWARD. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10015743
Incident
Apr 14, 2003
Steering
Filed Jun 19, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION STEERING WHEEL BROKE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
8012167
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 19, 2002

DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8012166
Engine
Filed Mar 4, 2002

MY CAR HAS A STALLING PROBLEM. SOMETIMES IT JUST DIES WHEN YOU STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND SOMETIMES IT TRY'S TO DIE WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING IT AND I HEARD A RECALL ON THE YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL OF MY CAR ON THE NEWS BUT I DIDN'T GET A LETTER TELLING ME OR SOMETHING THAT I COULD TAKE TO THE DEALER SO I CAN GET IT FIXED. BECAUSE IF I DON'T I'M GOING TO BE IN AN ACCADIENT IF I DON'T AND I HAD LIKE TO GET THE RECALL FIXED BECAUSE I HAVE A 7 MONTH OLD BABY AND DON'T WANT TO BE IN AN ACCADIENT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.*AK

NHTSA ID
758920
Engine
Filed Oct 1, 2001

CONSUMER STATES THAT SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, IT STARTED EXPERIENCING STALLING MOSTLY AFTER COMING TO A STOP, CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO SEVERAL FORD DEALERS WHO CAN NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM AND HAS SPENT A LOT OF MONEY, THE STALLING HAS ALMOST CAUSED A COLLISION, VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 89767 MILES. *SLC

NHTSA ID
563538
Engine
Filed Sep 20, 2001

WHEN TRAVELING AT 50MPH AND COMING UP TO A STOP LIGHT/SIGN, VEHICLE WOULD STALL FOR NO REASON. HAD TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR PROBLEM. EACH TIME A TEMPORARY FIX, AND THEN IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. MECHANIC HAD TEST DRIVEN VEHICLE AND IT STALLED.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
896617
Incident
Sep 13, 2001
Electrical
Filed Sep 13, 2001

CAR STALLED IN A INTERSECTION JUST MISSED BEING HIT BY A LARGE TRUCK. CAR STALLS ALOT. FORD ATTEMPED TO FIX BUT IT CONTINUES TO STALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
752148
Incident
Sep 13, 2001
Electrical
Filed Aug 14, 2001

I ALWAYS BLAMED MY PROBLEM ON THE TYPE OF GAS I WAS USING! FIRST TIME VEHICLE STALLED WAS WHEN IT WAS JUST A YEAR OR SO OLD. SINCE THEN, OVER THE YEARS, IT ALWAYS MANAGES TO STALL ON A HOT DAY. WE DON'T HAVE MANY HOT DAYS HERE. HAVE ONLY BEEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ONCE - HAD TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER TO WAIT FOR COOLING. DID THIS MANY TIMES. AM 73 YR. OLD DUMB BLONDE!! HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY A MECHANIC, HE COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. PEOPLE THREW OUT IDEAS - FUEL PUMP? WAS ALERTED BY THE CALIFORNIA CASE - NOW I KNOW WHAT MY PROBLEM IS!*AK

NHTSA ID
750401
Engine
Filed Jul 31, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ON TURNPIKE, CONSUMERS MUFFLER/RESONATOR FELL OFF CAUSING DAMAGE TO LEFT REAR BUMPER, ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE.(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT#10-90-340)*JB

NHTSA ID
562270
Incident
Jun 15, 2001
Engine
Filed Feb 26, 2001

VEHICLE WOULD STOP WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. *AK

NHTSA ID
881480
Incident
Jan 1, 2001
Engine
Filed Feb 26, 2001

WHEN DRVING AT ANY TIME AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE CUTS OFF IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
881445
Engine
Filed Feb 16, 2001

I HAVE TO DRIVE THROUGH AS MANY AS 15 RED LIGHTS, AND I HAVE TO DRIVE THROUGH THESE LIGHTS AT A RATE OF 5 TIMES A WEEK. SEVERAL OF THESE RED LIGHTS ARE LOCATED IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS. MY CAR HAS STALLED/DIED DURING IDLING OVER 50 TIMES AND COUNTING. USUALLY WHEN IT IS WARM WEATHER AND THE CAR IS IDLING AND HEATED UP TO A NORMAL TEMPERATURE. ITS RANDOM BASED, IN THE SUMMER COULD BE 10-20 STOPS BEFORE IT STALLS AND DIES, USUALLY WHEN I START TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN. I REPLACED ALL THE ELECTRICAL EQUIPTMENT AND EGR PARTS, AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURED. DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPTMENT SHOWS NO PROBLEMS. I DID NOT LEARN ABOUT THIS HIDDEN DEFECT UNTIL THE NEWS MEDIA ANNOUNCED MAJOR LAWSUITS AGAINST FORD FOR THIS HIDDEN PROBLEM, WHICH MATCHES MY SYMPTOMS EXACTLY. IT IS A SHAME THAT FORD KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND DID NOT PUT OUT ANY SERVICE ADVISORIES, AND IN FACT, DISCLAIMED THIS PROBLEM! I INVITED THE FORD PEOPLE TO COME RIDE IN THE CAR SINCE THEY CLAIM THE CAR IS SAFE. IT IS NOT FUN AND SAFE FOR AN 18-WHEELER TO HAVE TO STOP AT A GREEN-LIGHT WHEN I AM STALLED AND TRYING TO START MY FORD TEMPO!!!*AK

NHTSA ID
741043
Electrical
Filed Feb 7, 2001

IGNITION LOCK DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN STICKING KEY INTO IGNITION LOCK IT SEEMS LIKE HAVING THE WRONG KEY.AK

NHTSA ID
880006
Incident
Jan 1, 2001
Electrical
Filed Jan 23, 2001

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON DASH, AND VEHICLE CUTS OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
878840
Engine
Filed Nov 29, 2000

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STALLED 7 DIFFERENT TIMES BEFORE THE CONSUMER GOT IT HOME. *SLC

NHTSA ID
557670
Electrical
Filed Oct 30, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
874125
Electrical
Filed Oct 12, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERLR STATED IGNITION COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
872810

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.

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