RoadVitals

1992 Ford Tempo Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
40
Latest Sep 9, 2008
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
23%
of 176 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
13
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1992 Ford Tempo submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 40 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming electrical

The 25 most recent of 40, in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed Sep 9, 2008
Fire reported1 death reported

CAR FIRE---CAR WAS PARKED IN MY MOTHER'S CARPORT---CAUGHT ON FIRE AT NIGHT---BURNED THE HOUSE---KILLED MY MOTHER... *TR

NHTSA ID
10241634
Incident
Nov 25, 1993
BrakesElectricalSuspension
Filed Mar 27, 2006

1992 TEMPO RIGHT CALIPER, BATTERY CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE MOTOR NEEDED A COVER. SPRINGS AND STRUTS ALSO NEEDED REPLACING. *TS *JB

NHTSA ID
10154136
Incident
Mar 1, 2006
Electrical
Filed Mar 13, 2003
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR FROM BURDINES HIALEAH PARKING LOT, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SMOKING AND I PULLED INTO THE FIRST PARKING SPOT THAT I SAW. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, BUT THE SMOKE CONTINUED TO INCREASE AND FINALLY THE STEERING WHEEL CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE SECURITY GUARD IN THE PARKING LOT USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO KILL THE FIRE AND THE HIALEAH FIRE DEPART. WAS ALSO CALLED AND CAME IN. WHEN I CALLED MY MECHANIC REGARDING THIS ISSUE, HE TOLD ME IT WAS WEIRD, BECAUSE HE NEVER HEARD OF A STEERING WHEEL CATCHING FIRE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AT THE MECHANIC. ONCE I CAME HOME, I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION. I CALLED FORD THE NEXT DAY AND REPORTED WHAT HAPPENED, THEY AGREED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. THEY TOLD ME NOT TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED UNTIL THEY TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND INVESTIGATE. IN THE MEANTIME, I HAD TO BORROW A CAR BECAUSE FORD REFUSED TO LEND ME A CAR TO GO TO WORK. IT TOOK THEM APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK TO GET BACK TO ME AND THEY CALLED ME TO TELL ME THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE TO HAVE THE CAR FIX AS THEY HAD SENT VIA MAIL SOME RECALL NOTICES. I TOLD THEM THAT I NEVER RECEIVED THESE NOTICES AND THAT I MOVED TO FLORIDA 3 YEARS AGO AND NEVER GOT ANYTHING FROM THEM. I FURTHER EMPHASIZED THAT IF I DID GET THE NOTICE I WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY TAKEN MY CAR TO A FORD DEALER SINCE IT WOULD NOT HAVE COST ME A DIME. THEIR REPRESENTATIVE COULD NOT CARE LESS. SHE TOLD ME THAT FAR AS FORD IS CONCERNED THAT THE FIRE WAS MY FAULT AND THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE AND WOULD NOT HELP/ASSIST WITH THE EXPENSIVE OF REPAIRING THE CAR. IN ANTICIPATION THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO FIND AN AGENCY THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME RECUPERATE MY LOSSES, I RETAINED IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR ALL THE BURNED PARTS INCLUDING THE STEERING WHEEL IN OF THE OF CHANCE THAT I MAY FIND SOME HELP. *JB

NHTSA ID
10010415
Incident
Jan 9, 2003
Electrical
Filed Aug 29, 2002

NHTSA RECALL 96 V 071 000/IMANUFACTURER'S RECALL 95S28 CONCERNING IGTURN SIGNAL AND THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHEN START KEY CHIME WOULD CONTINUE TO GO OFF EVEN AFTER REMOVING THE KEY. CONSUMER HAD TO TAP STEERING COLUMN TO DEACTIVATE THE CHIME. DEALER NOTIFIED,AND INFORMED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT 1992 TEMPO WAS NOT INVOLVED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8017597
Incident
Aug 23, 2002
Electrical
Filed Oct 26, 2001

STALLS/STOPS WHEN WARM, WON'T START AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR A LONG DISTANCE, RUNS ROUGH, HAS SHORTED OUT 2 DISTRIBUTORS. *AK

NHTSA ID
753715
Incident
Jun 1, 2001
Electrical
Filed Jun 4, 2001

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
889657
ElectricalSeat belts
Filed Nov 7, 2000

THE CAR HAS RECENTLY BEGAN TO STALL AFTER STOPPING AT LIGHTS AND INTERSECTIONS, IT USUALLY STALLS IMMEDIATELY AFTER HITTING THE GAS, PUSHING ME INTO THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS THE CAR WILL USUALLY RESTART WITHIN A COUPLE OF MINUTES. AS FAR AS THE SEAT BELTS, AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR THE DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT STOPPED WORKING IT IS NOW STUCK IN ONE POSITION AND WILL NOT MOVE. *AK

NHTSA ID
735899
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
Electrical
Filed Oct 27, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER WILL RESTART ENGINE, THEN IT WILL WORK AGAIN.*AK

NHTSA ID
874027
Incident
Oct 27, 2000
Electrical
Filed Oct 25, 2000

VEHICLE STALLS IN TRAFFIC. VEHICLE HAS BEEN HIT A FEW TIMES BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. MECHANIC DETECTED THAT DISTRIBUTOR MODULE WAS THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
873814
Incident
Apr 1, 2000
Electrical
Filed May 20, 2000

SMOKING LIKE A CIGARETTE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN FORD DEALER IN ATHENS,OHIO SAID MY CAR HAD NO RECALL I AM AFAID IT WILL CATCH ON FIRE LIKE MY BROTHERS 1985 FORD TEMPO THEY NEVER GOT A THING FOR THERE CAR. IT WENT UP IN FLAMES IN A MINUTE. I WANT FORD TO FIX MINE. TELL ME HOW?

NHTSA ID
722954
Incident
May 18, 2000
Electrical
Filed Apr 16, 2000

CAR DOESN'T START COMPUTER MISDIAGNOSING. *AK

NHTSA ID
721548
Incident
Feb 1, 2000
Electrical
Filed Mar 30, 2000

AFTER THE REPAIRS OF RECALL 96V071/ IGNITION SWITCH, VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND WILL REPAIR VEHICLE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
859459
Electrical
Filed Feb 9, 2000

TUMBLER TO IGNITION MALFUNCTIONED, CONSUMER HAS PROBLEMS TURNING KEY AND RING AROUND ENTIRE IGNITION SYSTEM FELL OFF. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
856634
Incident
Feb 9, 1993
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 29, 1999

VEHICLE CONTINUALLY DOES NOT START, SEVERAL REPLACEMENTS/REPAIR ATTEMPTS OF THE (STARTER/SOLENOID/MOTOR,BATTERY,ALTERNATOR/REGULATOR, HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE NO START FAILURE. MJS

NHTSA ID
549566
Incident
Jan 8, 1999
Electrical
Filed Sep 23, 1999

REPLACEMENT DUE TO RECALL IS DEFECTIVE AND MANUFACTURE WANT ME TO PAY FOR REPAIR. NO WAY!!! THEIR PROBLEM AND THEY NEED TO FIX. I NEED HELP!!!!!

NHTSA ID
711926
Incident
Aug 15, 1998
Electrical
Filed May 28, 1999

IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER IS TURNING WHICH IS DIFFICULT WHEN INSERTING KEY OR STARTING VEHICLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
838603
Electrical
Filed Apr 15, 1999

SWICTH INVOVLED IN RECALL REPLACED BY DEALER , APPROXIMATLY TWO WEEKS AGO CAR NOW HAS A FAILURE STARTIN G , RELAY WILL CLICK, NO CORROSION NOR OTHER CONRIBUTING ISSUES NOTED WHEN FAILURE TO START OCCURS...

NHTSA ID
705647
Incident
Apr 15, 1999
Electrical
Filed Mar 31, 1999
Fire reported

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE, RECALL ON COMPONENT, HOWEVER CONSUMER DID NOT RECEIVE SEVERAL RECALL NOTICES, FORD DENIED RECALL REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO FAILURE OF THE CONSUMER TO REPAIR. (95S28)

NHTSA ID
544750
Incident
Sep 10, 1998
Electrical
Filed Dec 16, 1998
Fire reported

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AROUND THE IGNITION SWITCH, BURNING THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER SHOWED THAT VEHICLE WAS FIXED UNDER RECALL IN JULY OF 96. DEALER CHECKED SERVICE RECORD AND HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF VEHICLE BEING RECALLED OR REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
832351
Incident
Dec 4, 1998
Electrical
Filed Jul 30, 1998

ELECTRICAL COMPUTER IS DEFECTIVE, THE DEALER CANNOT GET A DIAGONOSTIC READING FROM THE VEHICLE, THE COMPUTER IS DEFECTIVE AND DOES NOT WORK. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
826095
Incident
Jul 15, 1998
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 7, 1997

RECALL ON IGNITION SWITCH DENIED DUE TO MILEAGE.

NHTSA ID
523570
Electrical
Filed Sep 11, 1997

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SMOKE CAME FROM THE TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SMOKE STOPPED ONCE THE CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER. IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL # 96V071000 IN THE SUMMER OF 96. *AK

NHTSA ID
816271
Incident
Sep 10, 1997
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+5 more
Filed Jul 22, 1997

HORN FAILED.

NHTSA ID
519587
Incident
Apr 6, 1992
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+2 more
Filed Apr 9, 1997

MUFFLER FAILED.

NHTSA ID
516314
Incident
Mar 24, 1997
Electrical
Filed Dec 12, 1996

OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR IGNITION SWITCH,TOOK TO VEHICLE DEALERS, THEY REPAIRED PROBLEM BUT OWNER SEES SMOKE UNDER DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING. *AK

NHTSA ID
806272

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .