RoadVitals

1992 Ford Tempo Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
45
Latest Mar 26, 2010
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.
26%
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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 45 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 engine

The 25 most recent of 45, in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Mar 26, 2010

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD TEMPO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT SOME OF THE LUG NUTS WERE MISSING. A LOCAL MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND TO CONTAIN NO CATALYTIC CONVERTER; FURTHERMORE, NEITHER THE HORN AND NOR ANY OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY. THE CONTACT RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 66,000. UPDATED 5/12/10 *CN UPDATED 06/11/10. *JB

NHTSA ID
10322369
Incident
Mar 17, 2009
Mileage
66,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 27, 2005
Fire reported

ALL GASKETS & SEALS LEAK. NEEDS ABOUT A QUART OF OIL PER 15 MILES. BECAUSE OF OIL DRIPPING, CAR CATCHES ON FIRE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT PROBLEM, TOO EXPENSIVE!

NHTSA ID
10122321
Incident
Jan 15, 2003
Mileage
89,000 mi
BrakesEngineFuel system+6 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004

THE HORN QUIT WORKING, THE COOLING FAN HAS QUIT TWICE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED , NOW THE FAN PROBLEN IS IN THE WIRING , HAVENT FIXED IT YET, THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE RIGH HEADLIGHT HS BEEN REPLACED 7 TIMES IN 3 YEARS, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT NO LONGER WORKS , THE TRANSMISSION LEAKS AT THE DRIVERS SIDE CV AXLE AND THE DRIVERS SIDE CV ASLE HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS , THE MAX FUEL ECONOMY IS 16 MPG (HIGHWAY), THE ENGINE IDLES UP AND DOWN AT STOP SIGNS , THE IGNITION SWITCH ON THE STEERING WHEEL HAS CAME UNPLUGGED WHILE DRIVING TWICE , THE A/C HAS QUIT WORKING , THE CLEAR COAT HAS JUST ABOUT ALL PEELED OFF , THE REAR BRAKES HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED MANUALLY ABOUT ONCE EVERY 2 MONTHS , THE ALTERNATOR SQUEELS , THE RACK-N-PINION STEERING SEAL BURSTED SO THE POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKS , .

NHTSA ID
10071044
Incident
May 15, 2002
Mileage
170,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 23, 2002

THE ENGINE BLEW A ROD WHILE DRIVING MAKING A 3 INCH WHOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE AND CAUSING SMOKE AND OIL TO EXPELL FROM THE ENGINE. NLM

NHTSA ID
567195
Incident
Aug 1, 2002
Engine
Filed Jun 13, 2001

VEHICLE EXPERINCEING ON GOING/INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH STALLING, MOSTLY IN HOT WEATHER CONDITION. VEHICLE WOULD RESTART APROXIMATELY 1/2 HRS LATER ON. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATON.*AK

NHTSA ID
890317
Incident
Jul 15, 1997
Engine
Filed Oct 16, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH ON/OFF. SOON AFTER VEHICLE WOULD STALL, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE STARTER SWITCH AND THE GAS FILTER EVERY 6 MONTHS, BUT THE STALLING STILL OCCURS, POSSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEM. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
873028
Incident
Apr 1, 2000
Engine
Filed Jan 10, 2000

THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY ON THE FORD TEMPO IS DEFECTIVE. WE CONTACTED THE COMPANY ABOUT IT AND THEY TOLD THEY KNEW IT WAS A PROMBLEM, BUT THAT NOTHING WOULD BE DONE. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY FORD OWNERS AND MANY MECHANICS AND THEY ALL SAY THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS THAT DRIVE THESE CARS TO AND FROM COLLEGE. ONE BROKE DOWN WITH THIS PULLEY PROBLEM AND WAS COMPLETELEY STRANDED. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECAL OR REIMBERS OWNERS FOR THE HUGE EXSPENSENCE OF THEIR FAULTY CAR COMPONENETS. *AK

NHTSA ID
717148
Incident
Jan 1, 1998
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
Engine
Filed Sep 28, 1999

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY, BULLETIN 94M83 DENIED DUE TO TIME LIMIT. MJS

NHTSA ID
548764
Engine
Filed Dec 10, 1998

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE IS A LOUD NOISE COMING THE ENGINE. DEALER STATES THE NOISE IS COMING FROM THE CRANKSHAFT: PULLEY, AND THE DEALER GAVE THE CONSUMER A REPLACEMENT PART FOR THE VEHICLE. THE PART DOESN'T FIT. *AK

NHTSA ID
832126
Incident
Nov 12, 1998
Engine
Filed Aug 19, 1998

ENGINE/TRANSMISSION MOUNTS FAILED. QCAW

NHTSA ID
542142
Incident
Jul 18, 1998
Engine
Filed Jul 14, 1998

CATALYTIC CONVERTER BROKE.

NHTSA ID
537884
Incident
Jul 5, 1998
Engine
Filed Jul 10, 1998
Fire reported

CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATED AND MELTED THE WIRING PLUG AND PART OF THE WIRING INSULATION, RESULTING IN A FIRE.

NHTSA ID
538140
Incident
Jun 15, 1998
Engine
Filed Mar 12, 1998

HARMONIC BALANCER ON THE FLYWHEEL IS FAULTY, RECALL COMPONENT HOWEVER VEHICLE DENIED DUE TO MILEAGE.

NHTSA ID
532576
Engine
Filed Jan 9, 1998

ENGINE CRANKSHAFT:PULLEY FAILED AFTER SERVICE RECALL. DEALER REFUSED RECALL REPAIRS DUE TO EXPIRATION OF RECALL. OWNER CLAIMS NEVER RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION (94M83). *AK

NHTSA ID
522920
Incident
Aug 15, 1997
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 7, 1997

RECALL ON IGNITION SWITCH DENIED DUE TO MILEAGE.

NHTSA ID
523570
Engine
Filed Sep 16, 1997

WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR APPROACHING STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
816392
Engine
Filed Sep 15, 1997

ENGINE COOLING FAN DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ID
521088
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+5 more
Filed Jul 22, 1997

HORN FAILED.

NHTSA ID
519587
Incident
Apr 6, 1992
Engine
Filed Jul 15, 1997

VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM FAILED, CAUSING ODOR.

NHTSA ID
519452
Incident
Nov 1, 1992
BrakesEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 16, 1997

THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ARE CAUSING THE BRAKE SHOES TO MALFUNCTION, AND THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THERE ARE NO BRAKES. *AK THE OIL PAN DRAIN PLUG REPLACED FOUR TIMES AND IT STILL LEAKS. *YH

NHTSA ID
813104
Incident
May 1, 1997
Engine
Filed Jun 16, 1997

DASH AREA ATTAINING TEMPERATURE OF 170 DEGREES.

NHTSA ID
518604
Engine
Filed Jun 10, 1997

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE TSB #94M83, HOWEVER DENIED DUE TO MILEAGE AND AGE. MJS

NHTSA ID
514751
Incident
Dec 30, 1996
Engine
Filed May 14, 1997

RECALL ON COOLING FAN--THE PARTICULAR ENGINE IN THIS CAR DOESN'T FALL UNDER RECALL, BUT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
517236
Engine
Filed Apr 17, 1997

SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID
811073
Incident
Apr 14, 1997

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 .