RoadVitals

1993 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.
35
Latest Sep 15, 2009
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.
15%
of 227 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.
5
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 1993 Ford Tempo submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 35 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 35, in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed Sep 15, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TEMPO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND RESUMED OPERATION; HOWEVER, IT STALLED ON THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE IGNITION MODULE WHICH HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID
10284061
Incident
Jul 25, 2009
Mileage
95,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 27, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TEMPO. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER, BUT WHEN THE KEY WAS SLIGHTLY TURNED IN THE IGNITION, SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IN THE VEHICLE WOULD START. WHEN THE CONTACT CHANGES THE KEY SLIGHTLY IN THE IGNITION, HE LOSES ALL POWER AND CAN HEAR AN ELECTRICAL SPARK AS IF IT IS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A CONNECTION. THE VEHICLE GOES FROM HAVING NO POWER TO POWER, DEPENDING ON THE SPARKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR THIS FAILURE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, THE BATTERIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. A NEW BATTERY WAS RECENTLY INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE AND THE FUSES WERE REPLACED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. IN ADDITION, THE STARTER WAS REPLACED, THE TERMINAL CABLES WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES, AND THE VEHICLE HAD MORE TUNE-UPS THAN WHAT WAS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V071000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID
10232531
Incident
Jan 15, 2004
Mileage
40,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 23, 2004

THE IGNITION SWITCH EXPERIENCED AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE NOT STARTING. RECALL 96V071000 WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10071441
Mileage
22,400 mi
ElectricalFuel systemTransmission
Filed Aug 21, 2003

BECAUSE I'M NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REPAIR MY CAR. I'VE PUT ALOT OF MONEY IN MY CAR AND I'M STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. FROM IT CUTTING OFF WHEN I STOP TO CONSTANTLY HAVING TO GET MY ROTORS TURN . I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW CAN I GET HELP? THEY DON'T EVEN SEND ME RECALL NOTICES. I WAS SURFING THE NET TONIGHT AND MOST OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE WITH MY CAR IT'S LISTED IN THE RECALL LIST.MY CAR IS A 1993 FORD TEMPO.PLEASE HELP ME AS SOON AS YOU CAN BEFORE I HAVE A MAJOR ACCIDENT( MY BRAKES ACT LIKE THEY DON'T WONT TO STOP).THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME OUT. SINCERELY [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10033227
Incident
Jul 2, 1998
Electrical
Filed Feb 10, 2003
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED, THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE IGNITION.*JB

NHTSA ID
10006832
Incident
Feb 7, 2003
Electrical
Filed Jul 3, 2002

CONSUMER STATES WHEN WEATHER IS HOT THE ENGINE WILL DIE OUT. CONSUMER STATES AFTER VEHICLE HAS COOLED DOWN, CONSUMER IS ABLE TO RESTART. *JB THE CONSUMER HAD MODULE REPLACED AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION OF ENGINE SHUTTING OFF, BUT THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS RECALLING OTHER VEHICLES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *YH

NHTSA ID
8013247
Incident
Sep 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed May 17, 2001

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
888503
Electrical
Filed Apr 7, 2001

THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCED STALLING, USUALLY IN WARM WEATHER AFTER 40 MINUTES OF DRIVING, FORD HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE STALLING PROBLEMS WHICH IS PROBABLY RELATED TO THE IGNITION SYSTEM. *MJS

NHTSA ID
785390
ElectricalEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Jan 20, 2001

FAN MOTOR OVER HEATS, MAKES A SOUND LIKE SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IS SHORTING OUT AND SMOKES. HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. WE HAVE HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTIONS SYTEM AND THE BATTERY. THE CAR SHOCKS YOU EVEYTIME YOU TOUCH IT. IT FEELS LIKE IT IS SKIPPING GEARS WHEN YOU TURN ALSO. WE ARE CONSTANTLY REPLACING SOMETHING ON IT AND IT HAS BECOME A REAL PAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
739673
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
Electrical
Filed Jan 19, 2001

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
878553
Incident
Nov 11, 2000
Electrical
Filed Oct 24, 2000

VEHICLE STALLS AND DIES AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, CONSUMER THINKS ITS A DESIGN FLAW IN DISTRIBUTOR MOUNTED TFI-1V MODULE.*AK CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE MAKE TO CORRECT THE DESIGN FLAW. *YH

NHTSA ID
873739
Incident
Nov 1, 1999
Electrical
Filed Oct 23, 2000

WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON LONG TRIPS, IT JUST DIED. AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES VEHICLE WOULD START BACK UP AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS. DEALERSHIP COULD NEVER DETERMINE WOULD CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
873563
Electrical
Filed Oct 11, 2000

MY CAR WILL JUST STOPPED ON ME. *AK

NHTSA ID
734057
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Oct 11, 2000

LAST SUMMER I WAS DRIVING MY FORD HOME FROM THE GROCERY STORE. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR JUST DIED. I WAS CLOSE TO HOME SO I WAS ABLE TO COAST IT INTO MY DRIVEWAY. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG SO WE TOOK IT TO A GARAGE AND HAD IT LOOKED AT. THEY REPLACED MY INERTIA SWITCH. $204.84. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER MY CAR DID THE EXACT SAME THING. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED THEN. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME GARAGE AND THEY LOOKED IT OVER AND COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. I FIGURED OUT THAT IT HAPPENED MOSTLY WHEN I TURNED MY AIR CONDITIONER ON, AND THE ENGINE GOT HOT. SO WE HAVE GONE THE LAST TWO SUMMERS WITHOUT USING MY AIR CONDITIONER FOR VERY LONG. I HAD NO CLUE WHAT WAS WRONG UNTIL I RECENTLY SAW THINGS ON THE NEWS ABOUT THE TFI MODULE IN FORD CARS. WHAT THEY ARE DESCRIBING IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY CAR. IT HAS DIED ON ME THREE TIMES THIS SUMMER. ONCE IT WAS AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION AND I WAS SCARED TO DEATH. I COULDN'T GET IT STARTED FOR ALMOST 20 MINUTES. AND IT CONTINUED TO DIE ALL THE WAY HOME. I HAD TO KEEP PULLING OFF THE ROAD. I CALLED FORD AND THEY TOOK MY INFO BUT HAVE NOT CONTACTED ME YET. I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE MY NAME IN ANY ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST FORD AND ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT I WOULD LIKE FIXED VERY SOON!! THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP. J. CRUZ. *AK

NHTSA ID
734041
Incident
Jun 1, 1999
Electrical
Filed Oct 11, 2000

MY CAR KEEPS STALLING & IT ALSO DOES NOT START WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THE DEALER CAN NEVER FIND THE PROBLEM. NOW THERE IS A RECALL IN CA ON THE 2 MILLION CARS FROM FORD THAT DOES THE SAME EXACT THING AS MINE DOES. *AK

NHTSA ID
734039
Incident
Jul 19, 2000
Electrical
Filed Sep 19, 2000

VEHICLE SOMETIMES STALLS, AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T EVEN START AT ALL. CONSUMER FEELS SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED IF THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY.*AK

NHTSA ID
870927
Incident
Jun 1, 2000
Body & structureElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Sep 1, 2000

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR: THE ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUIT ONE SINCE THE ORIGINAL FAILED TO OPERATE ON ANY OF THE INTERMITTENT SETTINGS. IT WOULD WORK ON HIGH AND LOW ONLY. THE ORIGINAL MOTOR WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUILT WIPER MOTOR AND OPERATED FINE BUT MADE A LOUD NOISE. I HAD THE REBUILT WIPER MOTOR REPLACED WITH ANOTHER REBUILT WIPER MOTOR AND HAVE HAD IT FOR 13-14 MONTHS. THE WIPER MOTOR I HAVE CURRENTLY IS NOW MAKING THE SAME NOISE AS WITH THE SECOND WIPER MOTOR. IT IS STILL OPERATIONAL AT THIS POINT ON ALL SETTINGS.DOOR LOCKS: THE POWER DOOR LOCKS HAVE INDIVIDUALLY STOPPED WORKING AT DIFFERENT TIMES. I USED WD-40 ON ALL OF THE LOCKS AND IT HAS HELPED ALL BUT ONE (REAR PASSENGER SIDE) THAT REFUSES TO WORK WHEN DEPRESSING THE LOCK\UNLOCK BUTTON. IT WILL STILL WORK MANUALLY. REVVING OF ENGINE: THE ENGINE WILL REV VERY HIGH WHEN THE CAR IS PLACED IN PARK. PRESSING THE BRAKE OR THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOT DECREASE THE REVVING NOR DOES LIFTING THE GAS PEDAL UP. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND TO TURN IT BACK ON. THIS IS TIED TO THE CAR ACCELERATING WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. THEY BOTH HAPPENED ON THE SAME BRIEF TRIP (20 MILES) BUT HAVE ALSO HAPPENED INDIVIDUALLY ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CAR ACCELERATES SLOWLY - APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE PER SECOND - AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL ABOUT 40 - 50MPH WHERE ITS REMAINS CONSTANT. NO DEALER HAS BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM EVEN AFTER SEARCHING THE CARS COMPUTER FOR A STORED CODE OR CAUSE. IGNITION: THE KEY HAS BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT BECAUSE THE IGNITION DOES NOT RETURN BACK TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU CAN REMOVE THE KEY. TO HELP CLARIFY - IT GETS FROZEN IN THE POSTION WHERE YOU WOULD TURN THE KEY TO ROLL THE WINDOWS UP/DOWN BUT NOT START THE CAR. I HAVE HAD TO MOVE/JIGGLE IT BACK AND FORTH TO GET THE IGNITON TO RETURN BACK TO HOME STATE AND TO THE POSITION WHERE I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY.

NHTSA ID
729907
Incident
Jul 7, 1996
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Seat belts
Filed Jun 22, 2000

HORN FAILED.*ET

NHTSA ID
784133
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Seat belts
Filed May 18, 2000

HORN DOES NOT WORK. *CJ

NHTSA ID
784021
AirbagsBrakesHeating & air conditioning+4 more
Filed Jul 6, 1999

HOSE/LINE COMING OFF THE BACK OF COMPRESSOR, LINE FROM MANIFOLD TO CONDENSOR FAILED ALSO. MJS

NHTSA ID
546517
Incident
Jul 2, 1997
Electrical
Filed Jun 7, 1999

I HAVE THE FOLLOWING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH MY CAR SINCE LAST FEBRUARY: WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MILES OF DRIVING, THE CAR SHUTS DOWN. IT START UP AGAIN AFTER ANYWHERE FROM ONE MINUTE TO TWO MINUTES. AFTER I GO ABOUT 3 MILES WITHOUT IT HAPPENING, IT WON'T SHUT DOWN AGAIN. ALSO, SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF TO RUN IN THE STORE, AND WHEN I TRY TO START IT WHEN I COME OUT, IT WON'T START. THEN AFTER ABOUT 1 TO 2 MINUTES IT STARTS. I BROUGHT IT TO A FORD DEALER, THEY CHECKED OUT THE COMPUTER AND SENSORS, CLEANED THE INJECTION SYSTEM FOR THE FUEL, BUT COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. SINCE THEN THE FOLLOWING PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITHOUT THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. IGNITION MODULE, DISTRIBUTOR CAP, ROTOR, PLUG WIRES, SPARK PLUGS, GAS FILTER, IGNITION COIL, PICKUP COIL, AND THE COMPUTER. THE CAR WOULD NOT START FOR A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THERE WAS NO SPARK, SO THE PROBLEM IS ELECTRICAL. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THIS WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID
707271
Electrical
Filed Jun 7, 1999

I HAVE THE FOLLOWING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH MY CAR SINCE LAST FEBRUARY: WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MILES OF DRIVING, THE CAR SHUTS DOWN. IT STARTS UP AGAIN AFTER ANYWHERE FROM ONE MINUTE TO TWO MINUTES. AFTER I GO ABOUT 3 MILES WITHOUT IT HAPPENING, IT WON'T SHUT DOWN AGAIN. ALSO, SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF TO RUN IN THE STORE, AND WHEN I TRY TO START IT WHEN I COME OUT, IT WON'T START. THEN AFTER ABOUT 1 TO 2 MINUTES IT STARTS. I BROUGHT IT TO A FORD DEALER, THEY CHECKED OUT THE COMPUTER AND SENSORS, CLEANED THE INJECTION SYSTEM FOR THE FUEL, BUT COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. SINCE THEN THE FOLLOWING PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITHOUT THE PROBLEM BEING FIXED. IGNITION MODULE, DISTRIBUTOR/CAP/ROTOR/PLUG WIRES AND SPARK PLUGS, GAS FILTER, IGNITION COIL, PICKUP COIL, AND THE COMPUTER. THE CAR WOULD NOT START FOR A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THERE WAS NO SPARK, SO THE PROBLEM IS ELECTRICAL. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THIS, WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID
707268
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 28, 1999

THIS ARE SAFETY RECALLS BY NHTSA THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO FIX PUTTING ME AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER! PLEASE HELP THIS CAR IS A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. THE ENGINE COOLING FAN IS DEFECTIVE, THE IGNITION SWITCH WON'T EVEN TURN MOST OF THE TIME, AND THE PCV IS ALSO DEFECTIVE AND MAKES THE ENGINE VIBERATE! ALSO THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ALL OF THOSE PROBLEMS WAS RECALLED BY NHTSA AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS TOLD TO FIX IT AT NO COST TO THE OWNERS OF FORD TEMPO! NOW THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT THEREFORE PUTTING ME IN DANGER! PLEASE HELP. *AK

NHTSA ID
706963
Incident
May 22, 1999
ElectricalOther / unspecifiedPowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed Feb 18, 1999

FLOOR MAT BECAME STUCK UNDER GAS PEDAL CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE.

NHTSA ID
543948
Incident
Apr 1, 1996
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+3 more
Filed Sep 28, 1998

SEATBELT (ALL) MOTOR DOESN'T RUN AND BACKSEAT STICK, POWER LOCKS ONLY WORK WHEN IT WARM, DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. CAMSHAFT PULLEY WAS RECALLED AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, JUST AFTER WARRANTY RAN OUT IT BROKE AGAIN. BRAKES GO OUT EVER SIX MONTH, REPLACED WATERPUMP TWICE, IDLE PULLEY, FAN MOTOR AND THE LOWER FRONT BALL JOINTS, STARTER, ALTERNATOR, BATTERY TWICE, ENTIRE MUFFLER SYSTEM 3 TIMES, BAR THAT GOES ACROSS THE FRONT BY THE WHEELS, BLOWER MOTOR CHRIPS AND SQUEEKS AT LOW BLOWING SPEEDS, REPLACE MUFFLER HEAT SHIELDS AND THERE STILL IS CLANGING NOISE IN THE FRONT CRANKSHAFT, ALSO REPLACED MOTOR MOUNTS, SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE BEATER IT WAS MUCH CHEAPER.

NHTSA ID
541772

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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