Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Ford Tempo, most frequently naming the powertrain (other) and transmission categories. 3 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
Not enough dated records to plot a meaningful trend — 2 months of data.
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.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1996 FORD CONTOUR AND DON'T KNOW IF THE RECALLS HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. DO I NEED A RECALL AUTHORIZATION OR SOMETHING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THE FLOOR SHIFTER ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY NEED TO BE REPAIRED. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS PART OF THE RECALL #98V23300. PLEASE ADVISE HOW I SHOULD PROCEED. I DID NOT SEE ANOTHER FORM TO REQUEST THIS INFORMATION. THANK YOU, KAREN L. JOHNSON
HEARD NOISE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES DUE TO WEAR OF THE OUTER FRONT WHEEL BEARING. *AK
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
REPLACEMENT HEADLAMP BULBS - SEVERAL AFTERMARKET COMPANIES ARE OFFERING REPLACEMENT BULBS WITH A HIGHER WATTAGE THAT ARE NOT DOT APPROVED - SOLD WITH DISCLAIMER OF "FOR OFF-ROAD USE ONLY" - THE BULBS DRAW MORE CURRENT THAN THE OEM BULBS AND CAN RESULT IN ACTUATION OF THE SHOR CIRCUIT PROTECTION FEATURE. *TW
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FOR CONCERNS OF STALLING, REFLASH PCM W/ 1996 CALIBRATION (R11 LEVEL). *TT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2.5L DURATEC ENGINE EXCHANGES NO LONGER INCLUDE FRONT END ACCESSORY DRIVE COMPONENT, OIL LEVEL INDICATOR, WATER PUMP BELT/TENSIONER, EGR TUBE, LINKSHAFT BRACKET OR EXHAUST MANIFOLDS. *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.