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NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and consumer complaints for the 1992 Ford Tempo.
| Trim | City | Hwy | Combined | Annual fuel $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4 cyl Automatic 3-spd | 18 | 24 | 20 | $3,000 |
| 3.0L 6 cyl Automatic 3-spd | 18 | 22 | 19 | $3,150 |
| 2.3L 4 cyl Manual 5-spd | 21 | 30 | 24 | $2,500 |
| 3.0L 6 cyl Manual 5-spd | 19 | 26 | 21 | $2,850 |
NHTSA has not published 5-star crash-test ratings for the 1992 Ford Tempo. New vehicles are often added to the NCAP rating program after initial release; check nhtsa.gov/ratings for the latest status.
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
THESE VEHICLES ARE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, IOWA, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA. THE VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE 1992-1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES WITH 3.0L ENGINES; 1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ WITH 2.3L ENGINES; 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.8L ENGINES; 1994-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.0L ENGINES AND 1992-1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL VEHICLES WITH 3.8L ENGINES. DURING HIGH WINDS, HEAVY, BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW, AND LOW TEMPERATURES, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CAN BECOME BLOCKED OR FROZEN WITH SNOW. THE FAN MOTOR MAY NOT ROTATE AND COULD OVERHEAT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE SMOKE OR FLAMES FROM THE FAN AND/OR SHROUD, THE FAN ELECTRICAL WIRING, OR THE FAN MOTOR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
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
CAR FIRE---CAR WAS PARKED IN MY MOTHER'S CARPORT---CAUGHT ON FIRE AT NIGHT---BURNED THE HOUSE---KILLED MY MOTHER... *TR
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
WHILE DRIVING EASTBOUND ON ROUTE 20 NEAR OBERLIN, OHIO I HIT A POTHOLE WHICH WAS LARGE ENOUGH TO MAKE MY CAR SWERVE. THE POTHOLE WAS UNAVOIDABLE BECAUSE A CAR WAS DRIVING PAST ME IN THE OTHER LANE AND AT THAT POINT. NO MATTER HOW FAR I WOULD HAVE GONE TO THE RIGHT (NEAR THE WHITE LINE) TO AVOID IT, I WOULD HAVE STILL HIT IT. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND THE VEHICLE PASSING ME WHEN I HIT THE POTHOLE OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I GOT HOME I NOTICED SOME DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY THE CAR WAS DRIVING BUT PAYED NOT ATTENTION BECAUSE IT WAS NOT NOTICEABLE ENOUGH TO TAKE ANY ACTION. ON THE FOLLOWING THURSDAY MAY 12, 2005 I NOTICED MY TIRE WAS SET BACK ALL THE WAY AGAINST THE WHEEL WELL AND THERE WAS NOW A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AND THE WAY IT SOUNDED. I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE SHOP AND THEY SAID THE SWAY BAR WAS BROKEN, THE TIRE WAS SET BACK AND FROM HITTING THE POTHOLE THE TIRE OF THE RIM HAD BEEN BENT.
The 1992 Ford Tempo has 2 NHTSA recalls and 244 consumer complaints on file. The high number of complaints suggests potential reliability concerns — review the complaint details above before purchasing. For the most detailed information about a specific vehicle, decode its VIN using our free decoder above.
Enter a specific VIN to get the full report — specs, recalls, safety ratings, complaints, investigations, and technical service bulletins.
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!
FRONT SEAT BELT AUTOMATIC RETRACTOR INOPERABLE.........VEHICLE NO LONGER HAS A THREE POINT RESTRAINT CAPABILITY.........UNSAFE!!!! THIS IS THE THIRD FAILURE FOR THE FRONT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM ON THREE DIFFERENT VEHICLES. I'M THE "DUTY" MECHANIC FOR OUR FAMILY AND HAVE BECOME QUITE ADEPT AT FIXING THESE RESTRAINTS. I'VE REPLACED THE NYLON "FEED BELT" IN THE AUTOMATIC RETRACTORS.........THIS IS THE "FAILING" PART. IN MY OBSERVATION, THIS IS A DESIGN FAILURE BY FORD. SPECIFICALLY, THE NYLON "FEED/DRIVE" BELT FAILS BECAUSE THE RESTRAINT DOES NOT HAVE A CLOSED LUBRICATION DESIGN WHICH RESULTS IN THE BELT BINDING IN THE MOTOR GEARS AND BEING DESTROYED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF DUST/DIRT ENTERING THE SEAT BELT TRACK UNDER NORMAL AND RESONABLE DRIVING CONDITIONS. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A ******SAFETY****** ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. A QUICK GLANCE AT THE DATABASE INDICATES THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM. I'M REQUESTING THAT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION INVESTIGATE. SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ANSWERED ARE: 1. HOW MANY OF THESE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS ARE STILL ON THE ROAD?? 2. HOW MANY FATALITIES CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE OF THESE DEVICES?? 3. WHAT IS THE INCIDENCE OF SUPPLY REQUESTS FOR THESE RESTRAINTS FROM THE "FORD" AND, A FINAL OBSERVATION. I SUSPECT THAT MOST FOLKS WHO EXPERIECE PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS ON OLDER FORD VEHICLE CHOOSE TO "ABANDON" THEIR USE INSTEAD OF PAYING TO HAVE THEM FIXED. THERE'S A "PURPOSE" FOR GOVERNMENT.......THE COMMON GOOD!!!
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 , .
PEELING AND FADING PAINT
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
REGARDING THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WHEN OPENING THE CAR DOOR, THE MOTOR BELT RUNS BUT THE SEAT BELT STAYS IN PLACE INSTEAD OF RETRACTING TO ALLOW ME IN THE CAR SEAT. ONCE THE LAP BELT IS ATTACHED, THE PANEL LIGHT FLASHES CONSTANTLY THAT THE SEATBELT IS NOT WORKING. THE RETRACTOR ONLY GOES AS FAR AS THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE DOOR. THE MOTOR RUNS BUT IT WILL NOT ALLOW THE RETRACTOR TO COMPLETE ITS FULL ASCENDING AND DESCENDING POSITION. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO AMERICAN FORD IN GLENDIVE, MT - I WAS TOLD THE PART AND LABOR WOULD BE IN EXCESS OF $300. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS A LAW TO WEAR A SEATBELT, BUT HOW DO YOU DO THAT WHEN THE PART IS DEFECTIVE. LUCKILY, THERE IS STILL THE LAP SEATBELT. REGARDING THE CRUISE CONTROL - WE HAVE BEEN AT SPEEDS OF 70-75 MPH AND THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL STICKS. ONCE YOU TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL - THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO GO SPEEDS OF 55-60 MPH WITHOUT HAVING TO PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL. WE HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES (4 TIMES COMING DOWN A MOUNTAIN PASS - NOT A PRETTY PICTURE). WE NO LONGER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL. DT
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
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
FRONT DRIVER 'SSEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS ALL STIPPED OUT. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS.*AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. TRIED TO STEER VEHICLE BACK. STEERING WHEEL SPUN AROUND. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE,GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT,CAUSING INJURIES.*AK
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE THERE WAS A BAD NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THAT NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Showing 15 of 244 complaints