1993 Ford TEMPO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
121 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
78,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 121 complaints (12.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 28 | 23.1% |
| Braking behavior | 17 | 14.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 4.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 4.1% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 3.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition | 15 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 15 |
| Seat Belts | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 11 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 9 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 4 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 4 |
Electrical System:Ignition: 15; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 15; Seat Belts: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 11; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 9; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 4; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 114 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 20 |
| 1996 | 26 |
| 2000 | 29 |
| 2001 | 20 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
1995: 20; 1996: 26; 2000: 29; 2001: 20; 2002: 9; 2003: 11; 2004: 2; 2005: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 28 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10026206 · 2003-06-30 (June 30, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026206 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096310 · 2004-10-24 (October 24, 2004)
INTERMITENTLY RANDOM STALLING. CAR WILL NOT START FOR A FEW MINUTES. THEN, EVERYTHING SEEMS OKAY, AND CAR RUNS FINE. CONSUMER ISOALTED PROBLEM TO FUEL PUMP RELAY INSIDE "CONSTANT CONTROL" RELAY BOX. REPLACING THIS MODULE COMPLETELY CORRECTED PROBLEM. YOU CAN ISOLATE THIS PROBLEM BY PUTTING A VOLT-METER ON INPUT AND OUTPUT OF RELAY. THEN, WHEN PROBLEM OCCURS, THE INPUT WILL BE HIGH (12V), BUT THERE WILL BE NO OUTPUT FROM RELAY, PROVING BAD RELAY. I HAVE KEPT THIS MODULE IF WANTED FOR TESTING/INSPECTION. CONSUMERS HAVING STALLING PROBLEM CAN C…
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096310 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033227 · 2003-08-21 (August 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 …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033227 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 501003 · 1996-01-27 (January 27, 1996)
BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT/INJURIES. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 756830 · 2002-01-14 (January 14, 2002)
THE MOTOR AND/OR TRANSMISSION MOUNTS ON THE DESCRIBED VEHICLE HAVE FAILED THREE(3) TIMES, THE FIRST AS NOTED, OCCURRED AFTER ONLY 18,000 MILES AND AT THE TIME THE CAR HAD JUST PASSED THE 36 MONTH NEW CAR WARRANTY. WADE FORD IN SMYRNA ,GA REPLACED THE MOUNTS THE FIRST TIME AT NO LABOR CHARGE...ONLY PARTS BECAUSE THE DATE WAS SO CLOSE TO THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION. SINCE THEN, THE MOUNTS HAVE FAILED TWO MORE TIMES. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANY OTHER CAR OWNERS OF THIS MAKE/MODEL HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM?*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 756830 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8014836 · 2002-07-26 (July 26, 2002)
INTERMITTENTLY TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEARS. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8014836 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048562 · 2003-11-24 (November 24, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER DROVE TO A NEAR-BY MECHANIC, WHO DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLES. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE WORN, THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT AND THE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ALSO INOPERABLE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE INFORMED OF THE PROBLEMS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048562 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071441 · 2004-04-23 (April 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
Owner-reported narrative. 22,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071441 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 722944 · 2000-05-20 (May 20, 2000)
ENGINE STALLS AT STOPS AND CUTS OFF WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION WHICH CAUSES STEERING COLUMN TO LOCK, MAKING CAR UNCONTROLLABLE. THE LAST TIME I WENT ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. (THANK GOD NO CARS WERE COMING TOWARD ME!!) THIS IS A LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEM BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE CAR IS GOING TO CUT OFF. WHAT IS WRONG?? IS THIS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS BEING ADDRESSED IN THE CLASS-ACTION SUIT FOR TEMPO'S? IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON WHILE DRIVING, BUT GOES OFF WHEN I BRAKE??*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722944 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 744413 · 2001-04-23 (April 23, 2001)
ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 744413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 503910 · 1996-05-06 (May 6, 1996)
FUEL PUMP FAILED FIVE TIMES, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503910 at NHTSA ↗