RecallMyCar

Ford Tempo Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 11 safety recalls and 1,197 owner complaints across 18 model years of the Ford Tempo (1981–2000). The most-complained-about year is 1993.

11
safety recalls, all years
1,197
owner complaints, all years
1984
year with most recalls
1993
year with most complaints

Pick your Ford Tempo model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2000 Ford Tempo01
1999 Ford Tempo01
1998 Ford Tempo01
1997 Ford Tempo02
1996 Ford Tempo02
1995 Ford Tempo03
1994 Ford Tempo1161
1993 Ford Tempo2227
1992 Ford Tempo2176
1991 Ford Tempo1110
1990 Ford Tempo1133
1989 Ford Tempo1124
1988 Ford Tempo2126
1987 Ford Tempo153
1986 Ford Tempo031
1985 Ford Tempo330
1984 Ford Tempo614
1981 Ford Tempo02

What Ford Tempo owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 1,197 complaints with NHTSA. The 1993 model year has the most, with 227.

All Ford Tempo recalls (11)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Ford Tempo, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Fan (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 97V019000 Reported 75,200 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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…

    Remedy: Dealers will install an electrical jumper harness containing an automatic resetting circuit breaker to protect the fan motor low speed circuitry from overheating.

    Model years: 1992, 1993, 1994

  2. Ignition (electrical system)

    NHTSA 96V071000 Reported 7,900,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch.

    Model years: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993

  3. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 88V024000 Reported 91,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Two attachment screws for the throttle position sensors could loosen and back out.

    Remedy: Replace attachment screws with screws with pre applied adhesive that will be tightened to a higher torque specification.

    Model years: 1988

  4. Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (wheels)

    NHTSA 87V060000 Reported 350 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Lug nuts could gall and possibly seize on the wheel studs without providing adequate clamping load on the wheels.

    Remedy: Replace wheel lug nuts and if necessary, replace wheels and wheel studs.

    Model years: 1987

  5. Seats

    NHTSA 86V082000 Reported 195,732 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The forward bolt that provides part of the attachment between the driver's seat back assembly and the seat cushion frame may be subject to fatigue fracture. Consequence of defect: if this bolt breaks, the driver and seat back will fall back, which could result in the driver losing control of the car and possibly lead to an accident.

    Remedy: Replace screws that attach driver's seat back assembly to the seat cushion frame.

    Model years: 1984

  6. Suspension: rear

    NHTSA 85V145000 Reported 227,027 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Rear supension control arm-to-spindle attachment bolts may be subject to fracture causing the rear spindle to separate during use of car. Consequence of defect: if bolts fracture and rear spindle disengages from control arm, loss of control will be experience which may result in an accident.

    Remedy: Replace rear suspension bolts as necessary.

    Model years: 1984, 1985

  7. Electrical system: module

    NHTSA 85V134000 Reported 3,988 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The unexpected open throttle causes an increase in engine speed which could result in loss of control of the car and a potential crash. Consequence of defect: the electronic engine control processor may experience an intermittent timing problem. This problem causes improper execution engine performance which may maintain or cause a…

    Remedy: Replace electronic engine control processor, if necessary.

    Model years: 1985

  8. Suspension: rear

    NHTSA 85V086000 Reported 226,729 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Rear suspension control arm-to-spindle attachment bolts may be subject to fracture during use of car. Consequence of defect: if bolts fracture, rear spindle could disengage from control arm and possibly result in loss of control.

    Remedy: Replace rear suspension bolts as necessary.

    Model years: 1984, 1985

  9. Seats

    NHTSA 84V071000 Reported 261,400 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Seat frame structure could sever front seat belts if vehicle is involved in an accident, depending on force of impact.

    Remedy: Dealer will install a molded spacer between reinforcement plates and lower decorative plastic cover.

    Model years: 1984

  10. Anchorage (seat belts)

    NHTSA 83V134000 Reported 530,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The bolts that attach the d-shaped ring for the shoulder belt are inadequately supported by the material in which they are mounted. The attachment does not comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages".

    Remedy: Dealers will install new attaching hardware to improve the strength of the mounting.

    Model years: 1984

  11. Interior lighting

    NHTSA 83V055000 Reported 626 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    In the event of a short circuit in the instrument panel, the headlamp and interior illumination control switches could overheat.

    Remedy: The headlamp switch will be replaced and fuse and fuse panel will be inspected for safe operation.

    Model years: 1984

Other Ford models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.