1992 Ford Tempo problems
Owners have filed 264 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 Ford Tempo. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 19% of complaints. After that come electrical system (18%) and seat belts (16%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 264 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 19% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 13 and 23
- Injuries and deaths
- 24 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 170,000 miles 15 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 0 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 1 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 1 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 10 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 15 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 170,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 13 complaints mention a crash; 23 complaints mention a fire; 24 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1992 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 5 model years of the Ford Tempo with enough data (138 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While using the air condition during a warm day the blower came on and was not able to be controlled by the knob. The air blew at high speed for 10 minutes. I turned off the car and went to shop. Returned to car, drove for about 5 minutes and the blower suddenly stopped, the car proceeded another 3 blocks when I notice smoke coming from the vent. I pulled the car over and checked under the hood, no fire returned to the inside of car and saw more smoke.
Driving at approximately 5 MPH consumer had to make an emergency stop,vehicle was rearended by another vehicle, motorized shoulder belts did not lock up, causing chest injuries due to hitting against the steering wheel. This happened in wet conditions.
Driver seat recliner broke after being hit in the rear by a truck, dealer repair mechanism, seat does not go in the reclined position. Tt
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.
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…