1991 Ford Tempo Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the engine quitting without warning — at stoplights, in traffic, and sometimes at highway speed — and many report repeated dealer visits that never settled the cause. Reports of engine-bay fires linked to wiring or the ignition switch also appear, along with rear brake hardware failures and problems with the door-mounted shoulder belts.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls and cuts out while driving or idling

   • 36 complaints (33%)
   • typically at 7.5 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2002

   Complaints describe the engine stopping suddenly at stop signs, in intersections, on freeway on-ramps and at cruising speed, with power loss and a check-engine light in some cases. Several owners say the car restarts only after cooling down, and some link the behavior to hot weather or heavy traffic. According to the complaints, dealers often replaced parts or could not identify a cause, and the stalling returned. Reported across a wide mileage range, with many complaints describing it after the engine is fully warm, often in hot weather.

   Recall 96V071000

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch recall work (96V071000) was completed, and whether any repair history exists for stalling, ignition module or fuel pump work. A long test drive on a warm day, including idling in traffic, is worth doing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have to drive through as many as 15 red lights, and I have to drive through these lights at a rate of 5 times a week. Several of these red lights are located in high traffic areas. My car has stalled/died during idling over 50 times and counting. Usually when it is warm weather and the car is idling and heated up to a normal temperature. Its random based, in the summer could be 10-20 stops before it stalls and dies, usually when I start to accelerate when the light turns green. …”

   NHTSA complaint #741043, filed 2001-02

   “My car has a stalling problem. Sometimes it just dies when you stop at a stop sign and sometimes it try's to die while you are driving it and I heard a recall on the year, make, and model of my car on the news but I didn't get a letter telling me or something that I could take to the dealer so I can get it fixed. Because if I don't I'm going to be in an accadient if I don't and I had like to get the recall fixed because I have a 7 month old baby and don't want to be in an accadient thank you very much.”

   NHTSA complaint #758920, filed 2002-03
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Engine-bay fire or smoke from wiring and ignition

   • 9 complaints (8%)
   • median 78,816 mi at 14.0 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2008

   Complaints describe flames or smoke coming from under the hood shortly after starting the car or while it sat parked, and one owner reports melted wiring at the alternator with a burning smell. Others report electrical faults affecting the wiring harness, spark module and ground wires that led to the engine cutting out. The one recall listed for this model year concerns an internal short circuit in the ignition switch. Reported both at low mileage and on older, higher-mileage cars, sometimes within a week of alternator or wiring work.

   Recall 96V071000

   What to check: Confirm whether the ignition switch recall was performed for this VIN, and look over the underhood wiring and alternator connections for discoloration, melted insulation or a burnt smell.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Traveling at a speed of 60 MPH the car began to slow down rapidly the windshieldwipers began slowing down and the car was losing power a new alternator was installed a week prior when I popped the hood there was a smell of burning wires and the wires coming from the car to the alternator were completely melted, and there was no connection to the alternator. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10067760, filed 2004-04, 112,633 miles

   “Owner got into vehicle, which was parked at work, started vehicle, pulled out of parking space about 2 ft., noticed flames coming from under the hood, owner put out flames, fire dept arrived but flames was already out”

   NHTSA complaint #800707, filed 1996-08
3. 3
   Brakes

   Rear brake adjuster and spring failures

   • 12 complaints (11%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 14.6 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2005

   Owners describe a loud thump or sudden lock-up of a rear wheel, with the rear brake adjuster or a brake spring found broken or out of position and severe scoring of the drum. In one case the adjuster dropped out of the drum, and in another the car pulled to one side under braking. One complaint notes the vehicle shook and steered to the left after brake work. Typically reported on cars with roughly 40,000 miles or more, often detected during routine brake service.

   What to check: Have the rear drums pulled and inspected rather than just checked through the backing plate — ask specifically about the adjuster hardware and springs, not only pad or shoe thickness.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dt: the caller took vehicle to a repair shop for brakes, rotors, pads and calipers repairs. The vehicle came back in worse shape than it was before the repairs. The car was much harder to handle, and shook violently. When applying brakes the steering wheel shook violently and steered to the left. When the vehicle was dropped off on june 21, 2005 the gas tank was full, and the trip odometer had just been reset, and mileage was 0. Consumer picked up the car 6 days later and the car was on empty and the trip odometer showed 136 miles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10127279, filed 2005-07, 40,000 miles

   “When putting new tires on the vehicle owner discovered that the frame weld was broken. Also, when driving the vehicle it pulls to right and when applying the brakes it pulls to the left. The dealer is not aware of the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #833470, filed 1999-01
4. 4
   Seat belts

   Shoulder belt does not lock or retract

   • 10 complaints (9%)
   • median 89,000 mi at 12.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2008

   Complaints describe the door-mounted automatic shoulder belt failing to retract or lock, sometimes leaving the driver unrestrained in a collision. Several owners say the retractor motor was replaced, in one case twice, and the fault came back. Others report the belt locking over bumps and not returning when the door opens. Mostly reported on cars above 35,000 miles, with several complaints filed at 89,000 to 112,000 miles.

   What to check: Open and close the driver door with the key on and watch whether the shoulder belt tracks forward and back, then pull sharply on the belt to confirm it locks.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Door operated shoulder belt failed, it seems that there is a large number of this thing happening, according to the mechanics in this area. No part of restraint system should ever fail. Manufacturers have discontinued using this. Wonder why?”

   NHTSA complaint #10018597, filed 2003-05, 89,000 miles

   “Shoulder harness for both front occupants fails to lock when vehicle makes a drastic stop. Ford shows no recall. I had to modify the locking harness to make it a full time restraint”

   NHTSA complaint #10252353, filed 2008-12, 38,000 miles
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Fuel leaks and fuel smell from the tank

   Mentioned in 4 of 47 sampled complaints

   Owners report fuel leaking from the tank, in one case from a hole in the upper corner, and in another fuel shooting out when the gas cap is removed along with a boiling sound and strong fumes inside the car. One complaint describes repeated fuel pump replacement and a car that stalls coming out of park. Reported from about 40,000 miles upward, often noticed after refueling or when the tank is full.

   What to check: Inspect the tank and lines for wet spots or rust, and open the fuel cap slowly after a fill-up to check for pressure release or a strong gasoline smell.

   An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle quits intermittently. Due to gas leaking out of tank 4 to 5 feet when removing gas cap. The gas has finished shooting out before the cap is put back on, there is a boiling sound and the vehicle is filled with smelly gas fumes, causing nausea/headaches/emotional strains.”

   NHTSA complaint #807125, filed 1997-01

Buying note. Service records matter more than mileage here: ask specifically about the ignition switch recall and about any documented stalling or brake work. A warm-weather test drive with idling in traffic, plus a look at the rear brakes and the seat belts, will tell you more than a short spin around the block.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 47 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.