VehicleVerdict

1993 Ford Tempo engine problems

The 1993 Ford Tempo has 73 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 23% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

73

Engine complaints

23%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Tempo engine complaints by model year73 complaints1984: 2 complaints1985: 7 complaints1986: 2 complaints1987: 15 complaints1988: 34 complaints1989: 34 complaints1990: 20 complaints1991: 34 complaints1992: 56 complaints1993: 73 complaints1994: 48 complaints2000: 1 complaints
Tempo engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

97V019000EngineFebruary 25, 1997 · 75,200 units

Defect

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.

What owners report

RECALL 97VO19000; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 40 MILES PER HOUR AND NOTICED SMOKE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. STOPPED AND PULLED UP THE HOOD AND IT WAS ON FIRE . CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL.*AK

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · August 3, 1999 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1993 Ford Tempo have?

NHTSA has 73 complaints about the 1993 Ford Tempo engine — 23% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1993 Ford Tempo engine?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the engine: 97V019000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.