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#BS-1991-FORTEM-48C2

1991 Ford TempoProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 143 owners and 1 recall for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 30, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
143
Crashes
12
Fires
7
Recalls
1
TSBs
42
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 143 complaints, 12 crashes, 7 fires, and 1 recalls. Complaint rate is 2.7x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

car stops dead

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
2

loses power when accelerating

1 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX
3

stalls out

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
4

starts then dies

1 complaints • Severity 4/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasolineHIGH

21 owners reported engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline issues — failures commonly reported around 40K miles.

!Inspect the Electrical System:ignitionMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

0–30K
8
30–60K
1
60–90K
2
90–120K
120–150K
150K+

Peak failure range: 30–60K miles (8 reports) • Median: 40K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline (21 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline21 (15%)
Electrical System:ignition9 (6%)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine6 (4%)
Seat Belts:front:retractor6 (4%)
Seats:front Assembly:recliner6 (4%)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:drum6 (4%)
Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator5 (3%)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump5 (3%)

1991 Ford Tempo: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline Issues

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline complaints account for 15% of all reports filed for the 1991 Ford Tempo, with 21 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 40,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 40K-mile mark.

Electrical System:ignition Issues

Electrical System:ignition complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 1991 Ford Tempo, with 9 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical system:ignition-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine Issues

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine complaints account for 4% of all reports filed for the 1991 Ford Tempo, with 6 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine and engine cooling:engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Seat Belts:front:retractor Issues

Seat Belts:front:retractor complaints account for 4% of all reports filed for the 1991 Ford Tempo, with 6 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to seat belts:front:retractor-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

11
00
12
01
3
02
2
03
2
04
6
05
1
06
1
07
2
08

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 1991 Ford Tempo. Recent trend: increasing.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (1 recall)

96V071000Jun 1996

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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NHTSA Defect Investigations (4)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

DP96002ClosedOpened Jan 1996 · closed Jan 1996

REAR BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

EA96024ClosedOpened Sep 1996 · closed Apr 1997

ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

PE96005ClosedOpened Jan 1996 · closed May 1996

REAR BRK ADJUSTER FAILURE

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

PE96033ClosedOpened May 1996 · closed Sep 1996

ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The worst model year for the Ford Tempo is the 1993 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

1991 Ford Tempo vs. Class Average (Compact Cars)

This vehicle

143

Class avg

53

2.7x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical compact cars vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 143 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 1 recall found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 30, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026.

Other Ford Tempo Model Years

1997199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984
View all Ford Tempo years →

1991 Ford Tempo: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1991 Ford Tempo?
The most commonly reported issue with the 1991 Ford Tempo is related to the engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, with 21 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 1991 Ford Tempo reliable?
The 1991 Ford Tempo has 143 complaints, 12 crash reports, and 7 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 2.7x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How much does it cost to fix 1991 Ford Tempo problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 1991 Ford Tempo have any recalls?
Yes, the 1991 Ford Tempo has 1 recall on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Ford Tempo problems start?
Based on 11 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 40,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 30–60K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 1991 Ford Tempo data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 143 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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