1991 Ford Tempo: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 143 complaints
143
Total Complaints
40,000mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
Top Issue
12
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

40,000 25th Percentile
40,000 Median Mileage
67,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
21
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
6
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
6
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
4

Severity Assessment

12
Crashes
7
Fires
8
Injuries
1
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"FRONT/REAR MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *AK"
"SILICONE SCREW GLUDED INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT FELL OUT. OIL LEAKAGE ON HOUSING. COULD RESULT IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. TT"
"DRIVERS SEAT BACK COLLAPSED WHEN REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28