12 of the
264 complaints about the 1992 Ford Tempo are about the
steering — 5% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
170,000 miles.
F
12
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Steering Wheel/Handle BAR
325.0%
Hydraulic Power Assist System
216.7%
Steering
216.7%
TIE ROD Assembly
216.7%
Rack AND Pinion
18.3%
Linkages
18.3%
ARM
18.3%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 170,000 milesWinnsboro, LA
STEERING
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 ON THE STEERING WHEEL HAS CAME UNPLUGGED WHILE DRIVING TWICE , THE A/C HAS QUIT WORKING , THE CLEAR COAT HAS JUST ABOUT ALL PEELED OFF , THE REAR BRAKES HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED MANUALLY ABOUT ONCE EVERY 2 MONTHS , THE ALTERNATOR SQUEELS , THE RACK-N-PINION STEERING SEAL BURSTED SO THE POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKS , .
NHTSA complaint #10071044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Scranton, PACrash1 injured
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. TRIED TO STEER VEHICLE BACK. STEERING WHEEL SPUN AROUND. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE,GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT,CAUSING INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #8011123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Huntington, WV
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
THE TIE-ROD(OUTER) HAS BEEN REPLACED (PASSENGER SIDE) TWICE WITHIN A YEAR SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND DURING TIRE REPLACEMENT ON THE FIRST TIME, AND DURING A BRAKE REPLACEMENT ON THE SECOND. THERE IS A VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING FROM A HIGH SPEED (45MPH OR GREATER). EACH TIME THE TIE-ROD IS REPLACED, THE VIBRATION GOES AWAY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, THEN RETURNS GRADUALLY UNTIL THE VIBRATION IS DOMINATE DURING BRAKING. USUALLY AFTER ABOUT 3500 MILES SINCE REPLACEMENT OF TIE-ROD.
NHTSA complaint #708510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rocky Hill, CT
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING FAILURE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #514619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Shamokin, PA
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
SPINDLE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #514317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Shamokin, PA
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
MOTOR MOUNTS, BELT PULLEY, TRANSMISSION MOUNTS, AND TIE ROD FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #514317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Leon, WV
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
THE STEERING COLUMN CAME APART . PLEASE DESCRIBE .
NHTSA complaint #805265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Aibonito, PR
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
STEERING RACK AND PINION FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #488358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saint Paul, MN
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #980871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Edimboro, PAFire
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL WIRING WAS RUBBING AGAINST DASH AND STARTED A FIRE, HAD TO HAVE REROUTED. TT
NHTSA complaint #978998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
E Superior, WICrash2 injured
STEERING:LINKAGES
THE TIE ROD BROKE AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT THERE WAS NO STEERING TO TURN CAR TOTALED. TT
NHTSA complaint #964233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Coarsegold, CA
STEERING
STEERING VIBRATION.
NHTSA complaint #480592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.