FordTempo1991Overview/ford/tempo/1991/base/

1991 Ford Tempo

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1991 Tempo.

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1991 Ford Tempo was a compact sedan built on Ford's Fox platform, powered by a four-cylinder engine that required 5.0 quarts of 5W-30 API-rated oil for maintenance, and it came equipped as standard with a three-speed automatic transmission offering EPA fuel economy ratings of 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. In terms of owner-reported reliability across the model's 1990-2000 production span, the 1991 Tempo recorded 137 complaints with engine and engine cooling issues being the most frequently cited problem area, placing it mid-range between the peak of 283 complaints in 1993 and the low point of just one complaint in 1998, with a single recall issued for the model year. This positions the 1991 Tempo as neither the most troubled nor the most refined version of the nameplate, representing a transitional period in the model's reliability trajectory before the significant improvement seen in later years.

Model year199419931992199119901989198819871986

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy19/24/21 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

ThermostatRT1062

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length176.8 in
Overall width68.1 in
Overall height52.8 in
Wheelbase100 in
Curb weight2535 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)62/38

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 24 / 21 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume89 cu ft
Cargo volume13 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.0 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1991 Ford Tempo sits near the beginning of the model generation's federal complaint curve, with 137 complaints, 1 recall, 4 investigations, and 42 TSBs. Compared to 1990 (167 complaints, 2 recalls, 3 investigations, 41 TSBs), 1991 shows modestly lower complaint volume and one fewer recall, though investigations increased by one. The broader trend across the active generation years shows complaints rising sharply after 1991, peaking at 283 in 1993 alongside 2 recalls and 82 TSBs, then declining to 211 in 1994 before collapsing to single digits in 1995. Within this arc, 1991 represents the calm before the storm, recording the lowest complaint count of the 1990-1994 production period and the fewest recalls of those years. Its leading complaint areas were Engine & Engine Cooling (33), Electrical System (26), Service Brakes, Hydraulic (18), and Seat Belts (13), with 11 crash-related and 6 fire-related complaints; the data does not specify root causes. Given its position before the steep complaint escalation of 1992-1994, a well-maintained 1991 Tempo is arguably one of the more favorable years to buy in this generation, provided the specific systems cited are inspected thoroughly.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
42
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
137
Owner complaints
11 involved a crash · 6 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 137 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling33
Electrical System26
Service Brakes, Hydraulic18
Seat Belts13
Fuel System, Gasoline9
Seats8
Vehicle Speed Control6
Steering5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

96V071000Electrical System:IgnitionReported 25/04/1996

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 42 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
011562001-08-06VisibilitySOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
011572001-08-06Unknown Or OtherINFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
00152000-01-10Power TrainINFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
992221999-10-18Electrical SystemSUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING…
991961999-09-20EquipmentINFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Tempo. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1991 Tempo take?

5.0 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1991 Tempo have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Tempo get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 24 highway / 21 combined mpg.