FordTempo1993Overview/ford/tempo/1993/base/

1993 Ford Tempo

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1993 Tempo.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1993 Ford Tempo is classified as a passenger car maintained with 4.5 quarts of 5W-20 API engine oil, yet it holds a distinct position within the model's documented history spanning 1990 to 2000. This model year generated the highest volume of owner complaints at 283 incidents, with seat belts identified as the top complaint area. These grievances were accompanied by two official recalls, marking a significant reliability outlier within the reported timeframe. This peak in reported issues contrasts sharply with the 1998 model year, which recorded the lowest volume at only a single complaint.

Model year199419931992199119901989198819871986

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

ThermostatRT1054 alt RT1062

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

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

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine OilSYNTHETIC · 5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-20 · 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; spark plugs every 60,000 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)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miPCV Valve (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)

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 1993 Ford Tempo marks a peak in complaints within its generation, with 283 reports—an increase from 244 in 1992 and significantly higher than the 211 logged in 1994. This year also sees the highest number of Technical Service Bulletins (82) for the model, suggesting persistent or newly identified issues, particularly in seat belts (61 complaints), engine cooling (60), and electrical systems (31). Recalls and investigations remained stable at two each, consistent with 1992 but double the 1991 recall count, indicating ongoing but not escalating safety concerns. The data doesn’t specify root causes, but the concentration of complaints in critical systems—including 21 crash-related reports and 5 fire incidents—points to reliability risks. While the Tempo’s later years show a sharp decline in complaints, 1993 falls in the generation’s problematic middle period, where issues appear most acute. **Takeaway:** This is a high-risk year to buy, with elevated complaints and systemic problems that warrant thorough pre-purchase inspection, particularly of the engine, electrical, and safety systems.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
82
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
283
Owner complaints
21 involved a crash · 5 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 283 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts61
Engine & Engine Cooling60
Electrical System31
Service Brakes, Hydraulic21
Power Train17
Vehicle Speed Control12
Fuel System, Gasoline9
Tires7

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

97V019000Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:FanReported 25/02/1997

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… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.

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 82 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
167142003-03-01Engine And Engine CoolingFOR ALL OBDI VEHICLES THAT USE THE .5V DPFE SENSOR, A 1.0V SENSOR IS CURRENTLY THE ONLY…
021762002-09-02Exterior LightingLAMP-BRAKE-INVADVERTENT DISABLING OF BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. *MJ
011812001-09-17Power TrainBRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB
0118012001-09-01Power TrainSUBJECT REGARDING INADVERTENT DISABLING OF BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. *JG
011562001-08-06VisibilitySOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC

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 1993 Tempo take?

4.5 qt of SYNTHETIC 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1993 Tempo have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.