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1994 Ford Tempo

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Tempo years

Owner complaints for the 1994 Ford Tempo are substantially higher than the model-year median of 30.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 5 of 161 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

19 crash reports5 fire reports11 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

19 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2002
Electrical System

I HAVE JUST BECOME AWARE THAT THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING WITH MY VEHICLE STALLING IS DUE TO A TFI MODULE THAT FORD IS AWARE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH. I HAVE STALLED MANY TIMES IN TRAFFIC AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TIMES I'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT AS A RESULT OF THIS. I DRIVE WITH A TODDLER IN THE CAR AND HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE AVO…

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I HAVE JUST BECOME AWARE THAT THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING WITH MY VEHICLE STALLING IS DUE TO A TFI MODULE THAT FORD IS AWARE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH. I HAVE STALLED MANY TIMES IN TRAFFIC AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TIMES I'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT AS A RESULT OF THIS. I DRIVE WITH A TODDLER IN THE CAR AND HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE AVOIDED INJURY THUS FAR. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE FORD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ANOTHER LIFE IS LOST.*AK

NHTSA ODI #760977

Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2001
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK VEHICLE WILL NOT START AFTER STOPPING AND SHUTTING OFF ENGINE, ENGINE WILL START AFTER ONE TO TWO HOURS OF COOL DOWN TIME. *TT

NHTSA ODI #899468

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2000
Electrical System

A NO-START ON THESE DATES4/5/99,4/12/99, 6/9/99, 7/6/99, 9/19/00, 10/13/00. HAS DONW IT ONE MORE TIME. DEALER KELP PUTTING IN PARTS BUT DIDN'T FIX PROBLEM AND IT DOES START AND STALLS ALSO AND COULD CAUSE A WRECK AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHATS WRONG. *AK

NHTSA ODI #737628

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 2000
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

WHEN GOING AT A SPEED OF 25MPH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC AND WOULD NOT START FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES LEAVING ME STRANDED FOR AN HOUR AT A TIME.*AK

NHTSA ODI #737509

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2000
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

WHEN DRIVING AT 25MPH THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STALLED. IT WOULD NOT START FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #737271

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2000
Electrical System

CAR WILL SHUT DOWN, WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF INSTRUMENT/GAUGE WARNING, WHEN GOING AT 30+ MILES PER HOUR. PANEL LIGHTS COME ON JUST AS THEY WOULD WHEN YOU FIRST TURN THE IGNITION KEY. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR WOULD RESTART. A MECHANIC WHO CHECKED OUT THE CAR SAID IT WAS THE IGNITION MO…

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CAR WILL SHUT DOWN, WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF INSTRUMENT/GAUGE WARNING, WHEN GOING AT 30+ MILES PER HOUR. PANEL LIGHTS COME ON JUST AS THEY WOULD WHEN YOU FIRST TURN THE IGNITION KEY. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR WOULD RESTART. A MECHANIC WHO CHECKED OUT THE CAR SAID IT WAS THE IGNITION MODULE SYSTEM, AND THAT I COULD HAVE IT REPLACED OR WAIT FOR A GENERAL RECALL. ON LATER INCIDENTS, THE CAR WILL NOT START FOR AT LEAST 5 TO 10 MINUTES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #734536

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2000
Electrical System

ON DRIVING OVER 55 MILES PER HOUR THIS CAR'S ACCELERATION BEGINS THROBBING AND SPEEDS OUT OF CONTROL. I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THEY CHOSE TO PUT A BAND-AID ON RATHER THAN REPLACING THE COMPUTER. SINCE THAT TIME MOST MAJOR COMPONENTS ON THE CAR HAVE FAILED. MOST RECENTLY, WHILE DRIVING OR STOPPED AT A LIGHT, TH…

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ON DRIVING OVER 55 MILES PER HOUR THIS CAR'S ACCELERATION BEGINS THROBBING AND SPEEDS OUT OF CONTROL. I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THEY CHOSE TO PUT A BAND-AID ON RATHER THAN REPLACING THE COMPUTER. SINCE THAT TIME MOST MAJOR COMPONENTS ON THE CAR HAVE FAILED. MOST RECENTLY, WHILE DRIVING OR STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE CAR SIMPLY DIES AS IF NO FUEL IS REACHING THE ENGINE. THE BATTERY CHARGES AND THE ENGINE TURNS OVER BUT THE CAR WON'T MOVE. I'VE HAD NEARLY $2500 IN REPAIRS FOR EVERYTHING FROM THE BATTERY, THE WATER PUMP, THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, TO THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY REPLACED. TODAY I'M HAVING IT TOWED TO KOONS FORD BECAUSE I READ OF THE NATIONWIDE LAWSUIT REGARDING THE "THICK FILM IGNITION (TFI) MODULES NEAR THE HOTTEST PART OF THE ENGINE BLOCK, "CAUSING CARS TO STALL." MY MODEL (FORD TEMPO) AND YEAR (1994) IS ONE OF THE CARDS EQUIPPED WITH THIS MODULE. PLEASE TELL ME IF I CAN GET EITHER FORD OR LUSTINE CHEVROLET TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE TOWING AND EXPENSES RELATED TO THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. I HAVE SAVED MOST OF MY RECEIPTS.

NHTSA ODI #734421

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

CARBURETOR AND DISTRIBUTOR FAILED.*ET

NHTSA ODI #784940

Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2000
Electrical System

HAVE HAD CAR IN SHOP DIFFEERENT TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM, STALLING AND NOT STARTING AND THE FORD PLACE CAN'T PIN POINT IT AND THEY TOOK IT TO A THIRD PARTY AND HE STATES HE CAN'T FIND IT BUT HE FOUND A CODE AS TO WHERE FORD COULDN'T AND IF NOT FIXED IT COULD STALL ON THE ROAD AND SOMEONE MIGHT HIT THE CAR AND SOME ONE WOULD GET HU…

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HAVE HAD CAR IN SHOP DIFFEERENT TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM, STALLING AND NOT STARTING AND THE FORD PLACE CAN'T PIN POINT IT AND THEY TOOK IT TO A THIRD PARTY AND HE STATES HE CAN'T FIND IT BUT HE FOUND A CODE AS TO WHERE FORD COULDN'T AND IF NOT FIXED IT COULD STALL ON THE ROAD AND SOMEONE MIGHT HIT THE CAR AND SOME ONE WOULD GET HURT, AND ALOS FORD DOESN'T WANT TO FIX THE CAR ANYMORE FOR THAT PROBLEM AND IT'S SOMEWHERE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM OR THE ELECT SYSTEM THAT THIS THIRD PARTY TOLD ME. AND THE PERSON THAT HAD IT BEFORE ME HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR IF IT WAS SOLD AT JUST A LITTLE OVER 14000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #733992

Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2000
Electrical System

THIS CAR STALLS WHEN OVER HEATED IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC,THE TEMP.GAUGE DOES NOT SHOW THAT IT IS HOT ,BUT THE CAR JUST STALLS AND WILL NOT START FOR ABOUT 30-45 MIN.I HAVE SPENT ALOT OF MONEY ON PARTS AND NOTHING IS WORKING.I HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND BEING STRANDED IN 106 DEGREE WEATHER IS NOT GOOD FOR ME .I HAVE ALMOST BEEN…

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THIS CAR STALLS WHEN OVER HEATED IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC,THE TEMP.GAUGE DOES NOT SHOW THAT IT IS HOT ,BUT THE CAR JUST STALLS AND WILL NOT START FOR ABOUT 30-45 MIN.I HAVE SPENT ALOT OF MONEY ON PARTS AND NOTHING IS WORKING.I HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND BEING STRANDED IN 106 DEGREE WEATHER IS NOT GOOD FOR ME .I HAVE ALMOST BEEN KILLED ON THE HIGHWAYS BY BEING STALLED IN A LANE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR,ONCE IT STALLS IT WILL NOT BUDGE UNTIL IT COOLS DOWN .PLEASE HELP I CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP PUTTING PARTS ON THIS CAR AND MY HEALYH IS BEING AFFECTED BY THIS. THAN YOU.

NHTSA ODI #729760

Official recalls

1

97V019000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan

Feb 25, 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 ENGINES; 1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ WITH 2.3L ENGINES; 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.8L ENGINES; 1994-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.0L ENGINES AND 1992-1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL VEHICLES WITH 3.8L ENGINES. DURING HIGH WINDS, HEAVY, BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW, AND LOW TEMPERATURES, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CAN BECOME BLOCKED OR FROZEN WITH SNOW. THE FAN MOTOR MAY NOT ROTATE AND COULD OVERHEAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE SMOKE OR FLAMES FROM THE FAN AND/OR SHROUD, THE FAN ELECTRICAL WIRING, OR THE FAN MOTOR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

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

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA96024 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires

Opened Sep 30, 1996 · Closed Apr 15, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

There is no summary currently available

PE96033 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires

Opened May 2, 1996 · Closed Sep 30, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

IN DECEMBER 1995, FORD RECALLED 119,313 VEHICLES IN CANADA TO REMEDY THE SUBJECT CONDITION IN CERTAIN 1992-95 TAURUS, SABLE, TEMPO, TOPAZ AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES.FORD IS AWARE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS OCCURRING IN NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT MAINTAINS THAT THE FREQUENCIES DO NOT WARRANT A FINDING OF AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.