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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 →
161Owner complaints

Model-year median: 30

1Recall campaigns

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2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
110
1991176
1992227
1993161
19943
19952
19962
1997
Compare all Tempo years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
45Seat Belts
36Fuel System, Gasoline
21Electrical System
19Service Brakes, Hydraulic
15
All reported categories
Vehicle Speed Control
9Visibility
9Power Train
8Air Bags
7Steering
5Suspension
5Unknown Or Other
5Structure
4Seats
3Exterior Lighting
1

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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

21 reports
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75,000 miles · Nov 12, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TEMPO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK IN ROUTED OUT AND CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT SMELL OF FUEL WAS NORMAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LEAKED WHENEVER THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL AND ONTO HOT EXHAUS…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TEMPO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK IN ROUTED OUT AND CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT SMELL OF FUEL WAS NORMAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LEAKED WHENEVER THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL AND ONTO HOT EXHAUST PIPES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10365456

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT FUEL PUMP OVERHEATED WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #8003297

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL TANK RUSTED/CORRODED THROUGH TOP. DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG WHEN TOLD OF COMPLAINT ABOUT FUEL FUMES IN GARAGE. SUBSEQUENT MECHANICAL INSPECTION DISCOVERED HOLE IN TANK. WHEN MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO OBTAIN A USED TANK FROM AUTO PARTS YARD, FOUND OTHER TANKS IN SIMILAR VEHICLES ALL HAD CORRODED TANKS. NEW TANK ORDERED FROM…

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FUEL TANK RUSTED/CORRODED THROUGH TOP. DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG WHEN TOLD OF COMPLAINT ABOUT FUEL FUMES IN GARAGE. SUBSEQUENT MECHANICAL INSPECTION DISCOVERED HOLE IN TANK. WHEN MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO OBTAIN A USED TANK FROM AUTO PARTS YARD, FOUND OTHER TANKS IN SIMILAR VEHICLES ALL HAD CORRODED TANKS. NEW TANK ORDERED FROM FORD DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #737301

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

I AM FILING THIS REPORT ON BEHALF OF A FAMILY EMPLOYEE. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE ON TWO OCCASIONS. I SMELLED VERY STRONG GASOLINE FUMES. WHEN SHE TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER SHE WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. A LOCAL MECHANIC FOUND THE GAS TANK RUSTED THROUGH ON THE TOP OF THE TANK. WHEN HE WENT TO A WRECKING YARD TO…

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I AM FILING THIS REPORT ON BEHALF OF A FAMILY EMPLOYEE. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE ON TWO OCCASIONS. I SMELLED VERY STRONG GASOLINE FUMES. WHEN SHE TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER SHE WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. A LOCAL MECHANIC FOUND THE GAS TANK RUSTED THROUGH ON THE TOP OF THE TANK. WHEN HE WENT TO A WRECKING YARD TO FIND A LATE MODEL USED TANK, HE FOUND THAT THE RUST AREA WAS ON ALL THE USED COMPONENTS. HE REPLACED HER TANK WITH A NEW ONE AND PLACED A PROTECTIVE PATCH OVER THE AREA WHERE A DESIGN FLAW APPEARS TO ALLOW WATER TO PUDDLE AND CORRODE OR RUST THE TANK THROUGH ON TOP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #736573

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

CARBURETOR AND DISTRIBUTOR FAILED.*ET

NHTSA ODI #784940

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL TANK WAS EXPERIENCING FUEL LEAKAGE NEAR EXHAUST PIPE DUE TO SEVERE RUST/CORROSION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #869822

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL TANK ITSELF IS LEAKING. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #869300

Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL TANK RUSTED THROUGH, CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #863435

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

GAS TANK RUSTED AND LEAKED OIL ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. CONSUMER FEARED THAT THIS MAY HAVE STARTED A FIRE IF VEHICLE OERHEATED BECAUSE OF HOT WEATHER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #859296

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET; NO WARNING; NO NOTHING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #720579

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.