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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.

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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

Seat Belts complaints

36 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2002
Seat Belts

MY STEPDAUGHTER WAS DRIVING. THE ELECTRONIC SEATBELT TIGHTENED WHILE DRIVING AND COULD NOT BE RELEASED. SHE HAD DIFFICULTY MOVING HER FOOT TO SHIFT THE BREAK PEDAL OR MOVEMENT OF ANY TYPE. THE BELT WAS LOCKED AND SHE WAS PINNED TO THE SEAT WHILE DRIVING. IT WAS CHOKING HER, ALSO. WHEN SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR, SHE TRIED TO O…

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MY STEPDAUGHTER WAS DRIVING. THE ELECTRONIC SEATBELT TIGHTENED WHILE DRIVING AND COULD NOT BE RELEASED. SHE HAD DIFFICULTY MOVING HER FOOT TO SHIFT THE BREAK PEDAL OR MOVEMENT OF ANY TYPE. THE BELT WAS LOCKED AND SHE WAS PINNED TO THE SEAT WHILE DRIVING. IT WAS CHOKING HER, ALSO. WHEN SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR, SHE TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR TO RELEASE THE SEAT BELT, THIS ONLY MADE IT TIGHTEN MORE, SHE MANAGED TO REMOVE A SMALL NAIL KNIFE FROM HER PURSE TO CUT HERSELF LOOSE. HAD THE CAR BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH FIRE OR WATER SHE WOULD HAVE BURNED UP OR DROWNED FROM A SEATBELT. OR HUNG HERSELF. MR

NHTSA ODI #768528

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2002
Seat Belts

WHILE SEATING IN VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS RUNNING CONSUMER CLOSED DOOR AND NOTICED THAT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT TIGHTENED TO CONSUMER'S BODY, AND CUT CONSUMER'S AIR OFF. CONSUMER WAS FREED BY SEAT BELT EING CUT OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8017534

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2002
Seat Belts

WE BELIEVE THAT THE FAILURE OF A SEAT BELT, INCLUDING MOTORIZED RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, SHOULD BE FULLY SUPPORTED BY MANDATORY FACTORY WARRANTEES PAID FOR BY THE MANUFACTURER. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS REFUSED REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO GET REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A MOTORIZED SHOULD BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM. SUBSEQUENTLY, WE BROUG…

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WE BELIEVE THAT THE FAILURE OF A SEAT BELT, INCLUDING MOTORIZED RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, SHOULD BE FULLY SUPPORTED BY MANDATORY FACTORY WARRANTEES PAID FOR BY THE MANUFACTURER. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS REFUSED REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO GET REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A MOTORIZED SHOULD BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM. SUBSEQUENTLY, WE BROUGHT THIS COMPLAINT TO THE ATTENTION OF SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN, WHO RECOMMENDED THAT WE CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. WE SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE $539, WHICH WE PAID TO HAVE THE FORD DEALER REPLACE THE SHOULD BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM. R. UNGER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #763819

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 2001
Seat Belts

BOTH FRONT RESTRAINTS ARE INOPERABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITOINAL INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #899280

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2001
Seat Belts

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT TRACK MECHANISM ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER HAVE BECOME STUCK IN ONE POSITION AND WILL NOT MOVE. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED DRIVERS SIDE SHOULDER BELT TRACK APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO WHILE VEHICLE WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CURRENTLY, PASSENGER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT HAS BECOME STUCK IN FORWARD POSITION. PL…

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AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT TRACK MECHANISM ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER HAVE BECOME STUCK IN ONE POSITION AND WILL NOT MOVE. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED DRIVERS SIDE SHOULDER BELT TRACK APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO WHILE VEHICLE WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CURRENTLY, PASSENGER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT HAS BECOME STUCK IN FORWARD POSITION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #889797

Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2001
Seat Belts

DRIVER SEAT BELT DOES NOT FULLY EXTEND FROM THE RETRACTING MECHANISM, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #886911

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2001
Seat Belts

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON DRIVER'S SEAT BECOMES JAMMED WITHIN DOOR FRAME, CAUSING SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #879342

Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2000
Seat Belts

FORD DEALER REFUSED OUR REQUEST FOR DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE ZONE MGR. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS INSULATED ITSELF FROM CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS. THERE ARE OVER 3 DOZEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE NTSA HOTLINE. MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR FAILED SAFETY EQUIPMENT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #737253

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2000
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

AT 35-40 MPH CONSUMER HAD ACCIDENT, UPON IMPACT DRIVER 'S SEATBELT DID NOT WORK, REAR SEATBELT THAT HELD CHILD SAFETY SEAT CAME UNBUCKLED, SEAT AND CHILD WERE THROWN FORWARD. 2 REMAINING SEATBELTS IN REAR NOT WORKING EITHER. SEATBELT HAD BEEN REPLACED PRIOR TO ACCIDENT. CONTACTED DEALER ABOUT NON WORKING SEATBELT PRIOR TO ACCID…

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AT 35-40 MPH CONSUMER HAD ACCIDENT, UPON IMPACT DRIVER 'S SEATBELT DID NOT WORK, REAR SEATBELT THAT HELD CHILD SAFETY SEAT CAME UNBUCKLED, SEAT AND CHILD WERE THROWN FORWARD. 2 REMAINING SEATBELTS IN REAR NOT WORKING EITHER. SEATBELT HAD BEEN REPLACED PRIOR TO ACCIDENT. CONTACTED DEALER ABOUT NON WORKING SEATBELT PRIOR TO ACCIDENT WHO SAID WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, SEATBELT NOT REPLACED DUE TO COST.RESTAINT ON DRIVERSIDE AND REAR USED FOR CHILD SEAT WORKED PRIOR TO ACCIDENT.PLEASE ADD VIN AND ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #875019

Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2000
Seat Belts

THE DRIVERS LAP SEAT BELT LET GO (BROKE) WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD,THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY LATCHED .A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER THE WARENTEE RAN OUT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #734089

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.