IllustrationTHE WIPERS ON MY 94 FORD TEMPO STOP INTERMITTENTLY, THEN START A FEW SECONDS LATER. THIS IS DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. *TR
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
Compare all Tempo years →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
Visibility complaints
9 reportsTHE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO WORK. THIS OCCURRED AFTER BRINGING CAR IN FOR EGR VALVE/EVP SENSOR. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T CAUSE THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY TURNED OFF THE HEAT. THE HEATER WAS REMOVED AND THE WIRE CONNECTORS IN CONTROL HEAD ARE MELTED. REPAIR PERSONJOHN W ROMACK SAID IT WO…
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THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO WORK. THIS OCCURRED AFTER BRINGING CAR IN FOR EGR VALVE/EVP SENSOR. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T CAUSE THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY TURNED OFF THE HEAT. THE HEATER WAS REMOVED AND THE WIRE CONNECTORS IN CONTROL HEAD ARE MELTED. REPAIR PERSONJOHN W ROMACK SAID IT WOUL D COST ~278.00 FOR NEW. CHECKED OUT JUNK YARD FOR ANOTHER HEATER. WHILE LOOKING I FOUND 4 OTHER HEATERS WITH THE SAME DAMAGE. I BOUGHT A USED ONE IN 1998, IT STOPPED WORKING 10/9/2000. WHEN COMPONENT WAS REMOVED THE SAME DAMAGE WAS FOUND. A MELTED HEATER CONTROL. (THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIRING PROBLEM.)
WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES WERE MAKING NOISES. TOOK TO THE MECHANIC, AND HAD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. *AK
POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED.
TRANSMISSION HESITATES AND BANGS INTO GEAR, VERY ERRATIC.
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE DROPS OUT OF GEAR. THE OWNER HAS TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN PARK .THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK WHEN ACCELERATING FROM LIGHT TRANSMISSION SLIPS DOES NOT SHIFT IN TO HIGHER GEAR. WIPER BLADE FAILED, REAR DOOR HARD TO CLOSE, AND THE HOOD DOES NOT CLOSE RIGHT. *YD
BRAKE ROTORS MACHINED 3 TIMES.
EXHAUST AND SHIELDS REALIGNED DUE TO NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. *SKD
BELTS SQUEAL.
Official recalls
197V019000 · 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
2EA96024 · 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.