IllustrationWHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR INFORMED OWNER THAT THE WIRE UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD SHORTED OUT. THE MANUFACTURER AND DELAER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
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
What owners actually said
161 reportsWHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE A LOUD BANGING NOISE COMES FROM THE CRANKSHAFT: PULLEY. THIS INFORMATION WAS TOLD TO OWNER BY ASE MECHANIC AND THE DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.
HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED.
IN A MINOR COLLISION, THE DRIVER'S SHOULDER BELT WAS IN PLACE BUT THE DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. OWNER STATES THAT THE MOTORIZED PASSIVE RESTRAINTS OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY AND THAT THE MOTOR DOES NOT MOVE THE BELT FORWARD OR BACKWARD DEPENDING ON THE POSITION OF THE DOOR. OWNER NOTICED AT TIMES THE MOTOR RUNS BUT THE BELT D…
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IN A MINOR COLLISION, THE DRIVER'S SHOULDER BELT WAS IN PLACE BUT THE DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. OWNER STATES THAT THE MOTORIZED PASSIVE RESTRAINTS OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY AND THAT THE MOTOR DOES NOT MOVE THE BELT FORWARD OR BACKWARD DEPENDING ON THE POSITION OF THE DOOR. OWNER NOTICED AT TIMES THE MOTOR RUNS BUT THE BELT DOES NOT MOVE.
POSSIBLE POOR PERFORMANCE OF ENGINE IS CAUSING A KNOCKING NOISE.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STOPPED, HOOD AND TAIL PIPE SMOKE OCCURRED. ALSO, THERE WAS A HOLE IN THIRD CYLINDER, ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED, COSTING APPROX. $3,000. DEALER REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN HAD MENTIONED THAT THE FORD TEMPO HEAD GASKET SHOULD BE CHANGED AFTER 50,000 TO AVOID THE PROBLEM WITH THE…
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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STOPPED, HOOD AND TAIL PIPE SMOKE OCCURRED. ALSO, THERE WAS A HOLE IN THIRD CYLINDER, ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED, COSTING APPROX. $3,000. DEALER REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN HAD MENTIONED THAT THE FORD TEMPO HEAD GASKET SHOULD BE CHANGED AFTER 50,000 TO AVOID THE PROBLEM WITH THE FORD TEMPO (VULCAN ENGINE).
ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO THE SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THE NEEDLE JUMPED BACK AND FORTH. THE PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AGAIN WITH THE SPEEDOMETER THAT WAS REPLACED.
DURING IMPACT AT 20 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT STEERING WHEEL. *AK
GAS FUMES ARE COMING FROM THE CAR BECAUSE THE GAS TANK IS RUSTED AND LEAKS. DEALER REPLACED GAS TANK. THE NEW GAS TANK IS RUSTING ALSO. *AK
HOLE DUE TO RUSTED OUT TANK, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE, ALSO BAR AND BRACE ON DRIVER SIDE WHICH GOES TO THE WHEEL NEAR THE GAS TANK RUSTED AND NEEDS REPLACING,.
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.