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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

What owners actually said

161 reports
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 · Dec 3, 2000
Unknown Or Other

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #737223

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 · 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 · Nov 15, 2000
Power Train

AS I REPORTED TO FORD THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS WHILE DRIVING IT IS AN AUTOMATIC. THE GAS PEDAL THEN BECOMES HARD TO PRESS DOWN. THE CAR MAKES A SEVERE JERKING MOTION MAKING ALL PASSENGERS JOLT SEVERLY. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO 2 DEALERS INCLUDING THE ORGINAL PURCHASED DEALER THEY ALL COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. YET IT CO…

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AS I REPORTED TO FORD THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS WHILE DRIVING IT IS AN AUTOMATIC. THE GAS PEDAL THEN BECOMES HARD TO PRESS DOWN. THE CAR MAKES A SEVERE JERKING MOTION MAKING ALL PASSENGERS JOLT SEVERLY. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO 2 DEALERS INCLUDING THE ORGINAL PURCHASED DEALER THEY ALL COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. YET IT CONTINUES THIS DAY TO DO THE SAME THING. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY DAUGHTER AND HUNSBAND AND I AND THE SAFTEY OF THIS CAR. PLEASE HELP ME WITH ANY INFORMATION. SINCERLY KAREN MARTIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #736357

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
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

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

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.