RoadVitals

1984 Ford Tempo Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Mar 17, 2004
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
6

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1984 Ford Tempo, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Electrical1062.5%
  • Interior & seats212.5%
  • Seat belts212.5%
  • Engine16.3%
  • Transmission16.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

10
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CLASS ACTION FOR FORD TFI MODULE IN FORD TEMPO. *PH THE CONSUMER WAS REIMBURSED FOR THE REPLACEMENT TFI MODULE, HOWEVER HE WAS NOT REIMBURSED FOR THE LABOR AND TOWING BECAUSE THE COST WAS NOT LISTED ON THE INVOICE, BUT IT WAS ON THE PREVIOUS INVOICE WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE IGNITION SWITCH, IT WAS SOON DISCOVERED THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT THE PROBLEM WHEN THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN THE NEXT DAY. *JB *NM

NHTSA ID 10055466 · filed Mar 17, 2004

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF, VARIOUS PARTS REPLACED BUT DID NOT RECTIFY SITUATION, POSSIBLY THE TFI MODULE. *CJ

NHTSA ID 559354 · filed Feb 1, 2001
All 10 reports naming electrical →

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

SEATBACK REST COLLAPSED, FELL ONTO BACK SEAT ONE IN FOUR FAILURES, CAUSED BY RIGHT SIDE ATTACHEMENT FAILURE THAT HOLDS UP SEAT BACK; ACCORDING TO DEALER, ENTIRE SEAT NEEDED REPLACING; REPLACED, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID 807979 · filed Mar 25, 1997

WIRING HARNESS UNDER DASH SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FIRE. *DH

NHTSA ID 504584 · filed May 11, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED. (2ND VEHICLE ON 486028) *AW

NHTSA ID 479631 · filed May 8, 1995

SEAT BELT SHOULDER STRAPS ARE DEFECTIVE. TT

NHTSA ID 962726 · filed Mar 29, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

BATTERY FAILED.

NHTSA ID 483986 · filed Sep 9, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

BATTERY FAILED.

NHTSA ID 483986 · filed Sep 9, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .