RoadVitals

1994 Ford Tempo

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
161
Latest Nov 12, 2010
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Feb 25, 1997
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
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.
24
13 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 161 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Ford Tempo, most frequently naming the engine, seat belts and fuel system categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 63 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

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

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
97V019000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

Feb 25, 1997
75,200 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: 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.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 97S66View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA96024ClosedEngineering Analysis

ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES

Opened Sep 30, 1996
Closed Apr 15, 1997

There is no summary currently available

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGLed to recall 97V019000
PE96033ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES

Opened May 2, 1996
Closed Sep 30, 1996

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.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGLed to recall 97V019000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 161
Fuel system
Filed Nov 12, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TEMPO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK IN ROUTED OUT AND CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT SMELL OF FUEL WAS NORMAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LEAKED WHENEVER THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL AND ONTO HOT EXHAUST PIPES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

NHTSA ID
10365456
Incident
Oct 10, 2010
Mileage
75,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 7, 2008

THE WIPERS ON MY 94 FORD TEMPO STOP INTERMITTENTLY, THEN START A FEW SECONDS LATER. THIS IS DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10223527
Incident
Jan 5, 2008
Engine
Filed Mar 5, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TEMPO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER TEN MINUTES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,900 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
10220183
Incident
Feb 15, 2008
Mileage
99,900 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 11, 2005
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE HEATING LEVEL WENT UP. THE CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO THE STORE TO PURCHASE ANTIFREEZE, NOTICED THE VEHICLE SMOKING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK......*AK IN THE TIME THE CONSUMER HAD THE CAR, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER WENT PASS NORMAL UNTIL THAT DAY; THE ENGINE COOLING FAN WOULD COME ON BEFORE THE GAUGE WENT UP PASSED NORMAL. *BF

NHTSA ID
10107181
Incident
Dec 17, 2004
Mileage
137,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 6, 2004

I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE STALLING. AT A STOP, THE VEHICLE'S IDLE SPEED VARIES AND STARTS TO SHAKE AND WILL STALL IF I DON'T PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. SOMETIMES IT HAS STALLED EVEN AFTER PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL. I HAVE RECENTLY HAD A TUNE-UP AND MY GAS FILTER REPLACED, WITH NO RESULTS. *LA

NHTSA ID
10065642
Incident
Mar 24, 2004
Mileage
82,895 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 21, 2004

BECAUSE OF AN EXTREMELY POOR DESIGN THE R. R. CONTROL ARM RUSTS THROUGH TOTALLY ON THE 1994 FORD TEMPO. I BELIEVE THIS IS CAUSED BY A POORLY PLACED EXHAUST RELEASE PERFORATION, DESIGNED INTO THE MUFFLER BY THE MANUFACTURER. MY CONTROL ARM FAILED AT 15 MPH. I WAS ADVISED BY THE MECHANICS THAT FIXED IT ($300 PLUS LATER) THAT A FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC FOR ANYONE IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. I WAS ALSO ADVISED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I CONTACTED FORD MONTHS AGO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, THEY DENIED IT WAS ONE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10062745
Incident
Mar 17, 2004
Engine
Filed Mar 24, 2003
Fire reported

1994 FORD TEMPO GL. MY HUSBAND'S CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES AND SMOKE YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING IT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE CAME AND PUT IT OUT. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS, AS WELL AS THE JACKET MY HUSBAND WAS (FORTUNATELY) WEARING WHEN THE FLAMES CAME SHOOTING OUT FROM THE ENGINE AREA INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. A FRIEND OF MINE SUGGESTED THAT I CHECK IF OTHERS HAD THIS PROBLEM, AND I CAME ACROSS THIS SITE. IT LOOKS LIKE OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, IF THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN 97V019000 IS AN INDICATION OF SUCH. AS FAR AS I KNOW, WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED THAT SOME FORD TEMPOS WERE POTENTIAL FIRE TRAPS. MY HUSBAND COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY BURNED, BUT FORTUNATELY, HIS JACKET TOOK THE BRUNT OF THE FLAMES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10010944
Incident
Mar 23, 2003
Mileage
137,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 16, 2003

"SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT GOES ON WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES GOING OFF AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND SOMETIMES STAYING ON FOR 20-40 MILES. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE LOOKED UP THE CODES AND CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. I DO NOT HAVE AN OWNER'S MANUAL AND CANNOT LOCATE ONE ONLINE, SO TROUBLESHOOTING IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10010555
Incident
Mar 16, 2003

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

02176

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

LAMP-BRAKE-INVADVERTENT DISABLING OF BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. *MJ

01181

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB

01157

INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC

01156

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC

01124

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ON SOME VEHICLES, ENGINE OIL MAY CONTINUE TO LEAK FROM THE ENGINE OIL PAN GASKET AREA AFTER AN ENGINE OIL PAN GASKET REPAIR HAS BEEN PERFORMED. *TT

0015

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford Tempo by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2000100—
1999100—
1998100—
1997200—
1996200—
1995302—
1994Viewing1611253.2
19932272258.6
19921762261.2
19911101455.6
19901332367.3
19891241457.7
19881262569.2
1987532671.3
19863111066.9
1985304771.6
1984147676.7
1983001—
1981200—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.