RoadVitals

1994 Ford Tempo Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system reportsComplaints 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.
21
Latest Nov 12, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
13%
of 161 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Ford Tempo submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming fuel system

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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
Fuel system
Filed Jan 31, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT FUEL PUMP OVERHEATED WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
8003297
Incident
Dec 1, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Dec 4, 2000

FUEL TANK RUSTED/CORRODED THROUGH TOP. DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG WHEN TOLD OF COMPLAINT ABOUT FUEL FUMES IN GARAGE. SUBSEQUENT MECHANICAL INSPECTION DISCOVERED HOLE IN TANK. WHEN MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO OBTAIN A USED TANK FROM AUTO PARTS YARD, FOUND OTHER TANKS IN SIMILAR VEHICLES ALL HAD CORRODED TANKS. NEW TANK ORDERED FROM FORD DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
737301
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Nov 19, 2000

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 ID
736573
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Oct 12, 2000

CARBURETOR AND DISTRIBUTOR FAILED.*ET

NHTSA ID
784940
Fuel system
Filed Sep 6, 2000

FUEL TANK WAS EXPERIENCING FUEL LEAKAGE NEAR EXHAUST PIPE DUE TO SEVERE RUST/CORROSION. *AK

NHTSA ID
869822
Incident
Jun 12, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Sep 1, 2000

FUEL TANK ITSELF IS LEAKING. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
869300
Fuel system
Filed Jun 12, 2000

FUEL TANK RUSTED THROUGH, CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
863435
Incident
May 25, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Mar 28, 2000

GAS TANK RUSTED AND LEAKED OIL ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. CONSUMER FEARED THAT THIS MAY HAVE STARTED A FIRE IF VEHICLE OERHEATED BECAUSE OF HOT WEATHER. *AK

NHTSA ID
859296
Incident
Mar 1, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Mar 25, 2000

CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET; NO WARNING; NO NOTHING. *AK

NHTSA ID
720579
Incident
Mar 25, 2000
EngineFuel system
Filed Jan 28, 2000

GAS TANK WAS LEAKING AND SPRAYING GAS BACK ON THE MUFFLER. THERE WERE ALOT OF FUMES IN THE CAR. IF SOMEONE CAME BY, AND CAR BACKFIRED, IT COULD EXPLODE. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE TANK. BUT FUMES ARE STILL THERE. CONSUMER FELT THEY SHOULD HAVE CHECKED MUFFLER ALSO. *AK

NHTSA ID
855695
Incident
Nov 15, 1999
Fuel system
Filed Jan 21, 2000

A HOLE IN THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK SPILLS OUT OF THE TANK WHILE DRIVING CAUSING FUMES TO ENTER CABIN OF VEHICLE RESULTING IN DRIVER FEELING ILL. THE VEHICLES MUFFLER FRAME EXPERIENCED SOME RUSTING FROM THE SPILLAGE. NLM

NHTSA ID
550514
Incident
Jan 9, 2000
Fuel systemSuspension
Filed Jun 26, 1999

WHILE HAVING PFE SENSOR REPLACED, IT WAS NOTED THAT REAR CONTROL ARM AND LEFT REAR CORNER OF GAS TANK "BADLY RUSTED". MECHANIC BELIEVES IN PART DUE TO ACIDIC WATER COMING FROM DRAIN HOLE OF MUFFLER. RUSTING IS SO BAD REAR CONTROL ARM LOOKS CHARRED. MECHANIC ALSO NOTED HE HAD "NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS". HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO DO NO LONG DISTANCE DRIVING, THAT RISK OF FIRE IS GREAT AND IF CONTROL ARM RUSTS FURTHER, RISK OF BREAKING AWAY FROM WHEEL COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
707915
Fuel system
Filed Nov 16, 1998

IN SEPT. AN ODOR OF GASOLINE WAS NOTED. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT WAS FOUND THAT GASOLINE WAS SEEPING FROM AN AREA ON THE UPPER BACK LEFT HAND CORNER OF THE TANK WHERE RUST WAS OCCURRING DUE TO CONDENSATE FROM THE CONDENSTATE VENT HOLE IN THE EXHAUST BEING AIMED AT THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE GAS TANK. IN CHECKING WITH USED PART COMPANIES THIS SAME RUST PATTERN WAS SHOWING ON ALL TANKS OF THIS MODEL AND MAKE. THE RUST WAS OCCURRING FROM THE OUTSIDE IN AND GAS SEEPING WITH NO VISIBLE LEAKAGE OCCURING TO HAVE IT REGISTER ON THE GAS GAUGE. IF ODOR HAD NOT BEEN DETECTED THEN THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN EXPLOSION IF THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN AND A SPARK HAD OCCURED. IN NOV. A BREAK OCCURRED WITH THE LEFT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM WHERE THE SAME RUST HAD FORMED DUE TO THIS CONDENSATE BEING AIMED AT THE CONTROL ARM. THE RIGHT CONTROL ARM DOES NOT SHOW THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE PLACEMENT OF THE GAS TANK WITH THE CONDENSATE VENT BEING AIMED AT THESE TWO CRITICAL PARTS APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD. HAVE THERE BEEN ANY OTHER REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM?

NHTSA ID
700640
Incident
Sep 9, 1998
Fuel system
Filed Sep 16, 1998

THE LEFT REAR TRAILING ARMS HAD TO BE REPLACED; THEY APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN TORCHED.

NHTSA ID
540096
Fuel system
Filed Feb 24, 1998

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

NHTSA ID
821150
Fuel system
Filed Feb 24, 1998

GAS TANK RUSTED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE.

NHTSA ID
531221
Fuel systemSuspension
Filed May 29, 1997

GAS TANK LEAKS.

NHTSA ID
517574
Incident
Mar 1, 1995
Fuel system
Filed Sep 6, 1996

FUEL PUMP CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. *AK

NHTSA ID
801938
Incident
Aug 27, 1996
Fuel system
Filed Sep 1, 1995

FUEL PUMP QUIT W/OUT WARNING IN HEAVY HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. *DSH

NHTSA ID
483782
Incident
Jul 14, 1995
BrakesEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Jan 17, 1995

BELTS SQUEAL.

NHTSA ID
502009
Incident
Jan 4, 1995

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .