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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 →
161Owner complaints

Model-year median: 30

1Recall campaigns

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2Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
110
1991176
1992227
1993161
19943
19952
19962
1997
Compare all Tempo years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
45Seat Belts
36Fuel System, Gasoline
21Electrical System
19Service Brakes, Hydraulic
15
All reported categories
Vehicle Speed Control
9Visibility
9Power Train
8Air Bags
7Steering
5Suspension
5Unknown Or Other
5Structure
4Seats
3Exterior Lighting
1

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

Power Train complaints

8 reports
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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 20, 1999
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STICKS IN LOW GEAR *AK

NHTSA ODI #851188

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 1999
Power Train

VEHICLE WON'T SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR UNLESS THE CONSUMER IS DRIVING AT 40 TO 50 MPH, AND WHEN THE CONSUMER IS DRIVING AT 30 TO 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WILL DOWNSHIFT ON IT'S OWN AT HIGH SPEED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #843416

Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 1998
Power Train

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.

NHTSA ODI #822605

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 1997
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

TRANSMISSION HESITATES AND BANGS INTO GEAR, VERY ERRATIC.

NHTSA ODI #524977

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 1997
Power TrainStructureVisibility

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE DROPS OUT OF GEAR. THE OWNER HAS TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN PARK .THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK WHEN ACCELERATING FROM LIGHT TRANSMISSION SLIPS DOES NOT SHIFT IN TO HIGHER GEAR. WIPER BLADE FAILED, REAR DOOR HARD TO CLOSE, AND THE HOOD DOES NOT CLOSE RIGHT. *YD

NHTSA ODI #816901

Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

EXHAUST AND SHIELDS REALIGNED DUE TO NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. *SKD

NHTSA ODI #485128

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 1995
Power Train

GEARS WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. (PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS). TT

NHTSA ODI #961283

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.