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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
161Owner complaints

Model-year median: 30

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1994 Ford Tempo

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 161 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 2 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 45 reports
  • Seat Belts: 36 reports
  • Fuel System, Gasoline: 21 reports
  • Electrical System: 19 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 15 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

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, mileage exposure 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

Suspension complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2004
Suspension

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 FAI…

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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 ODI #10062745

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 1999
Suspension

CONSUMER REPORTED A CORRODED AND HALF WAY RUSTED REAR CONTORL ARM. DEALER MFR. NOTIFIED, AND REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM UNLESS COST GOED TO CONSUMER. CAN NHTSA LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #845481

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 1999
Fuel System, GasolineSuspension

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 …

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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 ODI #707915

Mileage unknown · May 29, 1997
Fuel System, GasolineSuspension

GAS TANK LEAKS.

NHTSA ODI #517574

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 1997
Suspension

FRONT END SUSPENSION BOLT CAME LOOSE TWICE, ONCE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #516630

Recall campaigns

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 ↗

Defect 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.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.