IllustrationHEAD LAMPS FOG OVER WITH AGE. REDUCES AMOUNT OF LIGHT SERIOUSLY IMPARING NIGHT TIME VISIBLITY. I HAVE OBSERVED THIS PROBLEM ON MANY OF THE SAME AGE AND MODEL VEHICLES. *AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tempo years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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
What owners actually said
161 reportsA HOLE IN THE MUFFLER TO PREVENT RUST IS CAUSING THE SUSPENSION AND THE GAS TANK TO PREMATURLEY RUST, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THERE IS FLUID LEAKING OUT DUE TO ABLOWEN OUT ENGINE HEAD GASKET.TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE IS VERY TIME CONSUMING AND COSTLY. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STICKS IN LOW GEAR *AK
WHEN OPENING THE DOOR AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT STARTS TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. IT WOULD STOP HALF WAY UP THE CURB ON THE TRACK. IT WOULD NOT GO ANY FURTHER. WOULD HAVE TO PUSH IT TO MOVE BELT ALONG THE TRACK. BEEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC WOULD NOT REPAIR DUE TO NOT BEING UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
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
OWNER HEARD A NOISE IN THE ENGINE. WHEN VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PULLEY. THE PULLEY WAS REPLACED. AFTER THE PULLEY WAS REPLACED THE VEHICLE STARTED LEAKING OIL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING AT ANY SPEED JUST QUITS, COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES, DEALERS CAN'T DIAGNOSE ANY REASON FOR FAILURE.*ET
SHOULDER HARNESS DOES NOT RESTRAIN CONSUMER. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER.
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT INTO OVERSPEED, RACING UP TO 6500 RPMS. APPLIED BRAKES WHICH DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED COMPLETELY OFF TO GAIN CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Official recalls
197V019000 · 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
2EA96024 · 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.