The 1994 Ford Tempo has 1 safety recall and 161 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (48 complaints).
Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints161filed by owners
Crashes · fires19 · 5reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths13 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Fan
NHTSA recall 97V019000 · Feb 25, 1997 · 75,200 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: 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.
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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
1994 Ford Tempo 4-DR
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Tempo
24mpg combined
City / highway
21 / 30 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel
Tempo
21mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 25 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
Tempo
21mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
Tempo
19mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 22 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Engine › Gasoline
Electrical system Ignition; Wiring › Interior/under dash
22
1
4
0
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components; Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
20
4
1
1
—
Visibility Windshield wiper/washer; Power window devices and controls
11
0
0
0
—
Vehicle speed control Cruise control; Linkages
10
2
0
1
—
Air bags Frontal; Side/window
8
8
0
3
—
Power train Automatic transmission; Manual transmission
8
0
0
0
—
Steering Linkages › Tie rod assembly; Steering wheel/handle bar
6
0
0
0
—
Structure Body › Door; Body › Hatchback/liftgate › Support device/strut
6
0
0
0
—
Unknown or other
5
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Oct 10, 2010 · 75,000 milesFuel system, gasoline 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.
Jan 5, 2008Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer THE WIPERS ON MY 94 FORD TEMPO STOP INTERMITTENTLY, THEN START A FEW SECONDS LATER. THIS IS DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. *TR
Feb 15, 2008 · 99,900 milesEngine and engine cooling › Engine 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.
Dec 17, 2004 · 137,000 miles · fireEngine and engine cooling 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
Mar 24, 2004 · 82,895 milesEngine and engine cooling › Engine 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
Mar 17, 2004Suspension › Rear 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
Mar 23, 2003 · 137,000 miles · fireEngine and engine cooling › Engine 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.…
Mar 16, 2003Engine and engine cooling › Engine "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
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
EA96024 · opened Sep 30, 1996 · closed Apr 15, 1997 · led to recall 97V019000ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES There is no summary currently available
PE96033 · opened May 2, 1996 · closed Sep 30, 1996 · led to recall 97V019000ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES 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.