1994 Ford TEMPO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
94 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
99,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 94 complaints (10.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 15 | 16.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 13 | 13.8% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 8.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.2% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 |
| Seat Belts | 9 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 4 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 4 |
Electrical System:Ignition: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 9; Seat Belts: 9; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 6; Air Bags:Frontal: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 4; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 89 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 15 |
| 1996 | 19 |
| 2000 | 34 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
1995: 15; 1996: 19; 2000: 34; 2001: 8; 2002: 9; 2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2008: 2; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 15 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003644 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
DUE TO FUMES EMITTING FROM MUFFLER BOTH OF THE LEFT REAR SUSPENSION BARS CORRODED WHICH CAUSED THEM TO DROP. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. CONSUMER STATED THAT EITHER THE MUFFLER WAS MOUNTED BACKWARD OR HAD A DESIGN FLAW. THE MUFFLER DRAIN HOLE IS ON TOP.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010555 · 2003-03-16 (March 16, 2003)
"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-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010555 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010944 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
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 NOTIF…
Owner-reported narrative. 137,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010944 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062745 · 2004-03-21 (March 21, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10062745 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065642 · 2004-04-06 (April 6, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 82,895 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065642 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107181 · 2005-01-11 (January 11, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 137,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107181 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10220183 · 2008-03-05 (March 5, 2008)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 99,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220183 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10223527 · 2008-04-07 (April 7, 2008)
THE WIPERS ON MY 94 FORD TEMPO STOP INTERMITTENTLY, THEN START A FEW SECONDS LATER. THIS IS DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10223527 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
97V019000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan
Reported: 1997-02-25 (February 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗