FORD TEMPO · model year

1994 FORD TEMPO

212 NHTSA complaints, 25 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994FORDTEMPO carries 212 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 25 crashes, 7 fires, 16 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1994 TEMPO is engine and engine cooling:engine with 20 filings, followed by seat belts (17) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (13). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1994 TEMPO, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

212
Complaints
25
Crashes
7
Fires
16
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

212 filings

Crashes Reported

25 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE20
SEAT BELTS17
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE13
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION12
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING7
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL6
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL6
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR5
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP4

Recent Complaints

20101112FUEL 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.

Mileage: 75,000

20080407VISIBILITY: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

20080305ENGINE 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.

Mileage: 99,900

20050111FireENGINE 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

Mileage: 137,000

20040406ENGINE 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

Mileage: 82,895

20040321SUSPENSION: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

20030324FireENGINE 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. *JB

Mileage: 137,000

20030316ENGINE 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

20030113ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

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

20021022SEAT BELTS

MY STEPDAUGHTER WAS DRIVING. THE ELECTRONIC SEATBELT TIGHTENED WHILE DRIVING AND COULD NOT BE RELEASED. SHE HAD DIFFICULTY MOVING HER FOOT TO SHIFT THE BREAK PEDAL OR MOVEMENT OF ANY TYPE. THE BELT WAS LOCKED AND SHE WAS PINNED TO THE SEAT WHILE DRIVING. IT WAS CHOKING HER, ALSO. WHEN SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR, SHE TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR TO RELEASE THE SEAT BELT, THIS ONLY MADE IT TIGHTEN MORE, SHE MANAGED TO REMOVE A SMALL NAIL KNIFE FROM HER PURSE TO CUT HERSELF LOOSE. HAD THE CAR BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH FIRE OR WATER SHE WOULD HAVE BURNED UP OR DROWNED FROM A SEATBELT. OR HUNG HERSELF. MR

20021001ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONSUMER, UPON INVESTIGATION, FOUND THAT THE MAIN PULLEY BOLTS ARE WORKING LOOSE. THEY WEREN'T PROPERLY TORQUED FROM THE FACTORY. AS A RESULT THE ENGINE HAS OVERHEATED, PROBLEMS WITH THE ALTERNATOR, LIGHTING SYSTEM AND STEERING POWER WAS LOST BECAUSE OF CONNECTIONS TO THE MAIN PULLEY. *JG

20020829SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

WHILE SEATING IN VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS RUNNING CONSUMER CLOSED DOOR AND NOTICED THAT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT TIGHTENED TO CONSUMER'S BODY, AND CUT CONSUMER'S AIR OFF. CONSUMER WAS FREED BY SEAT BELT EING CUT OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20020805ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE STALLLED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH OR MORE. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20020802SEAT BELTS

WE BELIEVE THAT THE FAILURE OF A SEAT BELT, INCLUDING MOTORIZED RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, SHOULD BE FULLY SUPPORTED BY MANDATORY FACTORY WARRANTEES PAID FOR BY THE MANUFACTURER. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS REFUSED REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO GET REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A MOTORIZED SHOULD BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM. SUBSEQUENTLY, WE BROUGHT THIS COMPLAINT TO THE ATTENTION OF SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN, WHO RECOMMENDED THAT WE CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. WE SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE $539, WHICH WE PAID TO HAVE THE FORD DEALER REPLACE THE SHOULD BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM. R. UNGER. *AK

20020425ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

I HAVE JUST BECOME AWARE THAT THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING WITH MY VEHICLE STALLING IS DUE TO A TFI MODULE THAT FORD IS AWARE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH. I HAVE STALLED MANY TIMES IN TRAFFIC AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TIMES I'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT AS A RESULT OF THIS. I DRIVE WITH A TODDLER IN THE CAR AND HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE AVOIDED INJURY THUS FAR. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE FORD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ANOTHER LIFE IS LOST.*AK

20020423ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20020313ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUTDOWN. SHE WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

20020131FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT FUEL PUMP OVERHEATED WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. *AK *SLC

20011127ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK VEHICLE WILL NOT START AFTER STOPPING AND SHUTTING OFF ENGINE, ENGINE WILL START AFTER ONE TO TWO HOURS OF COOL DOWN TIME. *TT

20011120SEAT BELTS

BOTH FRONT RESTRAINTS ARE INOPERABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITOINAL INFORMATION.*AK

Compare 1994FORDTEMPO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 FORD TEMPO have?
The 1994 FORD TEMPO has 212 NHTSA complaints, 25 crashes, 7 fires, 16 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 FORD TEMPO?
The most-complained component for the 1994 FORD TEMPO is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 20 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1994 FORD TEMPO safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.