FaultScore

1994 Ford Tempo electrical problems

22 of the 212 complaints about the 1994 Ford Tempo are about the electrical system — 10% of everything reported for this model year.

D

22

Complaints

1

Crashes

4

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Ignition 12 54.5%
Interior/Under Dash 3 13.6%
Wiring 2 9.1%
Switch 2 9.1%
12V/24V/48V Battery 1 4.5%
Front Underhood 1 4.5%
Module 1 4.5%

Electrical System across every Ford Tempo year

1984 13 3.6%
1985 13 3.6%
1986 18 4.9%
1987 35 9.6%
1988 59 16.1%
1989 37 10.1%
1990 53 14.5%
1991 27 7.4%
1992 48 13.1%
1993 41 11.2%
1994 22 6.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Laurel, MD

ELECTRICAL 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.

NHTSA complaint #760977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clemson, SC

ELECTRICAL 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.

NHTSA complaint #899468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Christiansburg, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHEN DRIVING AT 25MPH THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STALLED. IT WOULD NOT START FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES.

NHTSA complaint #737271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Christiansburg, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHEN GOING AT A SPEED OF 25MPH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC AND WOULD NOT START FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES LEAVING ME STRANDED FOR AN HOUR AT A TIME.

NHTSA complaint #737509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tullahoma, TN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

A NO-START ON THESE DATES4/5/99,4/12/99, 6/9/99, 7/6/99, 9/19/00, 10/13/00. HAS DONW IT ONE MORE TIME. DEALER KELP PUTTING IN PARTS BUT DIDN'T FIX PROBLEM AND IT DOES START AND STALLS ALSO AND COULD CAUSE A WRECK AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHATS WRONG.

NHTSA complaint #737628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sunbury, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

CARBURETOR AND DISTRIBUTOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #784940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sunbury, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

SPARK PLUGS & WIRES FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #784940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

ON DRIVING OVER 55 MILES PER HOUR THIS CAR'S ACCELERATION BEGINS THROBBING AND SPEEDS OUT OF CONTROL. I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THEY CHOSE TO PUT A BAND-AID ON RATHER THAN REPLACING THE COMPUTER. SINCE THAT TIME MOST MAJOR COMPONENTS ON THE CAR HAVE FAILED. MOST RECENTLY, WHILE DRIVING OR STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE CAR SIMPLY DIES AS IF NO FUEL IS REACHING THE ENGINE. THE BATTERY CHARGES AND THE ENGINE TURNS OVER BUT THE CAR WON'T MOVE. I'VE HAD NEARLY $2500 IN REPAIRS FOR EVERYTHING FROM THE BATTERY, THE WATER PUMP, THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, TO THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY REPLACED. TODAY I'M HAVING IT TOWED TO KOONS FORD BECAUSE I READ OF THE NATIONWIDE LAWSUIT REGARDING THE "THICK FILM IGNITION (TFI) MODULES NEAR THE HOTTEST PART OF THE ENGINE BLOCK, "CAUSING CARS TO STALL." MY MODEL (FORD TEMPO) AND YEAR (1994) IS ONE OF THE CARDS EQUIPPED WITH THIS MODULE. PLEASE TELL ME IF I CAN GET EITHER FORD OR LUSTINE CHEVROLET TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE TOWING AND EXPENSES RELATED TO THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. I HAVE SAVED MOST OF MY RECEIPTS.

NHTSA complaint #734421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

ON DRIVING OVER 55 MILES PER HOUR THIS CAR'S ACCELERATION BEGINS THROBBING AND SPEEDS OUT OF CONTROL. I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THEY CHOSE TO PUT A BAND-AID ON RATHER THAN REPLACING THE COMPUTER. SINCE THAT TIME MOST MAJOR COMPONENTS ON THE CAR HAVE FAILED. MOST RECENTLY, WHILE DRIVING OR STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE CAR SIMPLY DIES AS IF NO FUEL IS REACHING THE ENGINE. THE BATTERY CHARGES AND THE ENGINE TURNS OVER BUT THE CAR WON'T MOVE. I'VE HAD NEARLY $2500 IN REPAIRS FOR EVERYTHING FROM THE BATTERY, THE WATER PUMP, THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, TO THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY REPLACED. TODAY I'M HAVING IT TOWED TO KOONS FORD BECAUSE I READ OF THE NATIONWIDE LAWSUIT REGARDING THE "THICK FILM IGNITION (TFI) MODULES NEAR THE HOTTEST PART OF THE ENGINE BLOCK, "CAUSING CARS TO STALL." MY MODEL (FORD TEMPO) AND YEAR (1994) IS ONE OF THE CARDS EQUIPPED WITH THIS MODULE. PLEASE TELL ME IF I CAN GET EITHER FORD OR LUSTINE CHEVROLET TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE TOWING AND EXPENSES RELATED TO THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. I HAVE SAVED MOST OF MY RECEIPTS.

NHTSA complaint #734421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mescalero, NM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

CAR WILL SHUT DOWN, WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF INSTRUMENT/GAUGE WARNING, WHEN GOING AT 30+ MILES PER HOUR. PANEL LIGHTS COME ON JUST AS THEY WOULD WHEN YOU FIRST TURN THE IGNITION KEY. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR WOULD RESTART. A MECHANIC WHO CHECKED OUT THE CAR SAID IT WAS THE IGNITION MODULE SYSTEM, AND THAT I COULD HAVE IT REPLACED OR WAIT FOR A GENERAL RECALL. ON LATER INCIDENTS, THE CAR WILL NOT START FOR AT LEAST 5 TO 10 MINUTES.

NHTSA complaint #734536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tullahoma, TN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

HAVE HAD CAR IN SHOP DIFFEERENT TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM, STALLING AND NOT STARTING AND THE FORD PLACE CAN'T PIN POINT IT AND THEY TOOK IT TO A THIRD PARTY AND HE STATES HE CAN'T FIND IT BUT HE FOUND A CODE AS TO WHERE FORD COULDN'T AND IF NOT FIXED IT COULD STALL ON THE ROAD AND SOMEONE MIGHT HIT THE CAR AND SOME ONE WOULD GET HURT, AND ALOS FORD DOESN'T WANT TO FIX THE CAR ANYMORE FOR THAT PROBLEM AND IT'S SOMEWHERE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM OR THE ELECT SYSTEM THAT THIS THIRD PARTY TOLD ME. AND THE PERSON THAT HAD IT BEFORE ME HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR IF IT WAS SOLD AT JUST A LITTLE OVER 14000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #733992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grand Prairie, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THIS CAR STALLS WHEN OVER HEATED IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC,THE TEMP.GAUGE DOES NOT SHOW THAT IT IS HOT ,BUT THE CAR JUST STALLS AND WILL NOT START FOR ABOUT 30-45 MIN.I HAVE SPENT ALOT OF MONEY ON PARTS AND NOTHING IS WORKING.I HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND BEING STRANDED IN 106 DEGREE WEATHER IS NOT GOOD FOR ME .I HAVE ALMOST BEEN KILLED ON THE HIGHWAYS BY BEING STALLED IN A LANE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR,ONCE IT STALLS IT WILL NOT BUDGE UNTIL IT COOLS DOWN .PLEASE HELP I CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP PUTTING PARTS ON THIS CAR AND MY HEALYH IS BEING AFFECTED BY THIS. THAN YOU.

NHTSA complaint #729760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Calumet City, IL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

OWNED VEHICLE FOR FIVE MONTHS, WITH NO WARNING AT ALL VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE STARTING FROM THE FRONT WHEN ATTEMPTED TO SETTLE MATTER WITH FORD AND RIVER OAKS FORD NO ONE WOULD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS MY OWN PERSONAL BELONGINGS THAT WERE DESTROYED. BECAUSE OF EMPLOYMENT TRAVEL DISTANCE WAS FORCED TO PURCHASE VEHICLE WHOLESALE FOR SUBSTITUTION COLLATERAL ON PREVIOUS LOAN. MONEY TO PURCHASE 2ND VEHICLE WAS BORROWED FROM FAMILY MEMBER TOTALING $543.75. SPOKE WITH SALESMEN AT RIVER OAKS FORD WHO PROMISED THE FOLLOWING YEAR WOULD GRANT A GREAT DEAL ON VERY RELIABLE VEHICLE. WAITED OVER A YEAR AND A HALF WAS FORCED TO CONTINUE PAYMENTS ON A VEHICLE THAT I WAS UNABLE TO USE DUE TO ERROR ON WARRANTY THAT CAME WITH VEHICLE. I AM STILL EXPECTED TO PAY FOR VEHICLE WHICH WAS SCRAPPED AND IS PROBABLY SOME ONES HUB CAP. FURTHUR MORE THEY WANT $3000.00 CASH MORE FOR ME TO GET INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE PLUS REMAINING BALANCE ON THE LOAN FOR THE TEMPO THAT BECAME TOAST DUE TO THEIR NEGLAGANCE IN NOT NOTIFYING ME OR PREVIOUS OWNER IF INFACT THERE WAS A RECALL NOTICE OR PROBLEM. I ALSO FEEL THAT IT IS VERY UNFAIR THAT IF I DONT PAY ON THE LOAN BECAUSE OF THE INCIDENT THEY WONT HESITATE TO RUIN MY GOOD CREDIT.I UNDERSTAND MISTAKES HAPPEN ANDI HAVE BEEN VERY PAITENT ON SEEKING LEGAL COUNCIL HOW EVER I AM GETTING NO COOPERATION FROM FORD TO EVEN COME TO A HAPPY MEDIUM. IN CLOSING I HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ASSIST ME IN THIS MATTER SO THAT I MAY CLEAR THE ORIGINAL DEBT AND BE COMPENSATED FOR MY LOSS.

NHTSA complaint #725406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Buda, TX Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR INFORMED OWNER THAT THE WIRE UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD SHORTED OUT. THE MANUFACTURER AND DELAER WILL BE NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #827292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Harrodsburg, KY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

THERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS WITH STEERING GEAR AND COLUMN BECAUSE WHEN CONSUMER WAS USING THE HORN SMOKE CAME OUT AND HORN NEVER WORKED AGAIN. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE IGNITION SWITCH WORKED SOMETIMES, AND IT WAS NOT EASY TO GET THE KEY IN. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #827889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Placervill, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.

NHTSA complaint #523792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Laguana Hills, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

DRIVING VEHICLE 40MPH, WHEN ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON; THEN VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT. AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. SPEED VARIES. WOULD TURN VEHICLE OFF FOR A WHILE & THEN IT WOULD RESTART. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #818391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

SPARK PLUGS FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.

NHTSA complaint #514985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

MC Keesport, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #509710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Methuen, MA Crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

VEHICLE WAS PARKED , WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ON, ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WIRING IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE START UP IN GEAR AND HITTING A PARKED VEHICLE IMPACT 1:00 POSITION SPEED UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #800970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Walnutridge, AZ Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

WHILE DRIVING SMELL SMOKE UNDER THE DASH COMPARTMENT FIRE, WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #980155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Walnutridge, AZ Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

WHILE DRIVING SMELL SMOKE UNDER THE DASH COMPARTMENT FIRE, WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #980155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1994 Ford Tempo problems

← Full 1994 Ford Tempo report