1994 Ford Tempo Review
Price Estimate: $1,626 - $2,709
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
What’s new
CFC-free air conditioning refrigerant and redesigned seatbelts are the only changes this year. The Tempo is retired after this model year in favor of the new Contour.
For sale near Apache Junction, AZ
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Arizona
$175/mo for Tempo LX
Tempo LX
vs
$172/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Reliability
The 1994 Ford Tempo has 1 recall. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.
Recalls
1 recall foundChecking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.
If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).
- Recall Number:
- 97V019000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- 97S66
- Manufactured from:
- 1991-07-22 to 1994-11-18
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 75200
- Defect Description:
- 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.
- Defect 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.
- Corrective Action:
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.
Ford Tempo Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
best car ford made
5 out of 5 starsjames bungarden, 10/13/2015
1993 Ford Tempo GL 2dr Coupe
I bought this tempo new. took it to California when it had 188000 miles on it. round trip was 4000 miles. 35 mpg. wanted to trade for new 2013 fusion dealer said he give me 150 dollors for it I still have it now has 203050 miles will go anywhere I want. if the fusion lasts as long the tempo i'll be happy.
Good car
3.63 out of 5 starsSerega, 10/04/2004
1993 Ford Tempo GL 4dr Sedan
I got this car a year ago, and so far
here's what I think: It may not have
an outstanding exterior/interior, the
ride and handling is average, and the
limit of 80 mph is definitely not too
much. However, I didn't have any major
problems with it, only usual
maintenance. I particularly like
126ft*lb at only 2000-3000Rpm (4cyl) -
you can outrun most of the cars if you …
wish when you start at traffic light.
So my impression is: Ford Tempo is a
good car to for beginners. Reliability
strongly depends on the way the car
was maintained.
Wanting to trade it
2.13 out of 5 starsMedic, 09/07/2008
1994 Ford Tempo GL 4dr Sedan
I got it from my parents who got it off my grandparents, in my opinion a great little grandma/grandpa car where you don't drive it a ton. Things I fixed in the last two years: tie rods, struts, brakes, valve cover gasket, fuel pump (long story there) headlight switch, oil pan leaks, head gasket leaks. In all honesty it was an ok car (it drove the Alaska highway round trip and spent a few … years up there) it did leave me stranded multiple times before anyone figured out it was the fuel pump, which shook my confidence in it, lots of little things on the blink, the headlight switch keeps leaving all the lights on even after replacing it. 144k mi, time for a trade and a little Peace of mind.
1993 GL V6 Tempo
4.25 out of 5 starsD. Goodrode, 07/02/2010
1993 Ford Tempo GL 4dr Sedan
Got it with 86k on it, needed complete tune-up, 3.0 V6 is great, trans has no O.D. or lock up converter, but shifts great, (shades of the 1960's), put 10% over size tires on front, get 22 to 26 MPG average, everything works on the car, 42 Degree A/C on 95 Degree days, change oil with 15w40 Diesel oil every 4k miles, runs like a Swiss watch, no oil leaks, usual maintenance items, car now … has 102k on it, good riding car, kind of boring to drive, but so far very very reliable, good daily driver, what more could you want for $900.00? Looking for a reason to get a newer car but the darn thing just won't give me a reason to retire it!
We have a limited number of reviews for the 1994 Ford Tempo, so we've included reviews for other years of the Tempo since its last redesign.
1994 Tempo Highlights
Sedan
LX
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 24 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $175/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 12.9 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRolloverNot RatedDynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original0
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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