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Ford TempoModel year report

1984 Ford Tempo Problems

Complaints
14filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
70,651miles, 1 complaints with mileage
Recalls
6campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
22 mpgcombined, 2.3L 4-cyl · 20 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1984 Ford Tempo (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 14 consumer complaints for the 1984 Ford Tempo. The part named most often is electrical system, with 11 complaints (79% of the total), followed by seat belts (2) and engine cooling (1). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 70,651 miles. Of all complaints, 6 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year. Seat belts complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the anchorage filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Electrical system: “Class action for Ford tfi module in Ford Tempo. The consumer was reimbursed for the replacement tfi module, however he was not reimbursed for the labor and towing because the cost was not listed on the invoice, but it was on the previous invoice when the problem was thought to be the ignition switch, it was soon discovered the ignition switch was not the problem when the vehicle broke down the next day.”

NHTSA complaint #10055466, filed 2004-03, 70,651 miles

Seats: “Seatback rest collapsed, fell onto back seat one in four failures, caused by right side attachement failure that holds up seat back; according to dealer, entire seat needed replacing; replaced, problem reoccurred.”

NHTSA complaint #807979, filed 1997-03

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 70,651 and 70,651 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–50100%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (1 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 70,651 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

1995199661997200020012004
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1984 Ford Tempo version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Tempo 2.3L 4-cyl5-speed manual212924$2,800
Tempo 2.3L 4-cyl3-speed automatic212623$2,900
Tempo 2.3L 4-cyl3-speed automatic202422$3,050
Tempo 2.3L 4-cyl5-speed manual202622$3,050
Tempo 2.3L 4-cyl3-speed automatic192421$3,200
Tempo 2.0L 4-cyl · diesel5-speed manual313934$2,800

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1984 Ford Tempo → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1984 Ford Tempo.

Other model years of the Ford Tempo

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
199416199,9001—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199322778,0002—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1992176101,0002—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199111067,0001—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199013381,0001—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198912499,1001—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198812634,7902—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198753—1—22Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19863190,2800—23Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19853072,0003—24Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19841470,6516—22—Not enough data

All Ford Tempo model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1984 Ford Tempo have?

NHTSA recorded 14 consumer complaints for the 1984 Ford Tempo as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1984 Ford Tempo is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 11 complaints (79% of the total), followed by seat belts with 2.

Has the 1984 Ford Tempo been recalled?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1984 Ford Tempo get?

The EPA rates the 1984 Ford Tempo (Tempo, 2.3L 4-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 20 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,050 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1984 Ford Tempo reported?

Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 70,651 miles and the middle half falls between 70,651 and 70,651 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.