1984 Ford Tempo Recalls, Complaints & Specs
6 safety recalls list the 1984 Ford Tempo, and owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
6 safety recalls for the 1984 Ford Tempo
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Seats
The forward bolt that provides part of the attachment between the driver's seat back assembly and the seat cushion frame may be subject to fatigue fracture. Consequence of defect: if this bolt breaks, the driver and seat back will fall back, which could result in the driver losing control of the car and possibly lead to an accident.
Remedy: Replace screws that attach driver's seat back assembly to the seat cushion frame.
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Suspension: rear
Rear supension control arm-to-spindle attachment bolts may be subject to fracture causing the rear spindle to separate during use of car. Consequence of defect: if bolts fracture and rear spindle disengages from control arm, loss of control will be experience which may result in an accident.
Remedy: Replace rear suspension bolts as necessary.
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Suspension: rear
Rear suspension control arm-to-spindle attachment bolts may be subject to fracture during use of car. Consequence of defect: if bolts fracture, rear spindle could disengage from control arm and possibly result in loss of control.
Remedy: Replace rear suspension bolts as necessary.
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Seats
Seat frame structure could sever front seat belts if vehicle is involved in an accident, depending on force of impact.
Remedy: Dealer will install a molded spacer between reinforcement plates and lower decorative plastic cover.
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Anchorage (seat belts)
The bolts that attach the d-shaped ring for the shoulder belt are inadequately supported by the material in which they are mounted. The attachment does not comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages".
Remedy: Dealers will install new attaching hardware to improve the strength of the mounting.
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Interior lighting
In the event of a short circuit in the instrument panel, the headlamp and interior illumination control switches could overheat.
Remedy: The headlamp switch will be replaced and fuse and fuse panel will be inspected for safe operation.
14 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1984 Ford Tempo have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA; 6 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 70,651 miles. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 6 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Class action for ford tfi module in ford tempo. *ph 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 o”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 17, 2004 · Electrical system
“While driving the engine shuts off, various parts replaced but did not rectify situation, possibly the tfi module. *cj”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 1, 2001 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1984 Ford Tempo. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 21–34 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 19–31 / 24–39 |
| Fuel | Diesel, Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2/2.3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 3-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Ford Tempo model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Tempo model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 Ford Tempo | 0 | 2 |
| 1984 Ford Tempo | 6 | 14 |
| 1985 Ford Tempo | 3 | 30 |
| 1986 Ford Tempo | 0 | 31 |
| 1987 Ford Tempo | 1 | 53 |
| 1988 Ford Tempo | 2 | 126 |
| 1989 Ford Tempo | 1 | 124 |
| 1990 Ford Tempo | 1 | 133 |
| 1991 Ford Tempo | 1 | 110 |
| 1992 Ford Tempo | 2 | 176 |
| 1993 Ford Tempo | 2 | 227 |
| 1994 Ford Tempo | 1 | 161 |
| 1995 Ford Tempo | 0 | 3 |
| 1996 Ford Tempo | 0 | 2 |
| 1997 Ford Tempo | 0 | 2 |
| 1998 Ford Tempo | 0 | 1 |
| 1999 Ford Tempo | 0 | 1 |
| 2000 Ford Tempo | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 1984 Ford Tempo
How do I know if my 1984 Ford Tempo has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 6 campaigns currently list the 1984 Ford Tempo; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 83V055000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.