Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1984 Tempo.
The 1984 Ford Tempo requires 5.0 qt of engine oil and can be serviced with 20W‑40, 20W‑50 or 15W‑40 viscosity grades, reflecting the flexibility of its lubrication specifications. In the broader reliability record the model registers only 19 total owner complaints, with the electrical system identified as the most frequent trouble area and seven factory recalls noted. Although the detailed complaint history in the data set covers the 1990‑2000 span—showing a peak of 283 complaints in 1993 and a low of a single complaint in 1998—the 1984 year falls outside that window, suggesting it predates the period of heightened issue reporting and is generally regarded as a comparatively stable point in the Tempo’s overall reliability timeline.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 176.4 in |
| Overall width | 66.1 in |
| Overall height | 52.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 100 in |
| Curb weight | 2394 lb |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 62/38 |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 5.0 qt of 20W-40 / 20W-50 / 15W-40 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 3 |
| Engine Coolant | ETHYLENE GLYCOL |
| Engine Oil | 20W-40 · 20W-50 · 15W-40 · 10W-30 · 10W-40 · 5W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 5.0 qt |
| Engine Oil | API · 5W-30 · 10W-30 · 10W-40 · 15W-40 · 20W-40 · 20W-50 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 7.2 qt |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 1984 Ford Tempo, as the first model year of its generation, shows a specific complaint profile: electrical system issues dominate with 13 reports, and there were 7 fire complaints despite zero crash complaints. Across the generation, federal data from 1990 onward reveals a rising trend in overall complaints, peaking at 283 in 1993, with recalls occurring consistently at 1-2 per year until 1994. The 1984 model year sits at the very start of this arc, and its fire-related complaints are a notable outlier not captured in the later aggregate numbers. This suggests early production vulnerabilities, particularly in the electrical system, that may have been addressed in subsequent years. For a used buyer, the 1984 Tempo presents a higher risk due to these fire-related incidents, making it a less advisable choice within the generation.
All 19 complaints on record, top 5 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 7 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE… Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
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… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW ATTACHING HARDWARE TO IMPROVE THE STRENGTH OF THE MOUNTING.
Showing 5 of 13 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01157 | 2001-08-06 | Unknown Or Other | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 98246 | 1998-12-07 | Electrical System | FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE… |
| 9852 | 1998-04-13 | Tires | INFORMATION ON TIRE COMPANY TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. *YC |
| 985A13 | 1998-03-18 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | THE USE OF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE AS A LUBRICANT IN SERVICING DISC BRAKES IS NO LONGER… |
| 97111097234 | 1997-11-10 | Electrical System | VEHICLES EXHIBITING A "SQUEAKING" OR "CHIRPING" FROM THE BLOWER MOTOR AT LOW BLOWER MOTOR… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
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Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
5.0 qt of ABOVE 40 degrees F 20W-40 OR 20W-50, ABOVE 10 degreesF 15W-40, ABOVE 0 degrees F 10W-30 OR 10W-40, BELOW 100 degreesF 5W-30, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.