IllustrationCONSUMER LETTER CONCERNING THE SETTLEMENT IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *TS THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB
1989 Ford Tempo
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Tempo years
Owner complaints for the 1989 Ford Tempo are substantially higher than the model-year median of 30.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tempo years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 4 of 124 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports21 fire reports5 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
26 reportsCONSUMER STATED VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WHEN ENGINE GETS HOT, CONSUMER STATES THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AND USUALLY OCCURS AT A SIGNAL LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. *SLC
ANY TIME AT A STOP LIGHT OR STARTING TO MOVE OR GOING AROUND CORNERS VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT FOR NO REASON. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES. MECHANIC CAN NOT DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE PROBLEM.*AK
WHEN DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER VEHICLE STALLS, AND WON'T START BACK UP FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES. MECHANIC REPLACED IGNITION, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
IN 1989 WE PAID $40,000 FOR A NEW MOTORHOME THAT IS DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE AND FORD REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD REPEATED FAILURES DURING WARM WEATHER AS IT APPEARS THE SYSTEM VAPORLOCKS AND STALLS THE VEHICLE. THE LASTEST FAILURES HAPPENED ON OUR VACATION LAST WEEK AND WERE VERY DANGEROUS. ONE STALL OCURRED ON A TWO…
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IN 1989 WE PAID $40,000 FOR A NEW MOTORHOME THAT IS DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE AND FORD REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD REPEATED FAILURES DURING WARM WEATHER AS IT APPEARS THE SYSTEM VAPORLOCKS AND STALLS THE VEHICLE. THE LASTEST FAILURES HAPPENED ON OUR VACATION LAST WEEK AND WERE VERY DANGEROUS. ONE STALL OCURRED ON A TWO LANE MOUNTAIN ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER AND ON CURVES. WE BLOCKED THE LANE AND HAD TO DIRECT TRAFFIC AROUND TO AVOID A TERRIBLE HEADON. ANOTHER FAILURE WE COULD NOT GET IT OFF THE ROAD AND IT BLOCKED BOTH LANES. VERY DANGEROUS FOR US AND OTHERS. WE HAVE SPENT ABOUT $1000 OVER THE YEARS DOING WHAT FORD RECOMMENDED AND IT DID NOT WORK. MOTORHOME MAGAZINE HAS HAD NUMEROUS ARTICLES ABOUT THIS OVER THE YEARS AND STILL FORD WILL NOT HELP THEIR CUSTOMERS. WE RECIEVED INFORMATION ABOUT A LAW SUIT WHERE PEOPLE WERE KILLED BUT HAVE NOT HEARD THE OUTCOME. UPON SPEAKING TO A FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. TODAY, SHE SAID SHE RECEIVES 40-50 CALLS A DAY REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND STILL FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE ARE FACED WITH DONATING THIS MOTORHOME AS WE CANNOT SELL IT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE TO ANYONE. FORD SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH THIS AND IGNORE A DESIGN FLAW IN THEIR PRODUCT. PLEASE HELP US TO GET FORD'S ATTENTION AND TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY APPARENTLY DO NOT MAKE THE 460 ENGINE ANYMORE DUE TO THE PROBLEMS. WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE OF US WHO ALREADY HAVE ONE?
ENGINE FIRE. YH
REAR MAIN SEAL IN THE ENGINE FAILED CAUSING FIRE. *YH
AFTER DRIVING SOME DISTANCE, CAR WILL STALL AND FAIL TO START UNTIL IT COOLS DOWN, ESPECIALLY IN WARM WEATHER. PROBLEM IS ONGOING AND SPASMODIC. RESTART AFTER COOLING DOWN IS ALWAYS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM HAS BEEN FLUSHED, REFILLED AND WORKS PERFECTLY.
WHILE DRIVING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME ENGINE JUST SHUTS DOWN. POWER STEERING/BRAKING SYSTEM GO OUT, AND ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
OIL LEAKING FROM VALVE COVER GASKET, REPAIRED, HOWEVER OIL LEAK IS STILL PRESENT, OIL LEAK HAS DAMAGED THE MOTOR.
Official recalls
196V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
4PE96005 · Rear Brk Adjuster Failure
Opened Jan 19, 1996 · Closed May 28, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1984 - 1991 FORD TEMPO/MERCURY TOPAZ
DP96002 · Rear Brake System Failure
Opened Jan 11, 1996 · Closed Jan 19, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
EA91052 · Seat Belt Separation
Opened Nov 27, 1991 · Closed Nov 24, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
EA90008 · Failed Passive Restraint
Opened Dec 27, 1989 · Closed Dec 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
WE HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS REPORTS WHICH ALLEGE A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM.ADDITIONAL REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED TO RESTRAIN/ADEQUATELY PROTECT THE OCCUPANT DURING AN ACCIDENT