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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 →
124Owner complaints

Model-year median: 30

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

4Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
31
198653
1987126
1988124
1989133
1990110
1991176
1992
Compare all Tempo years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
33Engine And Engine Cooling
26Seat Belts
20Exterior Lighting
16Service Brakes, Hydraulic
16
All reported categories
Steering
8Vehicle Speed Control
8Power Train
5Structure
5Fuel System, Gasoline
4Unknown Or Other
3Seats
2Parking Brake
1Service Brakes, Air
1Suspension
1Wheels
1

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

Seat Belts complaints

20 reports
Clear category filter
72,000 miles · Jan 23, 2007
Seat Belts

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT SUPPORT ON THE 1989 FORD TEMPO HAD DISENGAGED ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER , AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FIX THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD. *AK UPDATED 2/22/2007 - THE CONSUMER FEE…

Read full complaint

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT SUPPORT ON THE 1989 FORD TEMPO HAD DISENGAGED ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER , AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FIX THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD. *AK UPDATED 2/22/2007 - THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE SEAT BELT SUPPORT WAS MADE FROM AN INFERIOR PLASTIC WHICH BECAME BRITTLE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10179485

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 1998
Seat Belts

DRIVER/PASSENGER SEAT BELTS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. SOMETIMES BELTS WOULD WORK WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED. WHEN BRAKES APPLIED, BELTS WOULD GO TO ORIGINAL POSITION. BETS ALSO RETRACT TO ORIGINAL POSITION WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #831625

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 1997
Exterior LightingSeat Belts

NYLON STRAP THAT RETRACTS SHOULDER BELT FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #516716

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 1997
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILED TO DISENGAGE, TIGHTENING UPON BEING WORN. HUSBAND HAD TO CUT HER OUT OF THE BELT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #803296

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 1997
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

ENGINE FAN FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #513946

Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 1996
Exterior LightingSeat Belts

AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #512973

Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 1996
Seat Belts

FOR THE THIRD TIME THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HAS STOPPED WORKING . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

NHTSA ODI #805822

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 1996
Seat Belts

MOTORBELT RETRACTOR FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #508850

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 1996
Seat Belts

THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. A VERY LOUD NOISE IS EXPERIENCED WHEN OPENING AND CLOSING THE DOORS, COMING FROM THE SEAT BELT MOTOR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #802388

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 1996
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SEAT LAP BELTS WILL NOT UNLATCH. OCCUPANT HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF SEAT BELT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #801042

Official recalls

1

96V071000 · 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

4

PE96005 · 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