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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →

124Owner complaints

Model-year median: 30

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

4Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1989 Ford Tempo

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 124 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 4 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

Electrical System: 33 reports
Engine And Engine Cooling: 26 reports
Seat Belts: 20 reports
Exterior Lighting: 16 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 16 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

96V071000 — Electrical System:ignition

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year

Compare all Tempo years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System

33 Engine And Engine Cooling

26 Seat Belts

20 Exterior Lighting

16 Service Brakes, Hydraulic

All reported categories

Steering

8 Vehicle Speed Control

8 Power Train

5 Structure

5 Fuel System, Gasoline

4 Unknown Or Other

3 Seats

2 Parking Brake

1 Service Brakes, Air

1 Suspension

1 Wheels

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

Steering complaints

8 reports

Clear category filter

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2000

SteeringCrash

FRONT RIGHT TIE ROD SNAPPED IN TWO PIECES. CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. RIGHT TIRE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWERVE SHARPLY INTO CURB. POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS INJURY BUT WAS ON A "GET ON" RAMP TO FREEWAY. SO WAS VERY LUCKY BECAUSE NO UNCOMING TRAFFIC AND NO PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN ANY P…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #722961

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 1997

Exterior LightingSteering

STEERING COLUMN FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #527154

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 1997

Steering

FRONT END TIE ROD FAILED CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. NLM

NHTSA ODI #605585

Mileage unknown · May 9, 1997

Power TrainSteering

STEERING COLUMN LOOSE.

NHTSA ODI #517104

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 1997

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

ENGINE FAN FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #513946

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1995

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

PURCHASE CAR USED HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP THREE TIMES AND REPLACED MOTOR MOUNT ONE TIME AND REPLACED THE STARTER TWO TIMES . TT TFI REPLACED. TP SENSOR REPLACED. EGR VALVE REPLACED. INNER TIE ROD END REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #973969

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 1995

Steering

TIE ROD BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. (OTHER VEHICLE ON 479568) *AW

NHTSA ODI #481651

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 1995

Steering

TIE ROD BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. (2ND VEHICLE ON 481651) *AW

NHTSA ODI #479568

Recall campaigns

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 ↗

Defect investigations

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

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.