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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.

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

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
31
198653
1987126
1988124
1989133
1990110
1991176
1992
Compare all Tempo years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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

Structure complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · May 12, 2014
Structure

THE CAR HAS MAJOR LEAKING ISSUES. EVERY TIME IT RAINS/SNOWS/SLEETS/HAIL IT LEAKS INTO THE CAR THROUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE INTO THE ROOF AND ONCE THAT AREA IS SOAKED IT STARTS TO DRIP SLOWLY ONTO THE SEAT AND FLOOR. THERE IS ALSO A LEAK IN THE TRUNK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, OR AT LEAST THAT IS WHERE THE WATER ACCUMULATES UNTIL A SMALL…

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THE CAR HAS MAJOR LEAKING ISSUES. EVERY TIME IT RAINS/SNOWS/SLEETS/HAIL IT LEAKS INTO THE CAR THROUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE INTO THE ROOF AND ONCE THAT AREA IS SOAKED IT STARTS TO DRIP SLOWLY ONTO THE SEAT AND FLOOR. THERE IS ALSO A LEAK IN THE TRUNK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, OR AT LEAST THAT IS WHERE THE WATER ACCUMULATES UNTIL A SMALL PUDDLE HAS FORMED IN THE WELL THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE. AND IT SEEMS TO ALSO SPREAD INTO THE BACKSEAT AND GATHERS IN THE BACKSEAT FOOTWELL BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587763

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

ODOMETER READING IS NOT REGISTERING MILES, AND SPEEDOMETER IS NOT READING MPH. VEHICLE RUNS HOT, ELECTRONIC FAN IN COOLING SYSTEM DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. ALSO, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND AUTOMATIC LOCK ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. DEALER CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES, AND CANNOT …

Read full complaint

ODOMETER READING IS NOT REGISTERING MILES, AND SPEEDOMETER IS NOT READING MPH. VEHICLE RUNS HOT, ELECTRONIC FAN IN COOLING SYSTEM DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. ALSO, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND AUTOMATIC LOCK ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. DEALER CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES, AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEMS INCURRED. PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #834793

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 1998
Structure

THE POWER DOOR LOCK ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE IS IN THE LOCK POSITION AND WILL NOT UNLOCK. THE DOOR CANNOT BY OPENED MANUALLY. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #826206

Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 1998
Structure

WHENEVER OPENING DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR THERE IS A NOISE, THE NOISE BEGAN IN MAY. SINCE THEN IT HAS PROGRESSED, ALSO, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR IS NOW MAKING THE SAME NOISE. CONSUMER WILL PROVIDE VIN# LATER ALONG WITH OTHER MISSING INFORMATION. SHE DID NOT HAVE ON HAND AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #826908

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 1998
Structure

WHENEVER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS OPENED THERE IS ALWAYS A LOUD NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & SERVICE MANAGER CHECKED. THE MECHANIC HEARD & LOCATED THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE. TOLD CONSUMER VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY & REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #826331

Recall campaigns

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 ↗

Defect 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

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