IllustrationWHILE DRIVING, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK RECALL 96V071 WAS NEVER RECEIVED, CONSUMER HEARD OF RECALL THROUGH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. *SLC
1990 Ford Tempo
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Tempo years
Owner complaints for the 1990 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: 3 of 133 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 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. 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.
16 crash reports27 fire reports9 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
46 reportsALTERNATOR FAILED, CAUSING HARNESS TO MELT 5 TIMES. *SD
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCHON FIRE UNDER THE DASH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
WIRING HARNESS SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DH
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE SITING IN THE DRIVEWAY,CAUSED BY IGNITION SWITCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DH
UNDERHOOD FIRE CAUSED BY FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING. LIGHTS GO ON/OFF WHILE DRIVING; IMPAIRS VISION. TT
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO FIRES RESULTING FROM THE ALTERNATOR SWITCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS IS BURNING WHICH CAUSES THE ALTERNATOR TO GO BAD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
UNDER THE DASH FIRE, STEERING COLUMN, ELECTRICAL SHORT IN IGNITION SWITCH, VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR PERIOD OF 9 HRS. TT
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
3PE96005 · 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
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