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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

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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

What owners actually said

133 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2001
Exterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE LIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE,. WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKES BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON. ALSO, STOPPING DISTANCE HAS INCREASED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8001286

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2001
Exterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE AT A STOP SIGN ANOTHER DRIVER PULLED ALONG SIDE OF CONSUMER AND STATED THAT BRAKE LIGHTS WERE OUT. CONSUMER PRESSED BRAKE PEDAL, AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #6900627

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE CUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING, BUT IT WILL START BACK UP AGAIN. ALSO, CONSUMER CAN HEAR IT WHEN IT IS GETTING READY TO CUT, WHICH GIVES HER TIME TO APPLY BRAKES AND PULL TO SIDE OUT OF TRAFFIC.*AK

NHTSA ODI #899767

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2001
Electrical SystemSeat BeltsVisibilityCrash

REPLACED SEATBELT AND THEY DO THE SAME THING LOCK IN THE BUCKLE POSITION WHEN WIFE PUT IN DITCH SHE HAD TO SQUEZE TO GET OUTEVEN WHEN OPEN DOOR WOULD NOT RELEASE THE HEATER CONTROL HAS BEEN BURNT 3 TIMES AND CURRENTLY IS BURNT AGAIN THEN THE IGNITION HAS BEEN REPLACED UNDER A RECALL AND THAT DINGS NOW WHEN THE KEY ISN'T EVEN IN …

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REPLACED SEATBELT AND THEY DO THE SAME THING LOCK IN THE BUCKLE POSITION WHEN WIFE PUT IN DITCH SHE HAD TO SQUEZE TO GET OUTEVEN WHEN OPEN DOOR WOULD NOT RELEASE THE HEATER CONTROL HAS BEEN BURNT 3 TIMES AND CURRENTLY IS BURNT AGAIN THEN THE IGNITION HAS BEEN REPLACED UNDER A RECALL AND THAT DINGS NOW WHEN THE KEY ISN'T EVEN IN IT NICE RECALL I WENT TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE SEATBELTS THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ABOUT 300.00 PER DOOR TO FIX MY WIFE WAS QUITE UPSET ABOUT IT WROTE FORD MOTOR A LETTER THEY NEVER ECNOLLEDGE IT. SHE WON'T EVEN LET ME REPLACE THE ENGINE IN IT CAUSE SHE SAYS SHE WILL NOT DRIVE THAT CAR THAT COULD GO UP IN FLAMES OR DOESN'T HAVE SEATBELT THAT WORK CAUSE FORD DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE SOMETHING THAT WORKS PROPER SHE FEELS THE FORD COMPANY HAS DONE NOTHING BUT ENDANGERED MANY ADULTS AND CHILDRENS LIVES WITH THESE PROBLEMS AND SAYS SOMEONE OTTA TAKE CONTROL OVER THIS MATTER SINCERELY [XXX] AND [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #755056

Mileage unknown · Nov 11, 2001
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 9-29-01. A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I HIT THE FRONT OF MY CAR INTO THE LEFT FRONT (PASSANGERS) CORNER PANEL. THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN TOTALED HAD I HAD FULL COVERAGE. THE SEATBELT IS AN AUTOMATIC SEATBELT, SO WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED ON, THE SEAT BELT AUTOMATICALLY COMES BACK ON THE DOOR. WELL, T…

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I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 9-29-01. A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I HIT THE FRONT OF MY CAR INTO THE LEFT FRONT (PASSANGERS) CORNER PANEL. THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN TOTALED HAD I HAD FULL COVERAGE. THE SEATBELT IS AN AUTOMATIC SEATBELT, SO WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED ON, THE SEAT BELT AUTOMATICALLY COMES BACK ON THE DOOR. WELL, THAT DAY IN THE ACCIDENT, THE SEATBELT NEVER LOCKED, THE TOP DIDNT, THE AUTOMATIC PART. WHAT SAVED ME FROM HITTING THE WINDSHEILD WAS THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE LAP BELT. I KNOW HAVE LUMPS IN MY BREAST THAT WONT GO AWAY FROM BOUNCING OFF THE STEERING WHEEL. I DONT HAVE A JOB AND THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT. I STILL AND WILL AWALYS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY UPPER BACK, CHEST AND NECK FROM BOUNCING OFF THE STEERING WHEEL. AND YES, I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL RIGHT AFTER THE ACCIDENT IN AN AMBULENCE ON A STRETCHER. I CONTACTED FORD THROUGH THEIR WEB SITE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SEATBELTS AND THEY SAID THEYC OULNT COME UP WITH ANYTHING CAUSE OF THE YEAR OF THE CAR. AS FOR THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR, I AM UNSURE, I KNOW IT HAD HIGH MILEAGE. ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT OR LESS THAN THAT, I HAD TO SELL THE CAR, I COULDNT AFFORD TO KEEP IT IN STORAGE AND I WASNT ALLOWED TO HAVE IT LIKE IT WAS AT MY APARTMENT. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ODI #754402

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2001
Exterior Lighting

PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENS HAS BECOME DISCOLORED, CAUSING BRIGHTNESS OF HEADLIGHTS TO BE EXTREMELY DIM. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #896862

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2001
Electrical System

96 V 071 000/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IGNITION: VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OR WHILE PULLING OFF FROM A STOP POSITION. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL. BUT, DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #895544

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2001
Electrical System

I HAD TO HAVE MY IGNITION MODUAL REPLACED BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD STALL ON ME WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I READ IN THE PAPER TODAY THAT FORD IS FIGHTING THE RECALL ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM. I HAVE E-MAILED FORD IN HOPES OF RECTIFING THIS SITUATION, BUT THOUGHT I WOULD ALSO CONTACT YOU FOR HELP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #750462

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

CONSUMER STATES AS SHE WAS DRIVING, VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL, SHE THEN PULLED OVER AND THAT IS WHEN SHE SAW THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, POSSIBLY ENGINE RELATED.(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT#10-90-330)*JB

NHTSA ODI #562259

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

WHILE AT A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT, VEHICLE STALLS AT TAKE OFF. PAINT IS PEELING OFF OF VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE TFI IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED AFTER ONE INCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START BUT DID NOT HELP THE PROBLEM, VEHICLE SURGES FOWARD AT TIMES, IT CAN MOVE FOWARD UP AN INCLINE WITHOUT PRESSING O…

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WHILE AT A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT, VEHICLE STALLS AT TAKE OFF. PAINT IS PEELING OFF OF VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE TFI IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED AFTER ONE INCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START BUT DID NOT HELP THE PROBLEM, VEHICLE SURGES FOWARD AT TIMES, IT CAN MOVE FOWARD UP AN INCLINE WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR.*JB

NHTSA ODI #889013

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

3

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

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