IllustrationPOOR AUTOMATIC SEAT AND SHOULDER BELT PERFORMANCE. THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM DID NOT HOLD THE DRIVER IN PLACE UPON A FRONTAL IMPACT ACCIDENT. *AK
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
What owners actually said
133 reportsWHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED BACKREST ADJUSTMENT GEAR FAILURE, WHEN DRIVER'S BACKREST COLLASPED AT APPROX. 25MPH, DRIVER RECLINED REARWARD. *AK
MOTOR MOUNTS DISINTEGRATED, TIE ROD END BUSTED, CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, NO WARNING, SPEED 25 MPH. NO ACCIDENT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE GAS PEDAL STUCK. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE, VEHICLE WOULD TURN OFF ,CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND THEY INSPECTED IT, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DETRATEAL SENSOR WAS BAD, WHICH WAS CASUING VEHICLE TO STALL, CONSUMER GOT THE THROTTLE …
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE GAS PEDAL STUCK. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE, VEHICLE WOULD TURN OFF ,CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND THEY INSPECTED IT, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DETRATEAL SENSOR WAS BAD, WHICH WAS CASUING VEHICLE TO STALL, CONSUMER GOT THE THROTTLE FIXED AND LATER THERE WAS A RECALL AND WHEN CONSUMER REQUESTED HIS MONEY BACK DEAKER ADVISED HIM THEY COULD NOT GO THAT FAR BACK INTO COMPUTER.*JB
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT MAKES A HORRIBLE NOISE WENT IT RETRACTS.*AK
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE, STOPPED AT TRAIN STATION TO MEET SOMEONE, ANOTHER PERSON CAME IN THE STATION TO REPORT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.
ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER BETWEEN SEATS CONSOLE CAUSED VEHICLE FIRE.
REAR BRAKES FAILED THREE TIMES DUE TO UNEVEN WEAR.
PASSENGER MOTORBELT MAKES GRINDING NOISE/RESPONDS TO DRIVERS DOOR.
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