IllustrationWHILE DRIVING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME ENGINE JUST SHUTS DOWN. POWER STEERING/BRAKING SYSTEM GO OUT, AND ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
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.
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: 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
What owners actually said
124 reportsHEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM, CAN NOT SEE AT NIGHT WITH THEM ON. SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER TEMPOS.
OIL LEAKING FROM VALVE COVER GASKET, REPAIRED, HOWEVER OIL LEAK IS STILL PRESENT, OIL LEAK HAS DAMAGED THE MOTOR.
MOTOR MOUNTS CRACKED TWICE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, AND MAY HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
THE CAR ACCELERATES WHEN FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. ITS AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET WHEN IT WASN'T. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME SEVERAL TIMES, AND IN TRANSPORT OF A YEAR OLD CHILD, AND MY MOTHER IS ON OXYGEN, AND WHEEL CHAIR BOUND. I MYSELF AM DISABLED, AND HAVE NO WAY TO PAY TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED, OR TO SELL THIS CAR. …
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THE CAR ACCELERATES WHEN FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. ITS AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET WHEN IT WASN'T. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME SEVERAL TIMES, AND IN TRANSPORT OF A YEAR OLD CHILD, AND MY MOTHER IS ON OXYGEN, AND WHEEL CHAIR BOUND. I MYSELF AM DISABLED, AND HAVE NO WAY TO PAY TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED, OR TO SELL THIS CAR. MY AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE HAS TOLD ME THEY WILL NO LONGER INSURE MY CAR, AS THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OF FORD. I CALLED FORD, AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THERE WILL BE NO RECALL ON THIS, THAT THE CAR IS 10YEARS OLD, THERE WILL NOT BE ANYTHING DONE BY THEM. I CAN'T GET RID OF THIS CAR, NOR CAN I BUY ANOTHER ONE. WHAT AM I SUPOSE TO DO? I REFUSE TO DRIVE THIS CAR, AS WHEN IT ACCERATES, THERE REALLY IS NO WAY OF STOPPING IT, AND I AM AFRAID I WILL KILL SOMEONE, OR MY FAMILY WILL BE KILLED. THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM, AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I AM NOT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. *AK
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 …
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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
LOCK CYLINDER FAILED CAUSING DRIVER TO BE SHOCKED WHEN KEY WAS INSERTED INTO IGNITION.
WHEN STARTING SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. LEARNED LATER THAT THE SMOKE WAS DUE TO A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS UNDER THE DASH. REPAIRS WERE MADE BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ( REPAIRS WERE DONE ON BOTH HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD AND UNDER THE DASH). MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK
WENT TO PIONEER FORD TO GET PROBLEM FIX BUT IN REPAIRING THIS PROBLEM THEY BROKE DRIVERS SEAT AND MADE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND REFUSED TO REPAIR IT THEY SAID JUST BECAUSE THE VEHICAL WAS OVER 10 YEARS OLD THEY WERE NOT RESPOSIBLE
ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).
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
4PE96005 · 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