SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

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 →
133Owner complaints

Model-year median: 30

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
53
1987126
1988124
1989133
1990110
1991176
1992227
1993
Compare all Tempo years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
46Seat Belts
28Service Brakes, Hydraulic
20Engine And Engine Cooling
19Steering
12
All reported categories
Exterior Lighting
6Power Train
4Vehicle Speed Control
4Seats
3Tires
3Visibility
3Service Brakes, Air
2Structure
2Suspension
2Air Bags
1Child Seat
1Fuel System, Gasoline
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: 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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

19 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIIVNG 50-55 MPH THE CAR JUMPS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO CUT OFF. AT STOP SIGNS, IF DOES NOT HAVE FOOT ON BRAKE THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE. WHEN DRIVING AND COMING TO A SLOW DOWN OR STOP DRIVER HAS TO KEEP FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL SO THE VEHICLE WILL NOT DIE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM. PROB…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIIVNG 50-55 MPH THE CAR JUMPS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO CUT OFF. AT STOP SIGNS, IF DOES NOT HAVE FOOT ON BRAKE THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE. WHEN DRIVING AND COMING TO A SLOW DOWN OR STOP DRIVER HAS TO KEEP FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL SO THE VEHICLE WILL NOT DIE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM. PROBLEM NOT CORRECTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #816754

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE OIL LEAKS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #513947

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

MOTOR MOUNTS DISINTEGRATED, TIE ROD END BUSTED, CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, NO WARNING, SPEED 25 MPH. NO ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #804187

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

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

NHTSA ODI #804064

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingSeat Belts

MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED DUE TO TEARING. *DH

NHTSA ODI #505205

Mileage unknown · May 17, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

ENGINE FIRE. *DH

NHTSA ODI #505112

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 1995
Engine And Engine Cooling

DRIVING LOW TO HIGH SPEEDS W/O WARNING CAR STALLS, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING/BRAKES. *SD

NHTSA ODI #484011

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingSeat BeltsSteering

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WORKS ON OCCASION, BROKE MOTOR MOUNTS, TIE RODS, ETC. TT

NHTSA ODI #961458

Mileage unknown · Date not reported
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFire

ENGINE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #516113

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