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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 →
133Owner complaints

Model-year median: 30

1Recall campaigns

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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2002
Exterior Lighting

LIGHT LENSES HAVE TURNED FROM CLEAR TO WHITE AND NO LONGER FOCUS THE BEAM AHEAD, LIGHT LENES ARE MADE FROM PLASTIC, SUSPECT THAT UV PROTECTION PROVIDED ON OUTSIDE SURFACE TO PROTECT PLASTIC FROM SUNLIGHT AND NOT ALSO TO THE INSIDE SURFACE TO PROTECT LIGHT FROM UV RAYS GIVEN OFF BY QUARTZ BULBS. THIS PROBLEM WAS ALSO ON AN 85 TEM…

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LIGHT LENSES HAVE TURNED FROM CLEAR TO WHITE AND NO LONGER FOCUS THE BEAM AHEAD, LIGHT LENES ARE MADE FROM PLASTIC, SUSPECT THAT UV PROTECTION PROVIDED ON OUTSIDE SURFACE TO PROTECT PLASTIC FROM SUNLIGHT AND NOT ALSO TO THE INSIDE SURFACE TO PROTECT LIGHT FROM UV RAYS GIVEN OFF BY QUARTZ BULBS. THIS PROBLEM WAS ALSO ON AN 85 TEMPO AND SEEMS TO BE ON MANY OTHER CARS. NLM

NHTSA ODI #759910

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 · 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 · Oct 7, 2000
Exterior Lighting

THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS BARELY PROVIDE ENOUGH LIGHT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. THE GLASS IS VERY FOGGY AND MOISTURE SEEMS TO COLLECT IN THEM. I HAVE HAD THE BULBS REPLACED BUT THIS DOES NOT HELP TO LIGHT THE ROADWAYS. CAN FORD FIX THIS PROBLEM? THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #733651

Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 1999
Exterior Lighting

THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHTS HAVE BECOME CLOUDED CUTTING DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY ON THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT THAT PASSES THROUGH. HAVE NOTICED THIS ON A LOT OF CARS. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO SEALED BEAM HEADLIGHTS? AREN'T THERE HEADLIGHT LENS TRANSPARENCY STANDARDS? *AK

NHTSA ODI #707880

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