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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

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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

Steering complaints

12 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 1995
SteeringCrash

STEERING ASSEMBLY FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #482972

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

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