IllustrationKEY BROKE OFF IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND CONSUMER COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH LOCKED UP. CONSUMER HAD TO CALL OUT A LOCK SMITH TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. *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 reportsIMPROPER WIRE REPAIRS CAUSE THE VEHICLE ENGINE TO CATCH ON FIRE.
SHOULDER BELT ON DRIVER'S SEAT DOESN'T WORK. WHEN CONSUMER TRIES USING THE SHOULDER BELT ALL THAT HE HEARS IS THE MOTOR RUNNING. THE CONSUMER THINKS THE SEATS ARE OFF TRACK. ALSO, PASSENGER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT IS STUCK IN THE FRONT, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS STUCK IN THE BACK. *AK
ALSO HAVE 95 CONTOUR WITH SAME PROBLEM. EXHAUST MANAFOLD CRACKS AND ALLOWS EXHAUST FUMES INTO DRIVING COMPARTMENT
SHOULDER MOTOR SEATBELT GETS STUCK. NEEDS TO PULL THE SHOULDER BELT IN ORDER TO WORK. DEALER REPLACED THE SHOULDERBELT 2 TIMES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH WILL START THE CAR, BUT WHEN THE SWITCH IS RETURNED TO THE ORIGINAL POSITION, IT WILL NOT KEEP THE CAR RUNNING. REPAIRS DONE TO PREVIOUS RECALL 95S28 ON 12/17/96. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER CONTACTED, AND CANNOT REPAIR THE WORK BECAUSE OF TIME FRAME LIMITATIONS ON RECALL. *AK
LOWER BALL JOINTS/LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH SIDES, AND INNER TIE ROD ASSEMBLY FAILED.
PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS WORKS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN OPENING THE DOOR. OWNER BELIEVES THAT THE MOTOR FAILS TO OPERATE.
DRIVERS LAP BELT BUCKLE FAILED.
TRANSMISSION FAILED RESULTING IN SLIPPAGE.
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