1989 Ford TEMPO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
66 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
99,100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 66 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 19.7% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 10.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 6.1% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 6.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 3.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum | 11 |
| Seat Belts | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 8 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 5 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 3 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum: 11; Seat Belts: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 8; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 5; Electrical System:Ignition: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 3; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 62 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 20 |
| 1996 | 25 |
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
1995: 20; 1996: 25; 2000: 7; 2001: 3; 2002: 1; 2003: 3; 2004: 3; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10061366 · 2004-03-04 (March 4, 2004)
CONSUMER HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLETO A MECHANIC, AND BRAKING SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061366 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504036 · 1996-05-06 (May 6, 1996)
REAR BRAKE ADJUSTERS FAILED, BRAKES MUST BE ADJUSTED MANUALLY. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504036 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 487686 · 1995-10-30 (October 30, 1995)
CAR STALLED AFTER STARTING FORWARD FROM A STOPPED POSITION, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 728044 · 2000-08-15 (August 15, 2000)
IN 1989 WE PAID $40,000 FOR A NEW MOTORHOME THAT IS DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE AND FORD REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD REPEATED FAILURES DURING WARM WEATHER AS IT APPEARS THE SYSTEM VAPORLOCKS AND STALLS THE VEHICLE. THE LASTEST FAILURES HAPPENED ON OUR VACATION LAST WEEK AND WERE VERY DANGEROUS. ONE STALL OCURRED ON A TWO LANE MOUNTAIN ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER AND ON CURVES. WE BLOCKED THE LANE AND HAD TO DIRECT TRAFFIC AROUND TO AVOID A TERRIBLE HEADON. ANOTHER FAILURE WE COULD NOT GET IT OFF THE ROAD AND IT BLOCKED BOTH LANES. VERY DANG…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 728044 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069471 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
BATTERY DRAIN---UNKNOWN CAUSE
Owner-reported narrative. 99,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10069471 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 976763 · 1995-12-18 (December 18, 1995)
VEHICLE FIRE IN THE IGNITION CAUSED BY SHORT CIRCUIT. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 976763 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093168 · 2004-09-27 (September 27, 2004)
AUTOMOBILE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT WHILE I WAS WORKING. TWO POLICE OFFICERS HEARD THE IGNITION CLICKING, BUT COULDN'T SEE A CAR WITH AN INDIVIDUAL IN IT. SHORTLY AFTER THE CAR WAS IN FLAMES. INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE FIRE SHOWS THAT THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10093168 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 722961 · 2000-05-20 (May 20, 2000)
FRONT RIGHT TIE ROD SNAPPED IN TWO PIECES. CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. RIGHT TIRE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWERVE SHARPLY INTO CURB. POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS INJURY BUT WAS ON A "GET ON" RAMP TO FREEWAY. SO WAS VERY LUCKY BECAUSE NO UNCOMING TRAFFIC AND NO PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN ANY PREVIOUS ACCIDENT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722961 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 731582 · 2000-09-15 (September 15, 2000)
AFTER VEHICLE IS OPERATED AT CONTINUOUS HIGH SPEEDS (60MPH) VEHICLE WILL STALL WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, RED LIGHT ETC. VEHICLE WILL RESTART IMMEDIATELY, BUT WILL CONTINUE TO STALL AT NEXT STOP. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE DANGEROUS BECAUSE FOLLOWING TRAFFIC IS NOT EXPECTING THE STALL, AND GETTING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION CAN BE ADVENTUROUS. VEHICLE HAS HAD A MAJOR TUNEUP, (INCLUDING WIRES ROTOR ETC), THROTTLE BODY CLEANING, FUEL INJECTOR CLEANING BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I HEARDTHAT NHSTA WAS TRYING TO GET FORD TO RECALL THIS MODEL BECAUE THE IG…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 731582 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 973969 · 1995-10-26 (October 26, 1995)
PURCHASE CAR USED HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP THREE TIMES AND REPLACED MOTOR MOUNT ONE TIME AND REPLACED THE STARTER TWO TIMES . TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 973969 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 971018 · 1995-08-24 (August 24, 1995)
CLUTCH FAILED TWICE,TRANSMISSION FAILED, BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUCTIONED, AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED, EXHAUST SYSTEM REPLACED, OIL PAN GASKET REPLACED. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 971018 at NHTSA ↗