1989 Ford TEMPO: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10013933 · 2003-04-03 (April 3, 2003)
SINCE 2000, MY 1989 FORD TEMPO HAD BROKEN DOWN FOUR TIMES, TWICE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. EACH TIME, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ALTERNATOR, AND I HAD IT REPLACED. NOW, IN APRIL OF 2003, THE ALTERNATOR IS ABOUT TO DIE YET AGAIN. MY CAR HAS 99,000 MILES AND IS DRIVEN LESS THAN 10,000 MILES PER YEAR. FIVE ALTERNATORS IN THREE YEARS IS NOT FROM NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON A CAR. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE FORD TEMPO SYSTEM THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. AND I SEE FROM OTHER FILED COMPLAINTS I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS HAD THI…
Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013933 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019547 · 2003-05-19 (May 19, 2003)
CONSUMER INQUIRED ABOUT ANY RECALLS ON 1989 FORD TEMPO.*AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034424 · 2003-08-22 (August 22, 2003)
HEAD COVERS ATTACHMENT ON THE HEADLIGHTS CAUSE LESS VISIBILITY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. INTERMITTENTLY THE LIGHT WILL APPEAR TO BE NORMAL. FAILURE IS UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034424 at NHTSA ↗
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 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 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 10156250 · 2006-04-20 (April 20, 2006)
CONSUMER LETTER CONCERNING THE SETTLEMENT IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *TS THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10156250 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10179485 · 2007-01-23 (January 23, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT SUPPORT ON THE 1989 FORD TEMPO HAD DISENGAGED ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER , AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FIX THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD. *AK UPDATED 2/22/2007 - THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE SEAT BELT SUPPORT WAS MADE FROM AN INFERIOR PLASTIC WHICH BECAME BRITTLE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10179485 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
96V071000 · Electrical System:Ignition
Reported: 1996-04-25 (April 25, 1996)
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗