1990 Ford TEMPO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
91 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
81,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 91 complaints (17.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 24 | 26.4% |
| Engine operation | 16 | 17.6% |
| Steering behavior | 14 | 15.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 13.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition | 16 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 9 |
| Seat Belts | 7 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 6 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 4 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 3 |
Electrical System:Ignition: 16; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 9; Seat Belts: 7; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 6; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 4; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 88 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 | 21 |
| 1996 | 34 |
| 2000 | 14 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 3 |
1995: 21; 1996: 34; 2000: 14; 2001: 12; 2002: 4; 2003: 3; 2004: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 16 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 14 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 10005691 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
BRAKE ADJUSTERS FAILED 3 TIMES CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005691 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010168 · 2003-03-08 (March 8, 2003)
1.) ROUGH IDLE, AND OIL LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON WHEN IDLING AND ONLY GOES OFF WHEN ACCELERATING, BUT OFTEN STALLS OUT, AND DOESN'T WANT TO RE-START. (HAD OIL CHANGED TWICE TO GET EXCESS GAS OUT OF IT FROM TRYING TO START IT.) HAD TO TOW CAR THREE TIMES. PAID $1,000 TO TRY TO GET IT FIXED, BUT ON THE WAY HOME IT DID THE SAME THING. 2.) COOLING FAN QUIT WORKING AND CAR OVERHEATED AND I PAID TO HAVE THE RADIATOR REPLACED, AS PETCOCK WAS LEAKING. MECHANIC DIDN'T NOTICE THAT FAN WASN'T WORKING, SO IT OVERHEATED ON THE WAY HOME WITH A N…
Owner-reported narrative. 55 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010168 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019347 · 2003-05-07 (May 7, 2003)
THE TREAD ON ALL FOUR TIRES SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH (KELLY METRIC RADIAL SIZE 18570R14). PLEASE PROVIDE THE DOT NUMBER. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019347 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10087776 · 2004-09-28 (September 28, 2004)
JUST AFTER PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE . HE OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE TOP OF THE ALTERNATOR PLUG WAS BURNING FOLLOWED BY WIRING BURNING ACROSS TO THE BATTERY. THE TERMINAL BLOCK ON THE LEFT FENDER BEGAN BURNING AND MELTING. *JB *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10087776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090314 · 2004-09-02 (September 2, 2004)
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR SEAT BELT WITHOUT PAYMENT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090314 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096145 · 2004-10-21 (October 21, 2004)
CAR HAS REPEATABLE PROBLEM OF NOT STARTING...HAVE HAD IT TOWED, DUE TO THIS, NUMEROUS TIMES, SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO GET IT FIXED, ETC. ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT IT HAS TWO IGNITION DEFECTS...POTENTIALLY... SINCE THE CAR WAS NOT NEW WHEN I BOUGHT IT 3 YEARS AGO, I HAVE NO RECOURSE BUT TO BEAR THE COST OF REPAIRS MYSELF. I AM OUTRAGED THAT FORD GOT AWAY WITH NOT RECALLING THESE VEHICLES!!!
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096145 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481444 · 1995-03-03 (March 3, 1995)
IGNITION WIRES CORRODED AT COIL CONNECTION, PREVENTING VEHICLE FROM STARTING. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481444 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482972 · 1995-04-25 (April 25, 1995)
STEERING ASSEMBLY FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482972 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 ↗