Ignition
- Problem
- THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
- Risk
- THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
- Fix
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
Model year record
1990 Ford Tempo recalls & problems
The 1990 Ford Tempo has 2 safety recalls and 133 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (53 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints133filed by owners
Crashes · fires16 · 27reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths12 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Frontal
- Problem
- THREADED INFLATOR COMPONENTS MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY WHICH MAY ALLOW COMPONENTS TO SEPARATE WHEN INFLATOR RECEIVES A SIGNAL TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG.
- Risk
- INFLATOR COMPONENT SEPARATION ALLOWS HOT COMBUSTION GASES TO ESCAPE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURIES TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
- Fix
- REPLACE AIR BAG MODULES CONTAINING POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE INFLATORS.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
Tempo
24mpg combined
| City / highway | 21 / 30 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel
Tempo
21mpg combined
| City / highway | 19 / 24 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
Tempo
21mpg combined
| City / highway | 18 / 26 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
Tempo AWD
19mpg combined
| City / highway | 17 / 22 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemIgnition; Ignition › Switch | 53 | — |
| Seat beltsFront › Buckle assembly; Front › Webbing | 30 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Drum; Foundation components | 21 | — |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine | 20 | — |
| SteeringLinkages › Tie rod assembly; Hydraulic power assist system | 13 | — |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights; Brake lights | 6 | — |
| TiresTread/belt | 5 | — |
| VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer › Motor; Windshield | 5 | — |
| Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal | 4 | — |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission | 4 | — |
| SeatsFront assembly › Recliner | 3 | — |
| SuspensionFront › Control arm › Lower ball joint; Front › Control arm › Lower arm | 3 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Electrical system › Ignition
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!!!
- Electrical system › WiringFire
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
- Seat belts › Front
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR SEAT BELT WITHOUT PAYMENT. *AK
- Tires › Tread/belt
THE TREAD ON ALL FOUR TIRES SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH (KELLY METRIC RADIAL SIZE 18570R14). PLEASE PROVIDE THE DOT NUMBER. *NLM
- Engine and engine cooling
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 NEW RADIATOR. I FIGURED THAT OUT. ONCE THE FAN WAS REPLACED WITH A WORKING FAN, NO MORE OVERHEATING. AFTER-MARKET RADIATOR WAS BIGGER THAN THE ORIGINAL,…
- Service brakes, air › Slack adjustersCrashFire
BRAKE ADJUSTERS FAILED 3 TIMES CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE
- Steering › Steering wheel/handle bar
CONSUMER SLOWED DOWN TO TURN A CORNER AND VEHICLE STOPPED IN ITS TRACKS.ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH STEERING. CONSUMER INDICATED TIRES WERE STUCK IN TURNING POSITION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY ALTERNATOR BELT SNAPPED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- REAR BRK ADJUSTER FAILUREClosed
1984 - 1991 FORD TEMPO/MERCURY TOPAZ
- REAR BRAKE SYSTEM FAILUREClosed
There is no summary currently available
- FAILED PASSIVE RESTRAINTClosed
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