1989 Ford Tempo vs 1989 Volkswagen Jetta
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1989 Ford Tempo | 1989 Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 124 | 28 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 36 | 1 |
| Investigations | 4 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 5 | 1 |
| Fire reports | 21 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–24 | 22–34 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Tempo | Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 33 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 20 | 9 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 26 | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 16 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 16 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 3 |
| Steering | 8 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 4 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 10 | 0 |
1989 Ford Tempo
1989 Volkswagen Jetta
Compare all Ford Tempo vs Volkswagen Jetta years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.