1989 Ford Tempo problems & reliability
124 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1989 Ford Tempo. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
5 complaints report injuries (5 injured).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 1989 Ford Tempo vehicles were involved in 2 fatal crashes with 2 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 33 | 27% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 26 | 21% |
| Seat Belts | 20 | 16% |
| Exterior Lighting | 16 | 13% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 16 | 13% |
| Steering | 8 | 6% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 6% |
| Power Train | 5 | 4% |
| Structure | 5 | 4% |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 3% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“The car has major leaking issues. Every time it rains/snows/sleets/hail it leaks into the car through the drivers side into the roof and once that area is soaked it starts to drip slowly onto the seat and floor. There is also a leak in the trunk on the passenger side, or at least that is where the water accumulates…”
Structure · filed May 12, 2014
“Tl*the contact owns a 1989 ford tempo. When the vehicle was started, it suddenly accelerated to an unknown speed. The vehicle crashed through the garage wall and eventually stopped and shut off after a half mile. The vehicle was restarted and driven back to the garage. The windshield was damaged and the driver…”
Vehicle Speed Control · filed Mar 3, 2008
“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…”
Seat Belts · filed Jan 23, 2007
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- REAR BRK ADJUSTER FAILURE
Preliminary Evaluation PE96005 · opened Jan 19, 1996 · closed May 28, 1996
- REAR BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE
Defect Petition DP96002 · opened Jan 11, 1996 · closed Jan 19, 1996
- SEAT BELT SEPARATION
Engineering Analysis EA91052 · opened Nov 27, 1991 · closed Nov 24, 1992
- FAILED PASSIVE RESTRAINT
Engineering Analysis EA90008 · opened Dec 27, 1989 · closed Dec 31, 1991
Technical service bulletins
36 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 1989 Ford Tempo. The 10 most recent:
Information regarding transmission fluid usage charts. *slc
01157 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 6, 2001
Some vehicles may exhibit heater core leaks. *slc
01156 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 6, 2001
Information regarding the new transmission cooler flusher- service tip. *mjs
0015 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 10, 2000
Subject on a wire harness terminal repair kit available for repairing electrical wiring harnesses. *tt
99222 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 18, 1999
Information on identifying non-approved / alternate refrigerants which could cause safety, and performance concerns if installed in ford a/c systems. *tt
99196 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 20, 1999
Information on the new flush and fill tool available through rotunda. *tt
99152 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 26, 1999
Ford motor company now recommends sae 5w-30 viscosity grade for servicing any ford gasoline-powered vehicle regardless of model year. *tt
99816 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 3, 1999
Ford motor company has released a new electrical grease ( f8az - 19g208-aa ) to reduce the possibility of moisture corrosion at the terminals. *yc
98246 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 7, 1998
Information on a new transmission fluid usage chart. *yc
9888 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 27, 1998
A new silicone gasket and sealant. *yc
9874 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 13, 1998
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 1989 Ford Tempo in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 1989 Ford Tempo?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.