1990 Ford Tempo Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the engine cutting out while driving, sometimes at speed, with reports concentrating on the ignition and related electrical components. A second large group concerns the automatic shoulder belts: motors that stall or fail to move the belt, buckles that stay latched, and belts that did not hold in a collision. A recall covering the ignition switch (96V071000) appears repeatedly in the complaints, with several owners saying they never received notice or that a dealer declined to perform the work.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Engine cuts out while driving (stalling)

   • 23 complaints (17%)
   • median 55 mi at 12.2 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2003

   Owners describe the engine shutting off without warning, at highway speed, in traffic, or when pulling away from a stop. Several mention it restarts after sitting for a while, that it happens more in hot weather or on grades, and that losing the engine also loses power steering and power brakes. Complaints name parts replaced in attempts to fix it — ignition modules, TFI modules, sensors, batteries, alternators, starters — and note that the stalling often returned. Reported across a wide mileage range, with several owners describing repeated occurrences over many months and at highway speeds in warm conditions.

   Recall 96V071000

   What to check: Ask for records of any ignition module or ignition switch work, and take a test drive long enough to include stop-and-go traffic and a warm engine. Have a mechanic check for stored fault codes and the condition of the ignition and harness connectors.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Stalls without warning. Once on expressway, most on 4 lane 55 MPH roads. Many situations could have caused serious accidents. After sitting at roadside for about 2 hours it would start right up. Tried a number of remedies before hearing of the possible recall in california. It was a used functional car so we did all of the do it yourself remedies like dry gas, new starter, etc. All of the situations in the articles about the recalls described my instances to a t.”

   NHTSA complaint #733168, filed 2000-10

   “The problem started in 7/99 and continues 9/00. At approx. 65 miles per hour with temperature at 85 degrees + the engine cuts out(stops). This means no power steering or power brakes. We are senior citizens and have almost been killed on the freeway 6 times. The last time an 18 wheeler almost lost control and just missed a school bus loaded with kids. We now do not leave hemet where we drive 45mph and get anywhere in 20 minutes. My family must visit us or come and pick us up. …”

   NHTSA complaint #731226, filed 2000-09
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Ignition switch fire risk / recall work

   • 37 complaints (28%)
   • median 83,000 mi at 15.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 21 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2004

   Complaints describe smoke or flames from the steering column or ignition switch area, sometimes while the car was parked in a driveway, and in some cases the vehicle was a total loss. Owners also report the switch failing to keep the engine running after the key is released, and several say they never received the recall notice or that a dealer declined the repair. Others describe smoke and burning at the alternator plug and wiring near the battery. Filed from the mid-1990s through the early 2000s, on vehicles of varying mileage; several fires occurred while parked.

   Recall 96V071000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 96V071000 was completed and request documentation; a dealer can check by VIN whether the ignition switch remedy is still open. Look for melted or discolored connectors near the ignition switch and alternator wiring.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle parked in driveway. Horn was blaring & owner looked out window & noticed vehicle in flames. Was told fire occurred near ignition switch area. Called dealer & informed under recall (#96v071000). Will repair ignition switch & wiring harness only & nothing else. Owner never received notice. Had owned vehicle since new.”

   NHTSA complaint #821804, filed 1998-03

   “Ignition switch will start the car, but when the switch is returned to the original position, it will not keep the car running. Repairs done to previous recall 95s28 on 12/17/96. Dealer and manufacturer contacted, and cannot repair the work because of time frame limitations on recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #829188, filed 1998-10
3. 3
   Seat belts

   Automatic shoulder belt motor and buckle problems

   • 24 complaints (18%)
   • median 40,527 mi at 13.5 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2004

   Owners report the automatic shoulder belt motor running but the belt not moving, belts stuck in the forward or rear position, and belts that must be pulled by hand to work. Some describe buckles that stayed latched after a collision or lap belts that stuck when the release button was pressed. According to the complaints, dealers sometimes replaced the belt assembly, in one case more than once without resolving it, and quoted owners for door repairs. Appears across a broad mileage range, with no single mileage cluster described in the sample.

   What to check: Cycle the shoulder belt with the door and ignition on both sides and confirm it tracks fully and latches and releases cleanly. Ask whether the belt assemblies or track motors have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was in a car accident on 9-29-01. A car pulled out in front of me and I hit the front of my car into the left front (passangers) corner panel. The car would have been totaled had I had full coverage. The seatbelt is an automatic seatbelt, so when the key is turned on, the seat belt automatically comes back on the door. Well, that day in the accident, the seatbelt never locked, the top didnt, the automatic part. What saved me from hitting the windsheild was the steering wheel and the lap belt. …”

   NHTSA complaint #754402, filed 2001-11

   “Replaced seatbelt and they do the same thing lock in the buckle position when wife put in ditch she had to squeze to get outeven when open door would not release the heater control has been burnt 3 times and currently is burnt again then the ignition has been replaced under a recall and that dings now when the key isn't even in it nice recall I went to the dealer about the seatbelts they told me it would cost about 300.00 per door to fix my wife was quite upset about it wrote Ford motor a letter they never ecnolledge it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #755056, filed 2001-11
4. 4
   Brakes

   Rear brake adjusters and weak brake lights

   • 18 complaints (14%)
   • typically at 6.3 yrs old
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2003

   Complaints describe the rear brake adjusters failing to adjust, leaving the front brakes to do most of the stopping, and rear brakes that locked up or wore out quickly. Some owners say the pedal sometimes needs pumping or fades toward the floor, and others report the brake lights not coming on when the pedal is pressed. Complaints cluster in the mid-to-late 1990s on vehicles with no mileage recorded in most filings.

   What to check: Have the rear brakes inspected with the drums off to see whether the adjusters move freely, and check that the brake lights come on with the pedal. Ask about service history for rear brake work.

   An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While at a stop sign another driver pulled along side of consumer and stated that brake lights were out. Consumer pressed brake pedal, and pedal went to the floor. Please provide any further information.”

   NHTSA complaint #6900627, filed 2001-12

Buying note. Before buying, confirm whether the ignition switch recall was completed and get receipts, then have a mechanic inspect the ignition and charging wiring along with the rear brakes. Test the automatic shoulder belts on both sides and check the headlight lenses and stalling behavior during a warm-weather test drive.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.