1990 Ford Tempo Seat belts Problems
- Complaints
- 28about this part
- Share
- 21%of 133 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 40,528miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 28 complaints about the seat belts of the 1990 Ford Tempo, 21% of the 133 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 40,528 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10010168, filed 2003-03, 55 miles“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“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. I know have lumps in my breast that wont go away from bouncing off the steering wheel. …”
NHTSA complaint #754402, filed 2001-11“Shoulder belt on driver's seat doesn't work. When consumer tries using the shoulder belt all that he hears is the motor running. The consumer thinks the seats are off track. Also, passenger's side shoulder belt is stuck in the front, and the driver's side is stuck in the back.”
NHTSA complaint #832789, filed 1998-12“Passive restraint doesn't engage automatically remaining in locked position. Ford has remedy which allows them to bypass system. Please describe details.”
NHTSA complaint #980677, filed 1996-03Seat belts: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 36 | 22% |
| 1993 | 61 | 27% |
| 1992 | 41 | 23% |
| 1991 | 13 | 12% |
| 1990 | 28 | 21% |
| 1989 | 20 | 16% |
| 1988 | 16 | 13% |
| 1987 | 1 | 2% |
| 1986 | 1 | 3% |
| 1984 | 2 | 14% |
Other parts of the 1990 Ford Tempo
46 complaintsBrakes
21 complaintsEngine cooling
19 complaintsSteering
12 complaintsExterior lighting
6 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
4 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsSeats
3 complaintsTires
3 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaintsBody and structure
2 complaintsSuspension
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1990 Ford Tempo
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology