1990 Ford Tempo Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1990 Ford Tempo, and owners have filed 133 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 1990 Ford Tempo
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Ignition (electrical system)
The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
133 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1990 Ford Tempo have filed 133 complaints with NHTSA; 16 describe a crash and 27 describe a fire. Reports cite 12 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 54,685 miles. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 48 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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..”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 21, 2004 · Electrical system
“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 termi”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 28, 2004 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1990 Ford Tempo (Tempo AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19–24 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 17–21 / 22–30 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2.3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 3-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Ford Tempo model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Tempo model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 Ford Tempo | 0 | 2 |
| 1984 Ford Tempo | 6 | 14 |
| 1985 Ford Tempo | 3 | 30 |
| 1986 Ford Tempo | 0 | 31 |
| 1987 Ford Tempo | 1 | 53 |
| 1988 Ford Tempo | 2 | 126 |
| 1989 Ford Tempo | 1 | 124 |
| 1990 Ford Tempo | 1 | 133 |
| 1991 Ford Tempo | 1 | 110 |
| 1992 Ford Tempo | 2 | 176 |
| 1993 Ford Tempo | 2 | 227 |
| 1994 Ford Tempo | 1 | 161 |
| 1995 Ford Tempo | 0 | 3 |
| 1996 Ford Tempo | 0 | 2 |
| 1997 Ford Tempo | 0 | 2 |
| 1998 Ford Tempo | 0 | 1 |
| 1999 Ford Tempo | 0 | 1 |
| 2000 Ford Tempo | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 1990 Ford Tempo
How do I know if my 1990 Ford Tempo has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 1990 Ford Tempo; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 96V071000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.