VehicleVerdict

1989 Ford Tempo engine problems

The 1989 Ford Tempo has 34 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 20% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

34

Engine complaints

20%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Tempo engine complaints by model year73 complaints1984: 2 complaints1985: 7 complaints1986: 2 complaints1987: 15 complaints1988: 34 complaints1989: 34 complaints1990: 20 complaints1991: 34 complaints1992: 56 complaints1993: 73 complaints1994: 48 complaints2000: 1 complaints
Tempo engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

ON 22-MAR-97, WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL 30 SECONDS AWAY FROM DRIVER'S HOME THERE WAS LOTS OF SMOKE IN HOOD AREA. CONSUMER THEN BACKED THE VEHICLE INTO HER GARAGE GOT OUT AND OPENED HOOD, THERE WERE FLAMES UNDERNEATH, CONSUMER THEN CLOSED HOOD AND FIRE STOPPED SHORTLY THERE AFTER. *AK

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · March 22, 1997 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1989 Ford Tempo have?

NHTSA has 34 complaints about the 1989 Ford Tempo engine — 20% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.