1989 Ford Tempo

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

72/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 155 complaints with NHTSA about the 1989 Ford Tempo, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Engine and engine cooling	31	20%
Electrical system	31	20%
Seat belts	21	14%
Service brakes	16	10%
Exterior lighting	16	10%
Steering	8	5%
Vehicle speed control	7	5%
Power train	5	3%
Structure	4	3%
Unknown or other	3	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

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
NHTSA complaint: Structure

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
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

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 ABL
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

CONSUMER LETTER CONCERNING THE SETTLEMENT IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *TS THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

AUTOMOBILE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT WHILE I WAS WORKING. TWO POLICE OFFICERS HEARD THE IGNITION CLICKING, BUT COULDN'T SEE A CAR WITH AN INDIVIDUAL IN IT. SHORTLY AFTER THE CAR WAS IN FLAMES. INSPECTION OF THE V
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

CONSUMER HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLETO A MECHANIC, AND BRAKING SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

HEAD COVERS ATTACHMENT ON THE HEADLIGHTS CAUSE LESS VISIBILITY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. INTERMITTENTLY THE LIGHT WILL APPEAR TO BE NORMAL. FAILURE IS UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting

CONSUMER INQUIRED ABOUT ANY RECALLS ON 1989 FORD TEMPO.*AK *JB
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1989 Ford Tempo. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Electrical system:ignition 96V071000

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	82	excellent
Longevity est.	79	good
Maintenance	89	excellent
Depreciation	59	average
Performance	48	below average
Efficiency	40	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 38% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 54% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 82% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 35% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 82: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 79: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1989 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 89: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1989 Ford Tempo?

Owners have filed 155 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 31 of them (20%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1989 Ford Tempo reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1989 Ford Tempo last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1989 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1989 Ford Tempo?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.