RoadVitals

1990 Ford Tempo Seat belts Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the seat belt system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Seat belts reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
29
Latest Sep 2, 2004
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
22%
of 133 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4

What this page shows

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1990 Ford Tempo submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 29 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming seat belt

The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words

Seat belts
Filed Sep 2, 2004

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR SEAT BELT WITHOUT PAYMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10090314
Incident
Aug 2, 2004
Mileage
81,000 mi
Body & structureEnginePowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed Mar 8, 2003

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. ONCE THE FAN WAS REPLACED WITH A WORKING FAN, NO MORE OVERHEATING. AFTER-MARKET RADIATOR WAS BIGGER THAN THE ORIGINAL, CAUSING THE AT FLUID LINE TO GET SAWED OFF BY THE PULLEY 3 TIMES, BEFORE SOMEONE JUST PLUGGED THE LINE AND INSTALLED A SEPARATE AT FLUID "MINI RADIATOR TYPE" COOLER. 3.) TRANSMISSION DRAGS; CAR HAS JUST OVER 70,000 MILES ON IT. HAS REPEATABLE PROBLEM WHEN STARTING OUT AND SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, USUALLY JERKING FORWARD WHEN IT SHIFTS. PUTTING CAR INTO DRIVE AFTER STARTING IT USUALLY ENDS UP IN THE CAR STALLING, AND THE IDLE IS DIFFERENT WHEN IT'S IN GEAR THAN WHEN IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. 4.) I RECEIVED A NOTICE ABOUT A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT REGARDING A DEFECTIVE TFI MODULE, BUT EVERY MECHANIC I SPOKE WITH SAID THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM, BUT THE NOTICE SAID THAT A BAD TFI MODULE WOULDN'T NECESSARILY ALWAYS MAKE THE CAR STALL WHEN IT'S GOING BAD, JUST SOMETIMES. STALLED IN RUSH HOUR ONCE. 5.) THE DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT QUIT WORKING, WHICH CAUSED THE PLASTIC GUIDE FOR THE BELT TO BREAK, AND WHEN I WENT TO FORD TO TRY TO GET THE PART, THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE IT WAS, AND SAID THAT THEY WEREN'T PLANNING TO HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE AFTER 2002 ANYWAY. OFTEN, I ABOUT GOT STRANGLED, AS DID OTHERS WHO RODE IN MY TEMPO, WHEN WE OPENED THE DOOR TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. 6.)FROM THE CAR OVERHEATING, THE FINISH ON THE HOOD IS PEELING AND CRACKING. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10010168
Incident
Dec 10, 2001
Mileage
55 mi
ElectricalSeat beltsVisibility
Filed Nov 29, 2001
Crash reported

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. SHE WON'T EVEN LET ME REPLACE THE ENGINE IN IT CAUSE SHE SAYS SHE WILL NOT DRIVE THAT CAR THAT COULD GO UP IN FLAMES OR DOESN'T HAVE SEATBELT THAT WORK CAUSE FORD DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE SOMETHING THAT WORKS PROPER SHE FEELS THE FORD COMPANY HAS DONE NOTHING BUT ENDANGERED MANY ADULTS AND CHILDRENS LIVES WITH THESE PROBLEMS AND SAYS SOMEONE OTTA TAKE CONTROL OVER THIS MATTER SINCERELY [XXX] AND [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID
755056
Incident
Nov 1, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Nov 11, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

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. I DONT HAVE A JOB AND THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT. I STILL AND WILL AWALYS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY UPPER BACK, CHEST AND NECK FROM BOUNCING OFF THE STEERING WHEEL. AND YES, I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL RIGHT AFTER THE ACCIDENT IN AN AMBULENCE ON A STRETCHER. I CONTACTED FORD THROUGH THEIR WEB SITE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SEATBELTS AND THEY SAID THEYC OULNT COME UP WITH ANYTHING CAUSE OF THE YEAR OF THE CAR. AS FOR THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR, I AM UNSURE, I KNOW IT HAD HIGH MILEAGE. ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT OR LESS THAN THAT, I HAD TO SELL THE CAR, I COULDNT AFFORD TO KEEP IT IN STORAGE AND I WASNT ALLOWED TO HAVE IT LIKE IT WAS AT MY APARTMENT. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID
754402
Incident
Sep 29, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Oct 7, 2000

ARE MY DEFECTIVE SEATBELTS (DRIVER'S SIDE CLASP DOES NOT WORK) COVERED AND WHERE DO I GET THEM REPLACED?

NHTSA ID
733650
Incident
Jul 1, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Jul 13, 2000

CONSUMER HAD BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. WHEN OPENING THE DOOR RETRACTOR WON'T MOVE.*AK

NHTSA ID
865373
Incident
Jul 7, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Jan 22, 2000

KOLCRAFT MODEL # 871536R, DOM 07/16/1998:WHILE CARRING CHILD IN HAND CARRIER, HANDLE POPPED OUT OF POSITION ON ONE SIDE, AND MOVED A NOTCH OR TWO. *AK

NHTSA ID
550557
Seat belts
Filed Dec 29, 1998

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
832789
Incident
Oct 12, 1997
Seat belts
Filed Nov 16, 1998

SHOULDER MOTOR SEATBELT GETS STUCK. NEEDS TO PULL THE SHOULDER BELT IN ORDER TO WORK. DEALER REPLACED THE SHOULDERBELT 2 TIMES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID
830842
Incident
Jun 1, 1995
Seat belts
Filed Jun 2, 1998

PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS WORKS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN OPENING THE DOOR. OWNER BELIEVES THAT THE MOTOR FAILS TO OPERATE.

NHTSA ID
536414
Seat belts
Filed May 12, 1998

DRIVERS LAP BELT BUCKLE FAILED.

NHTSA ID
535320
Incident
Apr 1, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Dec 15, 1997

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT; THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT WHEN CLOSING THE DOOR OR TURNING ON THE IGNTION. *AK

NHTSA ID
819170
Incident
Nov 1, 1997
Seat belts
Filed Oct 22, 1997

CENTER REAR LAP BELT PULLED COMPLETELY OUT FROM THE ANCHOR POINT.

NHTSA ID
523750
Incident
Sep 24, 1997
Seat belts
Filed Mar 17, 1997

THE DRIVER'S SIDE MOTORBELT/SHOULDER STRAP DOES NOT SLIDE FORWARD ON ITS OWN.

NHTSA ID
515696
Seat belts
Filed Jan 23, 1997

POWER SEAT BELT ON DRIVER SIDE IS INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA ID
602480
Seat belts
Filed Nov 19, 1996

THE FRONT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS ARE NOT WORKING. HAVE TO MANUALLY PULL THE SEAT BELTS OVER THE BODY BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT RETRACT. *AK

NHTSA ID
804402
Incident
Mar 19, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Nov 12, 1996

THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT OPERATE. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID
804761
Incident
Nov 9, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Oct 30, 1996
Crash reported

POOR AUTOMATIC SEAT AND SHOULDER BELT PERFORMANCE. THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM DID NOT HOLD THE DRIVER IN PLACE UPON A FRONTAL IMPACT ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
804326
Incident
Oct 15, 1994
Seat belts
Filed Oct 16, 1996

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT MAKES A HORRIBLE NOISE WENT IT RETRACTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
802393
Incident
May 31, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Aug 15, 1996

PASSENGER MOTORBELT MAKES GRINDING NOISE/RESPONDS TO DRIVERS DOOR.

NHTSA ID
507557
Incident
Aug 15, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Jul 10, 1996

PASSENGER'S AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE. *SD

NHTSA ID
506335
Incident
Jul 10, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Jun 18, 1996

THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT DISLODGED FROM THE ANCHORS AND CAME OUT OF THE CAR.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
985794
Incident
Jun 12, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Jun 17, 1996

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT FAILED. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID
985741
EngineSeat belts
Filed Jun 10, 1996

MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED DUE TO TEARING. *DH

NHTSA ID
505205
Incident
Jul 1, 1995
Seat belts
Filed Mar 13, 1996

PASSIVE RESTRAINT DOESN'T ENGAGE AUTOMATICALLY REMAINING IN LOCKED POSITION. FORD HAS REMEDY WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO BYPASS SYSTEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
980677

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .