RoadVitals

1994 Ford Mustang Convertible

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
16
Latest May 25, 2012
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 16 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Ford Mustang Convertible, most frequently naming the engine, electrical and steering categories. 3 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine630.0%
  • Electrical315.0%
  • Steering210.0%
  • Visibility210.0%
  • Suspension15.0%
  • Tires & wheels15.0%
  • Transmission15.0%
  • Powertrain (other)15.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed May 25, 2012

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO BLINK AND THEN SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. WAITED FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND TURNED THE LIGHTS BACK ON FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES BEFORE THEY SHUT OFF AGAIN. THE LIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS WAS FOUND TO BE MELTED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT AT THE CONNECTOR. LATER I FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY MUSTANG OWNERS. MY HEADLIGHT SYSTEM AND WIRING IS COMPLETELY STOCK INCLUDING THE FUSES (WHICH NEVER BLEW). THIS PROBLEM PRESENTS TWO PROBLEMS, COMPLETE LOSS OF LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING AND ELECTRICAL FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10459630
Incident
Apr 9, 2012
Mileage
47,856 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 24, 2012

VEHICLES HEAD GASKETS FAILED, PCM FAILED AKA THE BRAIN ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10449276
Incident
Feb 1, 2008
Mileage
75,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 16, 2006

FAILED HEAD GASKET ON 1994 MUSTANG WITH APPROX. 79,000 MILES. THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT IT COULD COST ME UPWARDS OF $2500-3000 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I'M DISCOVERING THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH FORD ON THIS MATTER AND I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND REIMBURSE ME (AND OTHERS) FOR ALL REPAIR COSTS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10147871
Incident
Jan 15, 2006
Mileage
79,145 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 16, 2006

IN SEPTEMBER OF 2005 I WAS UNDERNEATH MY 1994 MUSTANG GT CONVERTIBLE AND FOUND THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SPRING BROKEN. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN STEERING LEFT FOR NO APPARENT REASON FOR SOME TIME AND WAS CHECKED WITH NO RESULTS. THE END OF THE SPRING WAS RUSTY, SO IT WAS NOT A RECENT BREAK. I ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE SPRINGS, BUT HAVE RUN INTO PROBLEMS WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THE FORD DESIGN DIVISION HAS PULLED ALL OF THE SPRINGS OUT OF INVENTORY AND ARE REDESIGNING AND REMANUFACTURING THE SPRINGS FOR THE 1994 THROUGH 1997 MUSTANGS. APPARENTLY THE SPRINGS IN STOCK WERE DEFECTIVE OR THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PULLED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10147828
Incident
Sep 10, 2005
Fuel system
Filed Sep 13, 2005

FILLING CAR UP WITH FUEL FUEL FILLER NECK GASKET/SEAL LEAKING FUEL FROM GAS TANK ONTO EXHAUST COULD HAVE CREATED FIRE EXPLOSION. REPLACE GASKET, NOTED THAT ON MULTIPLE FORUMS THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS FILLER NECK SEAL/GASKET FAILURE. I WAS LUCKY I CAUGHT IT, SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. *NM

NHTSA ID
10136305
Incident
Aug 8, 2005
Airbags
Filed Aug 29, 2005
1 injury reported

I WAS DRIVING MY 1994 GT MUSTANG DOWN THE ROAD, AND LUCKILY JUST CLIMBED OFF THE FREE WAY, WHEN BOTH MY DRIVER SIDE & PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN MY FACE, FOR NO REASON AT ALL. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, I CALLED FORD, THEY TOLD ME DUE TO MY CAR NOT BEING UNDER WARRANTY, THE PROBLEM DOES NOT LYE ON THEIR END. I FOUND THAT UNBELIEVABLE CONSIDERING AIRBAGS ARE NOT A SERVICEABLE ITEM. *JB

NHTSA ID
10134629
Incident
Aug 26, 2005
Mileage
128,000 mi
EngineTires & wheels
Filed Jan 7, 2004

I PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE FROM CENTURY FORD IN ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND (718 ROCKVILLE PIKE) IN 2002.HEY INDICATED THE MILIEAGE ON THE CAR (94 MUSTANG) WAS 59,120. MY MECHANIC INSPECTED IT LATER AND SUSPECTED THERE WAS A POSSIBLE ROLLBACK OF 20,000.*AK HE INDICATED THE DIGITS ON THE ODOMETER DID NOT LINE UP PROPERLY, THERE WAS EXTREME WEAR ON THE PEDALS, AND THE SCUFFING AND CRACKS ON THE LEATHER ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT SHOWED WEAR OF MUCH MORE THAN 59,120 MILES, POSSIBLEY 80,000. ALSO, THE DEALER DOES IT'S OWN MARYLAND STATE INSPECTIONS AND PASSED TIRES WHICH WERE APPROXIMATELY SIX YEARS OLD. THE SO CALLED MARYLAND STATE INSPECTOR ALSO WORKS FOR THE USED CAR DEPARTMENT. ALTHOUGH HE PASSED THEM (SINCE HE'S REALLY NOT INDEPENDENT OF HIS BOSS ALTHOUGH HE SIGNS AS A MARYLAND STATE INSPECTOR) HE NOTED ON THE INSPECTION SHEET THAT THEY WERE CUPPED AND NOISY. HIS BOSS THE USED CAR MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE TIRES WERE NEARLY NEW AND TO BREAK THEM IN. A WITNESS HEARD THE FALSE STATEMENTS. I WAS NOT TOLD WHAT WAS ON THE REPORT--THAT THEY WERE CUPPED AND NOISY--A VIOLATION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS SINCE I WAS NOT GIVEN MATERIAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE TIRESAND WAS MIS-LED. A MARYLAND CONSUMER PROTECTION INVESTIGATOR INDICATED THEY WERE OLD AND CUPPED AND RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT SINCE THEY WERE HARDENING AND BEGINNING TO CRACK. I HAVE HAD TWO NEAR MIS-HAPS--ONE WITH MY GRANDSON IN THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE SLIPPERY NATURE OF THE HARDENED TIRES ON WET PAVEMENT. AGAIN I WAS TOLD THEY WERE NEARLY NEW AND TO BREAK THEM IN--WITNESSED STATEMENTS. HE WILL NOT REPLACE THE TIRES AND THE MARYLAND INVESTIGATOR HAS NO ENFORCEMENT POWERS. WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THE SHADY PRACTICES OF THIS DEALER. HE IS DANGEROUS TO OTHER CONSUMERS AND CAN CHEAT THEM. HE STANDS BEHIND A MARYLAND STATE INSPECTION WHICH IS ACTUALLY DONE AT HIS OWN DEALERSHIP BY HIS OWN MECHANIC. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO INVESTIGATE THE ROLLBACK AND THE QUESTIONABLE PRACTICES ?THE CP AGENCY HERE HAS NO POWERES

NHTSA ID
10052574
Incident
Sep 13, 2002
EngineTransmission
Filed Sep 23, 2003

I HAVE A 1994 FORD MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE WITH 3.8L V6. DESPITE USING THE BEST MOTOR OIL AND REGULAR SERVICE, THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 78,500 MI. AND THIS CAUSED A RAPID ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE. SUBSEQUENTLY, I LEARNED THAT PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE IS SO COMMON TO FORD 3.8L V6S THAT THEY CONDUCTED A VOLUNTARY ENGINE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS PROGRAM AND NOW FORD IS TELLING ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN/WILL DO TO DEFRAY THE COST OF MY ENGINE/TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. I FEEL THAT THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT HAVE COMPLETELY FAILED AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE AND THAT THE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO ME SO THAT I COULD HAVE TAKEN PART. NOW I HAVE REPLACEMENT COSTS OF $3100.00 FOR THE ENGINE AND $2200.00 FOR THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE ASSIST ME WITH THIS MATTER IF YOU CAN...

NHTSA ID
10039379
Incident
Sep 2, 2003
Mileage
78,500 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

7373

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A RATTLE NOISE FROM THE DOOR WEDGE WHEN DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS. *TT

5132

SUSPENSION

SOME GT CONVERTIBLES MAY EXPERIENCES VIBRATION / SHAKE WHEN DRIVEN ON SMOOTH ROADS AT CONSTANT SPEEDS AROUND 62 MPH / 100 KPH. THE CONDITION MAY BE DUE TO HARMONIC RESONANCE BETWEEN THE ENGINE, BODY AND SUSPENSION. *TT

985131

SUSPENSION

SOME GT MODELS MAY EXPERIENCE VIBRATION / SHAKE WHEN DRIVEN ON SMOOTH ROADS AT CONSTANT SPEEDS AROUND 62 MPH / 100 KPH. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford Mustang Convertible by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003350236.5
2001170145.4
2000200144.8
1999901
1998110146.7
1997901
1996800
1995140040.6
1994Viewing160032.1

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.