RoadVitals

1980 Ford Mustang

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.
4
Latest Nov 5, 1997
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.
2
Latest Mar 6, 2008
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.
2
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.
1
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1980 Ford Mustang, most frequently naming the steering, brakes and seat belts categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 7 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

  • Steering350.0%
  • Brakes116.7%
  • Seat belts116.7%
  • Visibility116.7%

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

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
08E019000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Mar 6, 2008
1,937 units potentially affected
The defect: INTERCONTINENTAL AUTO PARTS IS RECALLING 1,937 FUEL FILTERS, P/NOS ALG 44/1 AND PUROLATOR F10024, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 14 AND FEBRUARY 13, 2008, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FILTER'S OUTLET CAP MAY NOT BE SECURELY CRIMPED TO THE HOUSING. THIS COULD RESULT IN A SEPARATION OF FILTER'S OUTLET CAP FROM THE HOUSING.
The risk: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, A NO START CONDITION MAY RESULT AND FUEL MAY BE PUMPED ONTO THE GROUND. IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE ENGINE MAY STOP DUE TO INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, FUEL LEAKAGE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy: INTERCONTINENTAL WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING MARCH 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT INTERCONTINENTAL AT 800-451-2593.
INTERCONTINENTAL AUTO PARTSView on NHTSA.gov
07E064000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Aug 27, 2007
34,000 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.
The risk: A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.
The remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA90025ClosedEngineering Analysis

FLOOR PAN FRACTURE

Opened May 2, 1990
Closed Apr 10, 1991

There is no summary currently available

STRUCTURE
EA85016ClosedEngineering Analysis

FLOOR PAN CRACKS

Opened Feb 22, 1985
Closed Apr 14, 1987

SUMMARY:FORD RECOGNIZES THE FLOOR PAN CRACKING PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED4 SERVICE BULLETINS PERTAINING TO REPAIR. THE LATEST ONE WAS ISSUED ONSEPTEMBER 11, 1986. HOWEVER, FORD DOES NOT BELIEVE THE FLOOR PAN PROBLEMREPRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD.ANALYSIS: FLOOR PAN CRACKING CAUSES THE DRIVER TO ROCK IN HIS SEAT.ALTHOUGH THIS IS VERY ANNOYING, IT APPEARS TO BE MORE OF AN ECONOMIC ISSUETHAN A SAFETY ISSUE. NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED.STATUS: THIS EA WAS CLOSED ON MAY 14, 1987.===

STRUCTURE

Recent owner complaints

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

Seat beltsSteeringVisibility
Filed Nov 5, 1997

SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY LATCH BROKE, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR OF VEHICLE DUE TO LEAKAGE.

NHTSA ID
524429
Incident
Jan 18, 1984
Steering
Filed Mar 21, 1997

TILT WHEEL ASSEMBLY BROKEN GIMBLE RING AND POT METAL BRACKET.

NHTSA ID
515803
Steering
Filed Jun 13, 1996
Fire reported

DRIVING VEHICLE, NOTICED A PLUME OF SMOKE & BAD SMELL COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN & REAR OF VEHICLE, FIRE HAD BURNED THRU THE REAR SEAT FROM MUFFLER AREA, *AK

NHTSA ID
985664
Incident
May 31, 1996
Brakes
Filed Mar 16, 1995
2 injuries reported

REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING ACCIDENT/INJURIES.

NHTSA ID
482099
Incident
Nov 6, 1983

Manufacturer communications

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

80-3-6-S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

UNKNOWN

80-12-8

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT

UNKNOWN

U-6F EXPT

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

UNKNOWN

80-11-2

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

UNKNOWN

80-4-34-S

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH

UNKNOWN

80-11-9

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

UNKNOWN

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 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026530—
2025145057.1
20247311058.9
2023156062.7
2022499060.2
2021556059.4
20201178170.4
20191426056.1
20181864056.4
20172646163.4
20163715158.4
201543611363.5
20143594054.6
20132716052.2
20124697154.0
20114665153.0
20102606052.5
20091816055.6
20083478462.7
20076159462.7
20064229358.8
20057059358.2
20041166364.9
20031456368.0
20021186161.3
20011738162.6
20003119163.8
199921310163.9
199823614265.3
199717611261.3
199624612361.8
199560216466.0
199435613464.3
19931017168.6
1992695372.1
1991776269.6
1990855372.8
19891095472.0
19881085573.3
1987385673.3
1986302568.0
1985163470.8
1984184467.0
1983513—
1982114—
1981024—
1980Viewing422—
1979072—
1978350—
1977030—
1976230—
1975001—
1974010—
1973010—
1972010—
1971010—
1970020—
1969340—
1968120—
1967250—
1966410—
1965410—

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.