1984 Ford Mustang Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1984 Ford Mustang, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical830.8%
- Engine415.4%
- Steering311.5%
- Seat belts27.7%
- Interior & seats27.7%
- Transmission13.8%
- Brakes13.8%
- Visibility13.8%
- Heating & air conditioning13.8%
- Driver assistance13.8%
- Other / unspecified13.8%
- Tires & wheels13.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE HAS FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH DUE TO WIRING BEING CORRODED. THIS CAUSED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO INTERACT, PERFORMING POORLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
WHEN THIS CAR STALLS IT WILL FIRST NOT HOLD A STEADY IDLE. THERE ARE OTHER TIMES WHEN THIS CAR WILL BE WATING ATA A LIGHT AND THE IDLE WILLL KICK UP TO OVER 2000 RPM. WHEN THIS HAPPEND THE ENGINE WILL TRY TO ENGAGE AND THE CARE WILL LURCH FORWARD. THE STALLING PROBELM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD THIS WAS ADDRESS BY A DEALER IN DAVIS, CA. AT THE TIME THE DEALR SAID THIS WAS HAPPENING BECAUSE OF A FAULTY "PROCESSOR" IT WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR RAN OKAY FOR A FEW MONTHS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. I DID NOT CONTACT THE DEALER AGAIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED . THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED. I LEARNED TO LIVE WITH IT AND DRIVE THE CAR. OVER THE YEARS VARRIOUS MECHANICS HAD LOOKED AT THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO CORRECT THE IDLE, BUT THE PROBLEM ALWAYS RETURNED. I THOUGHT THIS PROBLEMS WAS UNIQUE TO MY VECHICLE, BUT I AM AWARE OF A JUDGMENT AGAINST FORD IN A CALIFORNIA COURT IN WHICH VEHICLES WITH THE EFT SYSTEM HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO STALL. THIS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL ISSUSED SO THAT FORD CA REPAIR THESE VEHICLES REGARDLSS OF AGE.*AK
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
IGNITION MODULE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL.ALSO REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND HEATER HOSE.
VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING.OWNER RECEIVED NO INDICATION THAT VEHICLE WAS GOING TO STALL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD WARM UP IT, WOULD STALL. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1984 FORD MUSTANG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND THEY STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY AND MADE THE REPAIR. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT OF MOVEMENT. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW THE NAME OF THE MANUFACTURER OF THE RACK AND PINION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
(USED)VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE ROUND ABOUT THE CENTER OF VEHICLE IN THE AREA OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN STARTING UP THE VEHICLE. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT.
SEAT BELT CAME APART IN ACCIDENT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
INTERIOR COMPARTMENT FIRE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, FIRE ORIGINATED INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. *AK
OVERHEAD INTERIOR LIGHT SHORTS OUT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
OVERHEAD INTERIOR LIGHT SHORTS OUT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
TWO LEFT AND RIGHT PADS WERE EXCESSIVELY WORN, BROKEN IN NUMEROUS LOCATIONS AND WERE DISNTEGRATING AFTER 4K MILES OF OPERATION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
IGNITION MODULE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL.ALSO REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND HEATER HOSE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
OVERHEAD INTERIOR LIGHT SHORTS OUT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
OVERHEAD INTERIOR LIGHT SHORTS OUT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1984 FORD MUSTANG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND THEY STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY AND MADE THE REPAIR. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT OF MOVEMENT. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW THE NAME OF THE MANUFACTURER OF THE RACK AND PINION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
FULDA TIRES-CARAT 195/60R15. DOT PJRBYFKR0803. DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. OWNER STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED BRAND NEW, AND THERE WAS ONLY 500 MILES OF TREAD WEAR WHEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .