1989 Ford Mustang Owner Complaints

I have had the outside sidewall separate from the rest of the tire on two occasions, with these tires. The first time was in May of 2021, the second on June 1, 2023. I currently have the tire that separated on June 1st. Both times I was on the highway driving around 70 when the car began to shake violently, as if I was on an exaggerated rumble strip. I was able to pull into the emergency lane and change to a spare. The first time I assumed maybe the tire was low on air and didn't report it, however now after having a second tire do the exact same thing believe they are defective. Tire size is 225/55/16, for full disclosure I did purchase the tires and wheels off craigslist, however they were in very good condition. I Believe Granada is a Les Schwab brand. Picture of both tires are attached.

NHTSA ID

11526271

Incident

Jun 1, 2023

SEAT BELTS PULL OUT AND LATCH HOWEVER THE CROSS BODY PORTION DOES NOT RECEDE BACK INTO FRAME, ONLY CONTINUES TO LOOSEN AND NOT RETRACT THIS HAPPENS AT ANY TIME YOU ATE USING THE SEAT BELTS, HAPPENS WITH FRONT AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS, EITHER STOPPED. DRIVING, BREAKING OR EXCELLING. ITS ALL THE TIME . MY BEST GUESS IS THAT THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM IS OLD AND WORE OUT. SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO. AT THAT TIME THERE WAS 131,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON THE MOTOR. NO IDEA WHY THE SPEEDOMETER JUST STOPPED WORKING AS I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN GOING ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR. OVERDRIVE STOPPED WORKING. NO WARNING, NO OCCASIONAL SLIPS. JUST STOPPED WORKING WHILE SWITCHING INTO OVERDRIVE IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE AT ALL. HAVE TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER 50 MILES PER HOUR AS CAR WON'T SHIFT INTO NEXT GEAR. MY GUESS IS CHANGE TRANSMISSION. LOOKING FOR ONE NOW TO EITHER REBUILD IT OR GET A NEW ONE. SWITCHES, DRIVER SIDE SWITCH WOULD NOT CATCH THE WINDOW TO ROLL UP OR DOWN,, THEN THE SWITCH PLATE WOULD STICK AND STARTED SMOKING. I REPLACED THE SWITCH TWICE NOW WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. INTERIOR LIGHTING FOR SPEEDOMETER GAGES ARE NO LIGHTS. UNABLE TO SEE GAGES. ***I DO REALIZE THE CAR IS 31 YEARS OLD NOW. AND MAY JUST BE OLD AGE GETTING TO MY FOXBODY. *** THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

11361416

Incident

Feb 2, 2020

Mileage

131,000 mi

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE MUSTANG AND FOLLOWING ME AT NIGHT. SHE HAD THE FOG LAMPS TURNED ON ALONG WITH THE HEADLAMPS AND THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. SHE RAN OFF THE ROAD BEFORE SHE COULD STOP, BUT DID NOT CAUSE ANY DAMAGE. THE LIGHTS KEPT FLICKERING ON AND OFF STAYING OFF FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. WE FINISHED THE TRIP WE WERE ON WITH JUST THE HEADLAMPS AND THEY DID NOT FLICKER. WE DID NOT BRING THE CAR BACK TO TOWN UNTIL AUGUST AND I TOOK IT TO IMMEL MOTORS FORD DEALER IN FREDERICKSBURG, TX. THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. AFTER WE GOT IT OUT IT CONTINUED TO FLICKER IF WE USED THE FOG LAMPS SO WE QUIT USING THEM. I RECENTLY FOUND THAT THERE IS A TSB 891711 AUG 89 THAT IDENTIFIES THAT PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT AFFECTS MORE THAN JUST THE 1989 MUSTANGS. I ALSO BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THAT IT HAS CAUSED MANY ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLY EVEN DEATHS. I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL AND THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING TO REPAIR IT, BUT IMMEL MOTORS DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO TO REPAIR THE ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED A LONG TIME AGO. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF VEHICLES OUT THERE BEING AFFECTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10651659

Incident

Jun 30, 2011

Mileage

82,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY BECAME EXTREMELY HOT. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TO GET A DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10588614

Incident

May 5, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD MUSTANG. WHENEVER THE KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION TO START THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE CONTACT MUST REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND RETRY IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. HE DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V071000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION); HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 6/16/08 *CN THE STARTER AND RELAY WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10229082

Incident

Mar 25, 2008

Mileage

123,000 mi

I JUST FILED A COMPLAINT 10-15-06, AND AFTER GOING OVER MY ACCIDENT THAT INVOLVED MY 1989 MUSTANG ON 11-05,, I DO BELIEVE THAT THE WRECK COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAUTLY EQUIMENT THAT IS IN MY CAR,, LIKE I SAID IN MY FIRST FORM I TRIED TO HAVE THIS FIXED WITHIN A WEEK OR SO OF PURCHACING THE CAR,,AND IT DID THE SAME THING BEFORE I GOT HOME FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP. MIGHT I ADD IT WENT TO A FORD DEALER TO BE FIXED..I REALLY FEEL AS THOUGH THIS IS A BIG ISSUSE AND I THINK FORD SHOULD BE RESPONABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT IS THE PROBLEM NOT AT MY EXPESNE I HOPE TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE ABOUT THIS MATTER... I THOUGHT MY CAR WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS DOING THIS (ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN, FASTER AND FASTER UNTIL YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN THEN IT IS NORMAL AGAIN) UNTIL I SAW YOUR WEB SITE AND READED THE COMPLAITS ON THE 1989 MUSTANG,,, PLEASE HELP,,, THANK YOU SHERRY COOK. *NM

NHTSA ID

10170996

Incident

Nov 11, 2005

WHILE DRIVING OUT OF NO WHERE THE CAR WILL ACCERATOR ON ITS OWN,,THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY,,SOME TIMES NOT FOR A WEEK,, AND TEN TIMES IN ONE DAY,, I FEEL IT IS VERY DANGEROUS,,IT DONT JUST JUMP UP AND STOP,,IT WILL KEEP DOING IT AND GO FASTER UNTIL I TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART THE CAR,,I HAD A FORD DEALER REPLACE THE THOTTLE BODY,,HOWEVER BEFORE I MADE IT HOME IT DID THE SAME THING,,THIS COSTED ME 500.00 AND THE CAR IS STILL DOING IT UP TO PRESENT DAY..I HAVE ALSO HAD TO BUY MORE STARTERS THAN NORMAL BECAUSE I AM ALWAYS RESTARTING MY CAR WHILE DRIVING,, I PUSH IN CLUTCH AND TURN KEY OFF WHILE A SECOND AND RESTART THE CAR AND LET OUT THE CLUTCH,,LIKE I SAID THIS PUTS ALOT OF PEOPLE IN HARMS WAY AND I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT RECALL,, I TRYED TO HAVE IT FIXED ON MY OWN HOWEVER I DO FEEL THAT FORD IS REPOSIABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM..

NHTSA ID

10170872

Incident

Oct 11, 2006

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL #96 V 071 000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*JB

NHTSA ID

10011129

Incident

Mar 7, 2003

WHILE DRIVING, AND WHEN CONSUMER HIT BRAKES, DRIVER'S SEAT FULLY RECLINED, DISTRACTING CONSUMER VIEW WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8018193

Incident

Aug 16, 2002

WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED ON STEERING WHEEL IT CAUSES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND VEHICLE TO SHUTDOWN WHILE DRIVING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8018145

Incident

Aug 8, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING CONSUMER HIT BRAKES AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY IN LOCKED POSITION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AKTHE DRIVERS SIDE BELT WAS REPLACED, BUT WOULD NOT WORK AFTER INSTALLATION. *JG

NHTSA ID

8017633

Incident

Aug 26, 2002

FRONT PASSENGER LAP SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY IN LOCKED POSITION ,AND IS CAUSING CONSUMER NOT TO HAVE A SEAT BELT ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8017479

Incident

Aug 9, 2002

CONSUMER STATES UNDER HOT WEATHER CONDITIONS THE VEHICLES IGNITION WILL SPARK AND CLICK. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED SWITCH 3 TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

NHTSA ID

8013259

Incident

Sep 1, 1995

UNDER HOT CONDITIONS IGNITION SPARKS AND CLICKS. DEALER HAS REPLACED SWITCH THREE TIMES, AND PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8013249

Incident

Sep 1, 1995

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 96V071000. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND TOOK VEHICLE ON APPOINTED DATE. AFTER PICKING UP VEHICLE, NOTICED IGNITION ACTED SAME AS BEFORE GOING TO DEALER. OWNER TOOK IGNITION APART AND CONTACTED MANUFACTURER FOR PART NUMBER OF REPLACEMENT. PART WAS NEVER REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP.*AK *TT

NHTSA ID

8004461

Incident

Jan 30, 2002

CONSUMER STATES HOOD LATCH WILL NOT WORK IF HOOD IS NOT CLOSED ALL THE WAY.*JB

NHTSA ID

563769

SIDEWALL DISINTINGRATED, INNER AND OUTER, WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. NOTHING WAS IN THE ROAD THAT WAS HIT OR ANYTHING. THERE WERE NO BUMPS OR DEBRIS IN THE ROAD. THE TIRE DID NOT BLOW OUT, IT JUST CAME APART.*AK (DOT NUMBER: EJ9DDMH127 TIRESIZE: 22560R15)

NHTSA ID

742738

Incident

Oct 5, 2000

BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SHOULDER BELTS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY OR WILL EITHER JUST HANG UP, CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION.*AK

NHTSA ID

878814

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE 35MPH WHEN IT STARTED OVERHEATING. HOSE HAD BROKEN. THEN IT STALLED OUT WHILE WAITING AT STOP LIGHT. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND INFORMED BY MECHANIC NO RESOLUTION FOR PROBLEM WHICH WAS GETTING WORSE.*AK

NHTSA ID

877568

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

873981

I HAVE RECENTLY CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. MY FRIEND HAS A 1988 MUSTANG, WHO HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES. I AM AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER AND KNOW THAT THIS PROBLEM IS THE RESULT OF A BAD DESIGN (I.E. THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE GETS TOO HOT, WHICH CAUSES THE TRANSISTORS TO FUNCTION IMPROPERLY). THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM AND I HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE MANY LIVES TO FIGURE THIS OUT. THANK YOU, JOSH SHAW

NHTSA ID

734816

Incident

Aug 1, 1999

WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS, THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE SURGES AND CUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. PROBLEM MOST OFTEN OCCURS WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT AND THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON.

NHTSA ID

734391

Incident

Oct 11, 2000

I HAD ADDED OIL THE PREVIOUS NIGHT, AND I CLOSED THE HOOD. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING (TRAVELING OVER THE HANOVER STREET BRIDGE IN BALTIMORE), THE HOOD SUDDENLY FLEW UP AND BACK AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. THE HOOD HAD COME LOOSE BEFORE, BUT THE SAFETY LATCH MIGHT HAVE CAUSED IT TO STAY DOWN. ALSO, I WASN'T MOVING THAT FAST. I WAS GOING 55MPH OVER THE BRIDGE.I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT BECAUSE IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY. I'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS BEING A PROBLEM WITH MUSTANGS, AND I HAVE SEEN EVIDENCE MYSELF. I SAW ONE IN COLUMBIA, MD THAT HAD THE SAME CREASE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HOOD (FROM THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD), AND IT ALSO HAD THE VENT IN FRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD BUSTED OUT. IS THIS A MECHANICAL FAILURE? IT SEEMS SO TO ME. I HOPE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM. ANY FEEDBACK WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. BRIAN WHEELER. *AK

NHTSA ID

732567

Incident

Apr 15, 2000

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT THE THROTTLE SURGING HAD DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH REQUIRED REPAIR ALSO. *MJS

NHTSA ID

555175

Incident

May 19, 2000

FUEL PUMP SAFETY SWITCH WOULD ENGAGE ON ITS OWN & CAR WOULDN'T START UNLESS YOU HIT THE SWITCH. ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND SO HAS BATTERY.

NHTSA ID

732079

Incident

Sep 1, 1993