RoadVitals

1990 Ford Mustang Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
85
Latest Mar 30, 2013
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.
39
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 24, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 85 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Ford Mustang. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 85 · page 1 of 4

ElectricalVisibility
Filed Mar 30, 2013

THE WINDOWS WON'T ROLL DOWN AND I'VE SPENT A WHOLE DAY AND AROUND $100 TRYING TO FIX IT. ALL I WANT IS WORKING WINDOWS, CAN I GET SOME MANUAL DOORS? *TR

NHTSA ID
10505098
Incident
Mar 28, 2013
Mileage
129,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 30, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE TURN SIGNALS AND AIR CONDITIONER WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE BY SLIGHTLY TURNING BACK THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID
10453580
Incident
Mar 30, 2011
Mileage
130,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 27, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE MOTOR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND MELTED THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK ON THE VEHICLE. PICUTRES ARE AVAILABLE IF NEEDED.

NHTSA ID
10122329
Incident
May 26, 2005
Airbags
Filed Jan 21, 2004
1 injury reported

AIR BAG EXPLODED INJURING THE CONSUMER. *PH THE AIR BAG EXPLODED IN THE CONSUMERS FACE AND INJURED HER BADLY. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10057292
Incident
Jan 21, 1999
EngineOther / unspecifiedPowertrain (other)+2 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004

THERE ARE 54,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR END OF NOVEMBER WHEN THERE WERE ONLY 49,000 MILES ON IT. THE PAINT IS PEELING VERY BADLY ON THE FRONT BUMPER. I INQUIRED ABOUT A REPAINT AND IT WAS GOING TO BE WELL OVER $5,800. I HAD TO PUT 3 TRANSMISSIONS IN THE CAR (IN ABOUT END OF FEBRUARY, AGAIN IN ABOUT 3 WEEKS ANOTHER ONE HAD TO BE PUT IN) I ONLY PAID ABOUT $1,100.00 FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE OTHERS WERE COVERED BY THE MECHANICS WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS IN THERE WAS FRIED WHEN THEY SOLD IT TO ME. A RIM HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS BENT WHICH COSTED $45.00. I HAD TO REPLACE THE COOLING SYSTEM ($800.00) (JUNE 24 2003) BECAUSE IT WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL. THE ENGINE HAD OVER HEATED CAUSING THE RADIO TO MALFUNCTION. A/C DOES NOT WORK AT ALL, IT BLOWS HOT AIR. HEATER WORKS BUT IT TAKES A VERY LONG TIME BEFORE HEAT COMES OUT. IF THE CAR COULD JUST BE REPAINTED BY FORD, I?LL PAY A DEDUCTABLE IF NECESSARY BECAUSE IT IS A VERY NICE CAR AND I LOVE THE WAY IT DRIVES AND HANDLES. NOTHING COMPARES TO THE MUSTANG, BUT THE PAINT PEELING SOMETIMES IS A BIT EMBARRASSING BECAUSE IT?S A NICE CAR, WELL MAINTAINED, BUT THE PAINT IS PEELING. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO MAKE FORD REPAINT MY CAR FOR ME?

NHTSA ID
10071359
Incident
Jul 15, 2003
Electrical
Filed Nov 6, 2003

I HAVE A FORD MUSTANG 1990. THE ELECTRONICAL SYSTEM HAS GONE DOWN THE TOLIET. BOTH THE ELECTRONICAL FRONT WINDOWS AND THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS BARELY WORK. BOTH THE FRONT WINDOWS WORK BUT AS THEY ARE ROLLING UP THEY SQUEAK LIKE NO OTHER. THE LOCKING MECHANISMS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HAVE A MIND OF THERE OWN AND RARELY LOCK OR JUST LOCK ONE SIDE. I HAVE TRIED TO FIX THIS ALL IN VAIN. SUCKS TO HAVE ELECTRONICAL LOCKS AND WINDOWS IN A 1990 FORD MUSTANG. THANKS- RUMIT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10045553
Incident
Nov 5, 2003
Mileage
90,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 11, 2003

I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT HEADLIGHT/FOGLIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY AND THE POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM IT CAN CREATE ON 1987-1993, FORD MUSTANG GTS. *AK I, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD MY HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON AT NIGHT. UPON INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM ON WWW.CORRAL.NET, I FOUND OUT THAT THE REASON THE HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF IS THAT FORD USED AN INSUFFICIENT GAUGE WIRE TO ROUTE POWER TO THE FOGLIGHTS. A TECH ARTICLE (HTTP://WWW.CORRAL.NET/TECH/) WAS WRITTEN BY ONE OF THE CORRAL.NET MEMBERS ON HOW TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION. I WAS JUST BRINGING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THERE WAS NEVER A SAFETY RECALL ISSUED. LOSING YOUR HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM AND HAZARD TO EVERYONE ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID
10025910
Incident
Jun 30, 2003
Electrical
Filed Jan 13, 2003

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATEED THE WIPERS, LIGHTS, HEATER, RADIO ETC., DOES NOT WORK UNTIL THE KEYS ARE MOVED AROUND. CONSUMER THINKS IT MAY BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

NHTSA ID
10003671
Engine
Filed Oct 31, 2002
Fire reported

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN AT A STOP AND WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER AND THE VEHICLE TO BE NON DRIVABLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ID
8022026
Incident
Oct 20, 2002
Other / unspecified
Filed Jun 25, 2002

WHILE DRIVING RIGHT FRONT RIM CRACKED, CAUSING WHEEL TO SHAKE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8012596
Incident
Jun 18, 2002
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jan 16, 2002
Fire reported

WHILE MY CAR WAS IN FOR INVESTIGATION (SEE OID#75644 FOR THROTTLE ASSEMBLY FAILURE) THE DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH MODULE FROM RECALL THAT HAD NEVER BEEN DONE BY PREVIOUS OWNER. SUBSEQUENTLY, WHILE DRIVING THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR LOST POWER. SMOKE ROSE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I ROLLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND OPENED THE HOOD WHERE I FOUND THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE ALTERNATOR IN FLAMES. I UNPLUGGED IT AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE FLARED UP 2 MORE TIMES BEFORE DYING OUT.*AK

NHTSA ID
756912
Incident
Jan 16, 2002
SuspensionTransmission
Filed Jan 15, 2002

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SAW LARGE SMOKE CLOUD COMING FROM BEHIND THE CAR. WHEN STOPPED, THERE WAS A LARGE PUDDLE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID ON THE GROUND AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. *YD

NHTSA ID
564056
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 5, 2002

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE SOUTH OF WASHINGTON DC THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT INTO UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION TO SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 80+ MPH. WHILE MANEUVERING AROUND CARS I STOOD FULL WEIGHT (200LBS) ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH MINIMAL CHANGE, THE VEHICLE STILL ACCELERATED APPROACHING 90. THE PEDAL WAS NOT STUCK, NOR WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF ELIMINATING THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WHILE IN TRAFFIC DRIVING OVER 80 MPH. OTHER DRIVERS WERE FORCED TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTIONS. LUCKILY, NO CONTACT BETWEEN VEHICLES OCCURRED. MY CAR CAME TO REST SKIDDING ON GRAVEL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NEITHER MYSELF NOR DAUGHTER WERE INJURED. THE CHOKE CABLE LINKAGE ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING THE UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
756444
Incident
Jan 2, 2002
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 27, 2001

REAR AXLE IS SLIGHTLY OFF ON BOTH SIDES BY A 15 DEGREE ANGLE, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
8001109
Incident
Nov 27, 2001
Electrical
Filed Dec 9, 2001

THE ENGINE WOULD STALL WHEN SLOWING FOR A STOP OR TO TURN A CORNER. THIS WOULD OCCUR REGULARLY THROUGH THE LIFE OF THE CAR. REPLACING THE TFI MODULE WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 6-9 MONTHS BEFORE FAILING AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES NOW. *AK

NHTSA ID
755444
Incident
Jun 1, 1992
Airbags
Filed Nov 28, 2001
Crash reported

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AT 30 MPH WITH A WOODEN FENCE THAT RESULTED IN AIR BAG DEPLOYING, BUT NO AIR WAS IN THE BAGS. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
899561
Incident
Nov 1, 2001
Electrical
Filed Oct 18, 2001
Fire reported

WAS PARKING VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. LEFT VEHICLE TO CHECK UNDER HOOD AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE HAD EXTINGUISHED BYITSELF. ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, UNDER THE HOOD, WAS DAMAGED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. AFTER CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD MECHANIC INDICATED THAT PROBLEM WAS ALTERNATOR. *AK

NHTSA ID
897955
Brakes
Filed Sep 26, 2001
Crash reported

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE RELEASED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL INTO A TREE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKE HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY FROM THE DAY VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKE SLIPS WHEN IT IS PULLED HARD, BUT DOES NOT CATCH.*JB

NHTSA ID
896893
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningElectrical
Filed Sep 5, 2001

AFTER PARKING IN THE GARAGE I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, THE KEY BURNED MY HAND IT WAS SO HOT! THEN MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS APPEARED. THE TURN SIGNALS NO LONGER FUNCTIONED, THE CAR WOULD STALL AT LOW SPEEDS, THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD NOT COME ON, CONVERTIBLE TOP WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE IGNITION RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PREFORMED ON MY CAR PRIOR TO THESE PROBLEMS. THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOUND THE SWITCH BURNED, AND THE WIRING ASSEMBLY MELTED.*AK

NHTSA ID
751751
Incident
Aug 20, 2001
Electrical
Filed Aug 27, 2001
Fire reported

I PARKED CAR AND WENT IN HOUSE. 20 MINUTES LATER CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE MARSHALL SAID IGNITION SWITCH WAS TO BLAME AFTER INVESTIGATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
751192
Incident
Aug 16, 2001
Electrical
Filed Jul 24, 2001
Fire reported

A FIRE STARTED IN THE IGNITION AREA. FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AND DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
749039
Electrical
Filed Jul 11, 2001
Fire reported

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, ENGINE SHUT OFF 30 MINUTES AFTER PARKING VEHICLE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE, WENT OUTSIDE, AND SAW VEHICLE HAD ROLLED FORWARD, HIT GARAGE AND WAS BURNING. VEHICLE AND HOUSE BURNT, AND BOTH WERE TOTALLED. INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR STATED ALTERNATOR STARTED FIRE. NO INJURIES. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
892488
Incident
May 16, 2001
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 20, 2001

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AND HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WITH NO PRIOR WARNING, AND WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. HEADLIGHT SWITCH CONTINUED TO MELT, WHICH SORT OUT WIRING. DASH GOT EXTREMELY HOT. ALSO, MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH CAUSED HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAITING FOR REPLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
890819
Incident
Jun 20, 2001
Electrical
Filed Dec 15, 2000

FAILED WITH NO WARNING IN HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC + LOSS OF PWR STRNG + BRKS.

NHTSA ID
737841
Incident
Jun 15, 1997
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 6, 2000

ANCHOR MOUNT FAILED FOR DRIVER SEAT. SEAT WAS REPAIRED BY DEALERSHIP, BUT THE ANCHOR MOUNT ITSELF WAS ATTACHED TO A PIECE OF METAL ABOUT AS THICK AS A QUARTER.*AK

NHTSA ID
735805
Incident
May 1, 1996

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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