RoadVitals

1990 Ford Mustang Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
10
Latest Jan 15, 2004
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
12%
of 85 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
7
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1990 Ford Mustang submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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
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
Engine
Filed Mar 10, 1998
Fire reported

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN THE DRIVEWAY, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURSTED INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY LOST. *AK

NHTSA ID
821876
Incident
Mar 8, 1998
Engine
Filed Jan 27, 1998
Fire reported

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN PARKING LOT IT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID
820965
Incident
Jan 25, 1998
Engine
Filed Nov 26, 1997
Fire reported

WHILE PARKED, VEHICLE FIRE OCCURRED FROM UNDER HOOD.

NHTSA ID
525468
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Sep 4, 1997
Fire reported

ALTERNATOR FAILED FIVE TIMES, ONCE RESULTING IN A FIRE. IN ADDITION, UNDER DASH ELECTRICAL WIRES SHORTED OUT, RESULTING IN A FIRE. ALSO REPLACED FUEL PUMP/ 2 COOLING FANS AND THROTTLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
518809
Incident
Jan 1, 1997
Engine
Filed Oct 18, 1996

WHILE CAR IS RUNNING IT SMOKES AND MAKES A CLANKING NOISE.

NHTSA ID
510291
Engine
Filed Jun 12, 1996
Fire reported

ENGINE FIRE. *DH

NHTSA ID
505219
Incident
Jun 12, 1996
Engine
Filed Jun 6, 1996

ENGINE BURNED UP.

NHTSA ID
505129
Incident
May 19, 1996
Engine
Filed Apr 22, 1996
Fire reported

THEVEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AND THERE WAS A FIRE PRESENT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
983199
Incident
Feb 26, 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Electrical33Airbags9Interior & seats8Driver assistance8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .