1991 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 1991 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
- Electrical2731.4%
- Interior & seats910.5%
- Airbags78.1%
- Transmission78.1%
- Engine67.0%
- Brakes67.0%
- Fuel system44.7%
- Seat belts44.7%
- Visibility22.3%
- Body & structure22.3%
- Driver assistance22.3%
- Exterior lighting22.3%
- Powertrain (other)22.3%
- Steering22.3%
- Suspension22.3%
- Tires & wheels11.2%
- Other / unspecified11.2%
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC NOTIFIED HIM THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HAD REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL INJECTOR, AIR FLOW, AND ROLLER ROCKERS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE MECHANIC USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, THE POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE NOT CALLED. THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,500.
THE AIRBAGS COULD DEPLOY AT AN INAPPROPRIATE TIME OR NOT AT ALL DUE TO THIS PROBLEM THE AIR BAG BLINKS ALL THE TIME AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NO ANSWERS SO I AM RED FLAGGING THIS PROBLEM THANK YOU
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55MPH & DRIVER'S SEATBACK FELL STRAIGHT BACK IN A RESTING POSTION. CONSUMER TOOK IT TO A WELDING SHOP. WELDER SAID THEY HAVE SEEN ALOT OF THAT MAKE WITH THIS PROBELM.*AK
WHILE DRIVING HOOD RELEASED TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION, CAUSING NO VISIBILITY WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE AIRBAGS COULD DEPLOY AT AN INAPPROPRIATE TIME OR NOT AT ALL DUE TO THIS PROBLEM THE AIR BAG BLINKS ALL THE TIME AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NO ANSWERS SO I AM RED FLAGGING THIS PROBLEM THANK YOU
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNATTENDED, THE AIR BAG IN STEERING WHEEL ACTIVATED. THIS IS THE FIRST OCCURANCE. NO INJURIES,. REPLACEMENT HAS NOT OCCURED. *TR
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
THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT THREE TIMES IN THIS CAR. THE FIRST TIME IT HAD 20000 MILES ON IT AND UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALER SENT IT TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO REBUILT IT. ONE YEAR LATER IT WENT OUT AGAIN. THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER FORD WOULD NOT COVER. I GOT STUCK REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF POCKET. NOW THE TRANSMISSION WENT AGAIN. *JB
I HAVE 1991 FORD MUSTANG WITH A NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 91V048000. FORD IS TELLING ME THAT THIERE IS NO SUCH RECALL IN THERE DATA BASE AND THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. THIS IS A BIG SAFTY ISSUE FOR ME CONSIDERING MY WIFE AND KIDS RIDE IN THIS CAR. I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS A VALID RECALL AND IF FORD IS NOT RESPONSIBLE TO REPAIR IT, THEN WHO?*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED UNDER THE OWNER'S NOTIFICATION CAMPAIGNS. HEAD GASKET BLEW AGAIN, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WAS REFUSING TO REPAIR IT BECAUSE IT WAS OVER THE 100,000 MILES OF THE CAMPAIGNS WARRANTY.*AK
TENSION REGULATOR FOR FAN BELT FLAPS LOOSE. THIS IS 4TH TIME THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. *AK
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
I HAD PARKED MY CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY, I PUT MY PARKING BRAKE ON BECAUSE MY DRIVEWAY IS ON A SLOPE. I WENT TO USE THE CAR AGAIN I REMOVED THE PARKING BRAKE AND THAT'S WHEN MY BRAKES LOCKED UP. SINCE THEN I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR IN THE GARAGE. *TR
ALMOST TOTAL LOSS OF ALL VEHICLE BRAKES FOLLOWING THE RUPTURE OF A FRONT BRAKE HOSE. EARLIER THAT EVENING I HAD A CRASH INTO A SIGN POST. I HAD EVIDENTLY DAMAGED THE RIGHT FRONT & REAR TIRES, AS THEY WENT FLAT ON THE WAY HOME. IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE CAR HOME, THE DAMAGED RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD PUNCTURED THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE. I THEN NEARLY LOST ALL BRAKES INCLUDING THE REAR ONES. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. AFTER THE REPAIR OF THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM OF THE FRONT BRAKES, I REGAINED FULL HYDRAULIC BRAKING POWER. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT I WOULD HAVE SOME REAR BRAKES IN THE ADVENT OF FRONT BRAKE FAILURE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR STALLS OUT AND DOSN'T RESART FOR UP TO 30 MINUTES
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE OIL PRESSURE. OIL GAUGE STARTED TO FLUCTUATE. AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, MADE CALLS TO MECHANICS. WAS INFORMED A COMPOSITE WAS REPLACED IN THE OIL PAN GASKET. THE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BE MESSED UP.
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
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT AUTOMATICALLY CAUSING CONCERN BELT WOULD FAIL TO WORK. *TR
ARMS OF THE TRAY ON BOTH SIDES (WHERE THEY ARE ATTACHED TO SEAT) CRACKED AND BROKEN. SEAT UNSAFE AND REPLACED WITH A NEW CAR SEAT. *AK
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
THE HEATER CORE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED SMOKE ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THE WINDOW ALSO FOGGED UP, BECAUSE THE DEFOGGER BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE COIL WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK AFTER BEING REPLACED 3 TIMES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
IGNITION SWITCH GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT GO INTO THE AUXILIARY MODE. NHTSA RECALL 96V071000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. ALSO, FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE DETACHED AT THE SIDES. DEALER INSPECTED THE FLOOR, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FLOOR COULD BE FIXED, BUT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE DETACHED ON THE SIDES. *AK
HOOD FLEW UP WHILE DRIVING 30MPH, RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY. TT
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
1991 MUSTANG LX 5.0 SUDDEN ACCELERATION ACCIDENT. 1991 MUSTANG LX 5.0 MAKING LEFT TURN FROM STOP SIGN IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN ENGINE ON ITS OWN WENT FULL THROTTLE CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND LEAVE ROADWAY WHERE IT CONTINUED UNDER FULL THROTTLE THROUGH TREE BRANCHES AND BUSHES, A 6 FOOT WROUGHT IRON STYLE FENCE OVER A RETAINING WALL AT WHICH POINT IT BRIEFLY BECAME AIRBORNE LANDING ON A POOL DECK THEN CONTINUING AT FULL THROTTLE ONTO THE SUBDIVISION SWIMMING POOL TARP UNTIL THE FRONT END CRASHED INTO THE POOL WALL ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE POOL CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. AFTER IMPACT WITH THE POOL WALL, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WHICH WAS STILL ON THE POOL DECK CONTINUED SPINNING LEAVING MELTED RUBBER ON THE POOL DECK. THE MUSTANG ENDED UP PARTIALLY SUBMERGED. THANK GOD THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES. 7 YEARS PREVIOUSLY THE SAME 1991 MUSTANG ON ITS OWN, WENT FULL THROTTLE, BUT ON A STRAIGHT 4 LANE ROAD. AT THAT TIME, THE DRIVER TRIED TO STOP THE MUSTANG BY BRAKING TO NO AVAIL. THE MUSTANG TRAVELED OVER 2 MILES WITH THE DRIVER APPLYING THE BRAKES UNTIL THE DRIVER RAN OUT OF ROAD AND DROVE THE CAR UPHILL BETWEEN TWO HOUSES AT WHICH TIME THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN THE CAR WAS RESTARTED IN PARK AFTER THE EVENT, THE ENGINE AGAIN WENT TO FULL THROTTLE IN PARK WITH THE TACHOMETER GOING TO THE 6,000 RPM RANGE. AT THAT TIME, THE CAR WAS TRUCKED TO A FORD DEALER WHICH ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND REPAIRED THE LINKAGE. THE FORD DEALER ASSURED US THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED. *TR
VEHICLE WENT TO FULL THROTTLE WITHOUT WARNING. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
HAD SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER DASH. LOST RADIO, AND TAIL LIGHTS WIRES FROM LIGHT SWITCH TO TAIL LIGHT MELTED. NOT SURE IF FROM FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. WOULD LIKE MORE INFO. *TR
HEADLIGHTS GO ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES DUE TO A FAULTY HEADLIGHT SWICH ASSEMBLY. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE SPEEDOMETER BOUNCES AROUND NOT STAYING A SPEED DRIVEN. THE CABLE AND THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURED BEFORE AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. TS
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, GOING ABOUT (5) OR (10) MPH, THE REAR AXLE BROKE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. WAITING FOR INSURANCE COMPANY TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. *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
RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO REPAIR SHOP THREE TIMES. EACH REPAIR COST THE CONSUMER $350-$400. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DID NOTHING TO SOLVE IT. *YH
STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT FIRE. *SD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
SHOCK ABSORBER FAILED.
FRONT SHOCKS FAILED.
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
TIRES BUMPED CURB TWICE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ROLLOVER/INJURY.
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
WHILE DRIVING LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF. *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 .