RoadVitals

1994 Ford Mustang Airbags Problems

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

Data refreshed

Airbags 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.
35
Latest Jan 9, 2019
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.
10%
of 356 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.
16
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
12

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Ford Mustang submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 35 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 airbag

The 25 most recent of 35, in the owner's own words

AirbagsOther / unspecified
Filed Jan 9, 2019
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE RIM. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT SLID INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND WENT AIRBORNE INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE PURCHASED FOUR TIRES FROM SAM'S CLUB AND THAT THE WRONG TIRE SIZE WAS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,480.

NHTSA ID
11166008
Incident
Jul 11, 2018
Mileage
42,480 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 1, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. A DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DEALER WAS FORTHCOMING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10468778
Incident
Jun 14, 2012
AirbagsEngine
Filed Nov 10, 2005

DT: CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED ALL THE SENSORS WERE IN PLACE. THE DEALER WAS OFFERING NO FREE REMEDY. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE HAD BEEN REPLACED. UPDATED 12/07/05. *JB

NHTSA ID
10142357
Incident
Oct 18, 2005
Mileage
138,144 mi
AirbagsBrakesEngine+2 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004

THE MAJOR PROBLEM WAS THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE (AFTER 100,000 MILES) WITH THE ENGINE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT ANY TIME REGARDING THIS RECALL. FORD DENIES THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS A RECALL AND THAT IT WAS MY FAULT THAT THE ENGINE WENT SINCE I DO NOT DO ALL MY REPAIRS AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND IF I HAD, I WOULD'VE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY MAIL OR BY PHONE OF THIS PROBLEM, FORD TOLD ME THAT SINCE THE CAR WENT OVER 100,000 MILES AND WAS THREE MONTHE PAST THE DEADLINE DATE THAT I WAS OUT OF LUCK AND THAT THERE WOULD BE NO EXTENSIONS OR EXCEPTIONS. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT I HAVE IS THAT I DID NOT EXPERIENCE A HEAD GASKET FAILURE DURING THEIR SO CALLED WARRANTY EXTENSION PERIOD AND THAT MY 1994 FORD MUSTANG ONLY FAILED SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY EXTENSION EXPIRED. A DEFECTIVE PART IS A DEFECTIVE PART FROM THE DAY OF MANUFACTURE TO THE DAY THE CAR IS JUNKED UNLESS THE PART IS REPAIRED OR REPLACED. SO MUCH TIME AND MONEY WAS PUT OUT BY ME BECAUSE OF FORD'S LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE. I DESERVED TO HAVE BEEN REIMBURSED BY THE FORD MOTOR CORPORATION BUT IN TURN I RECEIVED NOTHING. I COULD GO ON BUT THIS IS VERY UPSETTING TO ME. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

NHTSA ID
10070954
Incident
Oct 15, 2002
Mileage
110,000 mi
AirbagsPowertrain (other)Tires & wheels+1 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004

POWER DOOR LOCK ON PASS. SIDE INOPERATIVE TIRES IN REAR OF VEHICLE WEAR ON INNER SIDE, HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO HAVE ALIGNMENT DONE AT DIFFERENT MAINTENANCE FACILITIES. TRANSMISSION HAS INTERMITTENT SHIFT PROBLEMS (SURGES) BETWEEN 3-4 GEARS WHEN CAR IS WARM. AT PRESENT TIME IT IS A CONSTANT ISSUE NOW AND IT IS MY ONLY VEHICLE. AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON MOST OF THE TIME BUT SOMETIMES CYCLES OFF.

NHTSA ID
10069036
Incident
Mar 15, 1998
Mileage
70,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 22, 2002
Fire reported

TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER DUE TO AIR BAG LIGHT ON. *AK

NHTSA ID
762161
Incident
May 22, 2002
Airbags
Filed Aug 3, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE EXITING AN AREA AND GOING INTO TRAFFIC VEHICLE GOT HIT ON DRIVER'S SIDE, AND AIR BAGS EXPLODED, BUT DID NT DEPLOY IN CRASH. CONSUMER WAS CHOKING ON AIRBAG FUMES WHEN EXPLODED. *AK

NHTSA ID
893421
Incident
Jul 20, 2001
Airbags
Filed Jun 20, 2001

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL FLASH ON DASHBOARD. THEN, LIGHT WILL STAY ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER TIGHTENED GROUND TO MODULE. *AK

NHTSA ID
890772
Incident
Dec 16, 1996
Airbags
Filed May 15, 2001

WAS TRAVELING 50MPH AND SUDDENLY/WITHOUT ANY WARNING PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. AFTER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. *AK

NHTSA ID
888299
Incident
Apr 10, 2001
Airbags
Filed Feb 7, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 35 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
880019
Incident
Jan 27, 2001
AirbagsBrakesEngine+2 more
Filed Jul 26, 2000

CAN FORD DO ANYTHING RIGHT CAR HAS BROKEN DOWN MORE THAN I CAN REMEMBER! *AK

NHTSA ID
726037
AirbagsBrakes
Filed May 30, 2000

ROTORS WARP PREMATURELY. NLM

NHTSA ID
784672
Incident
May 1, 1995
AirbagsEngine
Filed Mar 13, 2000

VEHICLE HAD A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET, AND AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED ON. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
858437
Incident
Feb 16, 2000
Airbags
Filed Apr 30, 1999
Crash reported

DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN A 40 MPH FRONTAL IMPACT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
837299
Incident
Oct 1, 1998
Airbags
Filed Jan 21, 1999

WHENEVER THE CAR IS STARTED THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. DEALER SAYS THE COMPUTER HAS A MALFUNCTION. *AK

NHTSA ID
833859
Airbags
Filed Sep 17, 1998
Crash reported

CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING VEHICLE IN SCHOOL PARKING, NOT PAYING FULL ATTENTION, RAN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, CAUSING BOTH AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE IMPACT WAS TOO LOW FOR AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ID
827978
Incident
Sep 1, 1998
AirbagsTires & wheels
Filed Aug 17, 1998
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT NORMAL SPEED WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO HYDROPLANE/ BLOWOUT OCCURRED ON THE RIGHT REAR. THREW VEHICLE INTO A BRIDGE, CAVED IN GAS TANK, END SPINNED. TOOK OFF THE ENTIRE FRONT, INCLUDING HYDRAULICS, THE HOOD WAS STILL DOWN AND INTACT. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
826827
Incident
Jul 4, 1998
AirbagsTransmission
Filed Jun 9, 1998

AIR BAG LIGHT BLINKS AND THEN STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY.

NHTSA ID
536516
Incident
Apr 1, 1998
Airbags
Filed Apr 23, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG LIGHTS STAY ON AND WILL NOT SHUT OFF. EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED UP, THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. DUP 536516, POSTED ON 03-NOV-98. *AK

NHTSA ID
822738
Incident
Apr 12, 1998
Airbags
Filed Feb 27, 1998

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
821719
Incident
Feb 25, 1998
Airbags
Filed Feb 24, 1998
Crash reported1 injury reported

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL.

NHTSA ID
531362
Incident
Jun 19, 1996
Airbags
Filed Feb 22, 1998
Crash reported2 injuries reported

AIR BAG DEPLOYED DURING A CRASH AND THE CHILD PASSENGER RECEIVED SECOND AND THIRD DEGREE BURNS ON HIS CHIN AND NECK AREA.

NHTSA ID
531282
Incident
Feb 21, 1998
Airbags
Filed Dec 16, 1997

WHEN STARTING AND WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. *AK

NHTSA ID
820006
Incident
Nov 28, 1997
AirbagsBrakesInterior & seats
Filed Jul 1, 1997

DRIVER'S SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKING CAR IN GARAGE. REPLACED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS DUE TO WARPING. ALSO, AIR BAG SENSOR HAS COME ON TWICE. DUP OF 517543, ADDED ON 25-FEB-98. *AK

NHTSA ID
517894
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Jun 11, 1997

AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON TWICE. ALSO REPLACED WARPED REAR ROTORS AND PADS. *AK

NHTSA ID
517543

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .