IllustrationSPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER AND TACHOMETER MALFUNCTION DUE TO DEFECTIVE CARBURATOR BEING INSTALLED. YH
1978 Ford Mustang
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →3Owner complaints
Model-year median: 81
4Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1978 Ford Mustang
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 3 owner complaints · 4 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 2 reports
- Fuel System, Gasoline: 2 reports
- Electrical System: 1 reports
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1 reports
- Vehicle Speed Control: 1 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
- 83V025000 — Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
- 81V003000 — Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
- 78V047000 — Seat Belts:front:retractor
- 77V196000 — Vehicle Speed Control:cables
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Mustang years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 3 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
3 reportsENGINE COOLING FAN BLADES SEPARATED FROM THE FAN HUB PRIOR TO RECALL, REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO MANUFACTURER'S INABILITY OR UNWILLINGNESS TO PROVIDE PARTS TO DEALER NECESSARY FOR THEM TO MAKE REPAIRS (83V-025). *AK
BRAKE POWER BOOSTER FAILED.
Recall campaigns
483V025000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
Mar 1, 1983
THE FLEXIBLE BLADE ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADES MAY CRACK AND BREAK OFF. THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY HIGH BLADE STRESSES THAT CAN RESULT FROM VIBRATION DURING VEHICLE OPERATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE COOLING FAN AT NO COST TO OWNER.
81V003000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
Dec 2, 1981
THE SEVEN-BLADE ENGINE COOLING FAN IS SUBJECT TO FATIGUE CRACKING DURING NORMAL OPERATION. PORTIONS OF THE BLADES MAY SEPARATE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: DEFECTIVE FANS WILL BE REPLACED WITH FANS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN WITHOUT CHARGE.
78V047000 · Seat Belts:front:retractor
Mar 8, 1978
THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORS ON CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY FAIL TO LOCK DUE TO BINDING OF THE LOCKING PAWL AGAINST THE RETRACTOR HOUSING. THIS BINDING IS CAUSED BY RETRACTOR HOUSING DEFORMATION WHICH OCCURRED DURING ASSEMBLY. AS A RESULT THE PASSENGERS WOULD BE RESTRAINED ONLY BY THE FULLY EXTENDED BELT. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION".
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE ONE OR BOTH REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE.
77V196000 · Vehicle Speed Control:cables
Nov 15, 1977
THE DUST TUBE PORTION OF THE ACCELERATOR CABLE ASSEMBLY ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY BIND DUE TO IMPROPER CRIMPING OF THE CABLE ASSEMBLY DURING MANUFACTURE. AS A RESULT, THE RETURN RATE OF THE THROTTLE MAY BE SLOWED OR THE THROTTLE MAY BE PREVENTED FROM CLOSING PROPERLY. IN THIS CONDITION, A VEHICLE SPEED OF 30 T0 40 MPH COULD BE MAINTAINED WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECCESSARY, WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE ASSEMBLY, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.