IllustrationVEHICLE HAS FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH DUE TO WIRING BEING CORRODED. THIS CAUSED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO INTERACT, PERFORMING POORLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
1984 Ford Mustang
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Mustang years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 2 of 18 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 3 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 reports4 fire reports0 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
9 reportsWHEN THIS CAR STALLS IT WILL FIRST NOT HOLD A STEADY IDLE. THERE ARE OTHER TIMES WHEN THIS CAR WILL BE WATING ATA A LIGHT AND THE IDLE WILLL KICK UP TO OVER 2000 RPM. WHEN THIS HAPPEND THE ENGINE WILL TRY TO ENGAGE AND THE CARE WILL LURCH FORWARD. THE STALLING PROBELM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. DURING THE WARRAN…
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WHEN THIS CAR STALLS IT WILL FIRST NOT HOLD A STEADY IDLE. THERE ARE OTHER TIMES WHEN THIS CAR WILL BE WATING ATA A LIGHT AND THE IDLE WILLL KICK UP TO OVER 2000 RPM. WHEN THIS HAPPEND THE ENGINE WILL TRY TO ENGAGE AND THE CARE WILL LURCH FORWARD. THE STALLING PROBELM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD THIS WAS ADDRESS BY A DEALER IN DAVIS, CA. AT THE TIME THE DEALR SAID THIS WAS HAPPENING BECAUSE OF A FAULTY "PROCESSOR" IT WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR RAN OKAY FOR A FEW MONTHS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. I DID NOT CONTACT THE DEALER AGAIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED . THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED. I LEARNED TO LIVE WITH IT AND DRIVE THE CAR. OVER THE YEARS VARRIOUS MECHANICS HAD LOOKED AT THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO CORRECT THE IDLE, BUT THE PROBLEM ALWAYS RETURNED. I THOUGHT THIS PROBLEMS WAS UNIQUE TO MY VECHICLE, BUT I AM AWARE OF A JUDGMENT AGAINST FORD IN A CALIFORNIA COURT IN WHICH VEHICLES WITH THE EFT SYSTEM HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO STALL. THIS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL ISSUSED SO THAT FORD CA REPAIR THESE VEHICLES REGARDLSS OF AGE.*AK
IGNITION MODULE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL.ALSO REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND HEATER HOSE.
IGNITION SWITCH OVERHEATED, SMELL OF SMOKE IN INTERIOR, COULD CAUSE FIRE. *AK
AFTER SHUTTING OFF, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FORT MYERS CITY FIRE DEPT., ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSE OF FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
INTERIOR COMPARTMENT FIRE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, FIRE ORIGINATED INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DSH
VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT HWY SPEEDS, COMPUTER MODULES HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK
OVERHEAD INTERIOR LIGHT SHORTS OUT.
Official recalls
392V063000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Apr 29, 1992
THE PLASTIC SLEEVE IN THE FRONT SAFETY BELT TONGUE ASSEMBLY WHICH RETAINS THE LOCK BAR CAN DETERIORATE FROM PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT AND BECOME DISPLACED, CAUSING THE TONGUE TO DETACH FROM THE SAFETY BELT WEBBING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE TONGUE DETACHES FROM THE SAFETY BELT WEBBING, THESAFETY BELT WOULD NOT ATTACH TO ITSELF, RESULTING IN INCREASED RISK OF INJURYTO THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: FORD WILL REPAIR THE SAFETY BELTS EXPERIENCING THIS CONDITION REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE AGE OR CONDITION.
84V119000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:carburetor System
Oct 2, 1984
THE SECONDARY THROTTLE SHAFT MAY, WITH ACCUMULATED MILEAGE, BECOME CONTAMINATED AND MAY STICK IN A PARTIALLY OPEN POSITION WHILE DRIVING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THIS STICKING COULD RESULT IN A FASTER SPEED THAN INTENDED, POSSIBLY RESUTLING IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: THE PRIMARY TO SECONDARY THROTTLE CLOSURE LINK ON THE CARBURETOR WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE.
83V134000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Dec 20, 1983
THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE D-SHAPED RING FOR THE SHOULDER BELT ARE INADEQUATELY SUPPORTED BY THE MATERIAL IN WHICH THEY ARE MOUNTED. THE ATTACHMENT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES".
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW ATTACHING HARDWARE TO IMPROVE THE STRENGTH OF THE MOUNTING.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
4EA91003 · Safety Belt Tongue Breaks
Opened Oct 29, 1990 · Closed Apr 30, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
PE88096 · Seat Belt Latch Assembly
Opened Aug 23, 1988 · Closed Jan 3, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available
PE87028 · Stalling
Opened May 1, 1987 · Closed Jan 21, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN DETECTED.===
EA86010 · Seatback Failure
Opened Mar 26, 1986 · Closed Jul 28, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:FORD BELIEVES THAT THE AL-LEGED DEFECT ONLY OCCURS IN A SMALL NUMBER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ANDRECALLED ABOUT 195,732 1984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986.ANALYSIS: VEHICLES POTENTIALLY INVOLVED INCLUDE TEMPO/TOPAZ, ESCORT/LYNX/EXP, MUSTANG/CAPRI, LTD/MARQUIS, AND THUNDERBIRD/COUGAR.FORD SOLD ABOUT 110,000 REPLACEMENT MIO BOLTS, MAINLY FOR 1983 AND 1984MODELS. LOW CLAMPING FORCE APPEARS TO BE A LARGE PART OF THE PROBLEM.FORD INCREASED THE TORQUE REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRED THE USE OF A MANUALTORQUE TOOL IN MARCH AND SEPTEMBER 1985 PRODUCTION CHANGES. 1987 MODELSWILL BE PRODUCED WITH A LONGER M10 BOLT AND A NUT TO INCREASE AND MAIN-TAIN CLAMPING FORCE. BOLTS WERE FORMERLY SELF TAPPING. REPORTS LISTEDABOVE SPECIFICALLY STATE THAT THE BOLT BROKE. NONE REFER SIMPLY TOSEAT BACK COLLAPSE ALONE.STATUS:FORD REPLY TO ODI IR DATED 2/2/87.FORD RECALLED 195,7321984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986 (86V-082). ANALYZING REPONSE,MONITORING CANADIAN PROGRESS. RESPONSE TO 4/6/87 LETTER TO FORDRECEIVED 7/15/87. WILL PROBABLY CLOSE AFTER CANADA COMPLETES THEIRACTIONS.===