IllustrationFAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTORS, SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT.*AK
1989 Ford Mustang
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1989 Ford Mustang do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 81.
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: 4 of 109 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 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports31 fire reports6 injury reports
Seat Belts complaints
20 reportsFAILURE OF THE REAR LAP BELT, THE BUCKLE WOULD NOT RELEASE, HAD TO CUT THE BELT TO GET CHILD OUT. *AK
SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT. *AK
FRONT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS DO NOT LOCK UPON IMPACT. *AK
THE SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT SO THAT IT MAY RESTRAIN OCCUPANT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE LAP/SHOULDER FAILED DID NOT RETRACT, IMPACT 1:00 POSITION SPEED 35 MPH. TT
BOTH FRONT DRIVER/PASSENGER SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT. BELTS HAVE EXTREME SLACK. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
THE SEAT BELT DON'T RETRACT BACK TO POSITION. TT
SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. RESULTING IN DRIVER HITTING NOSE ON STEERING WHEEL. TT
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILS TO RETRACT OR HOLD TENSION, CAUSING BELT TO BECOME TOO LOOSE. *SKD
Official recalls
196V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
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
4PE94010 · Fuel Line Routing
Opened Feb 2, 1994 · Closed Apr 19, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE91137 · Hood Latch Failures
Opened Oct 9, 1991 · Closed Feb 27, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
PE90052 · Fr Seat Floor Mount Fails
Opened Mar 7, 1990 · Closed Jun 20, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
There is no summary currently available
PE89133 · Underdash Fires
Opened Jun 29, 1989 · Closed Nov 28, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available