IllustrationEACH WINTER I REPLACE 1 OR BOTH OF THE EXT. HANDLES. THE INT. HANDLES BECOME HARD TO OPERATE AND EVENTUALLY REQUIRE SERVICE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY FORD PERSONNEL THAT THEY HAVE TO "POUND THE HINGES BACK IN" TO FIX THE LATER PROBLEM.
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
Structure complaints
8 reportsCOOLING FAN/ROOF CRACKED AT UPPER LEFT CORNER OF HATCH AREA/SEAT BELT RETRACTORS MALFUNCTIONED/ DRIVER'S SEAT FEELS WOBBLY.
PAINT OS PEELING OFF THE VEHICLE. *AK
CRYSTAL BLUE PAINT PEELED OFF MAINLY IN SEVERAL LARGE SECTIONS OF THE ROOF/HOOD. *AK
2 DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLES PAINT PEELING DUE TO ENGINEERING FLAW. *AK
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FRAME FRAME IS UNSTABLE AND COULD SEPARATE AT ANY TIME (DEALER OWNED). *AK
THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE ON PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE BROKE AFTER COLD WEATHER . TT
BODY WELDS FAILED DURING ACCIDENT, CAUSING VEHICLE'S BODY TO BREAK APART, ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT. *AW
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