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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 →
109Owner complaints

Model-year median: 81

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

4Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
30
198638
1987108
1988109
198985
199077
199169
1992
Compare all Mustang years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
46Seat Belts
20Vehicle Speed Control
9Seats
8Structure
8
All reported categories
Engine And Engine Cooling
6Exterior Lighting
4Fuel System, Gasoline
3Latches/locks/linkages
3Power Train
3Tires
2Unknown Or Other
2Visibility
2Engine
1Equipment
1Fuel System, Other
1Steering
1Suspension
1

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

Unknown Or Other complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · May 9, 1999
Unknown Or Other

HAS CAR BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS, AND ALSO HOW MANY PREVIOUS OWNERS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED, INFORMATION REQUEST ONLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #706352

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 1999
Unknown Or Other

YOU PEOPLE ARE IDIOTS. THE REASON YOU HAVE PROBLEMS IS BECAUSE YOUR CARS ARENT BEING TAKEN CARE OF. I'V HAD MYSTANG FOR TWO YEARS AND HAD NO MAJOR PROBLEMS. DONT BLAME THESE PROBLEMS ON FORD, BLAME THEM ON YOURSELF.

NHTSA ODI #703628

Official recalls

1

96V071000 · 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

4

PE94010 · 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