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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

What owners actually said

109 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2002
Seat Belts

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING CONSUMER HIT BRAKES AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY IN LOCKED POSITION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AKTHE DRIVERS SIDE BELT WAS REPLACED, BUT WOULD NOT WORK AFTER INSTALLATION. *JG

NHTSA ODI #8017633

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2002
Seat Belts

FRONT PASSENGER LAP SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY IN LOCKED POSITION ,AND IS CAUSING CONSUMER NOT TO HAVE A SEAT BELT ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8017479

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2002
Electrical System

CONSUMER STATES UNDER HOT WEATHER CONDITIONS THE VEHICLES IGNITION WILL SPARK AND CLICK. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED SWITCH 3 TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8013259

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2002
Electrical System

UNDER HOT CONDITIONS IGNITION SPARKS AND CLICKS. DEALER HAS REPLACED SWITCH THREE TIMES, AND PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8013249

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2002
Electrical System

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 96V071000. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND TOOK VEHICLE ON APPOINTED DATE. AFTER PICKING UP VEHICLE, NOTICED IGNITION ACTED SAME AS BEFORE GOING TO DEALER. OWNER TOOK IGNITION APART AND CONTACTED MANUFACTURER FOR PART NUMBER OF REPLACEMENT. PART WAS NEVER REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP.*AK *TT

NHTSA ODI #8004461

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2001
Latches/locks/linkages

CONSUMER STATES HOOD LATCH WILL NOT WORK IF HOOD IS NOT CLOSED ALL THE WAY.*JB

NHTSA ODI #563769

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2001
Tires

SIDEWALL DISINTINGRATED, INNER AND OUTER, WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. NOTHING WAS IN THE ROAD THAT WAS HIT OR ANYTHING. THERE WERE NO BUMPS OR DEBRIS IN THE ROAD. THE TIRE DID NOT BLOW OUT, IT JUST CAME APART.*AK (DOT NUMBER: EJ9DDMH127 TIRESIZE: 22560R15)

NHTSA ODI #742738

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2001
Seat Belts

BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SHOULDER BELTS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY OR WILL EITHER JUST HANG UP, CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #878814

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE 35MPH WHEN IT STARTED OVERHEATING. HOSE HAD BROKEN. THEN IT STALLED OUT WHILE WAITING AT STOP LIGHT. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND INFORMED BY MECHANIC NO RESOLUTION FOR PROBLEM WHICH WAS GETTING WORSE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #877568

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2000
Electrical System

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #873981

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