IllustrationSUDDEN ACCELERATION, UPON APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND TURN VEHICLE OFF. NO DAMEGES OR INJURY REPORTED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRS WERE BEING MADE.*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
What owners actually said
109 reportsHOLE IN THE GAS TANK CAUSED FUSE INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND FUEL TO SPILL OUT OF THE TOP RESULTING IN A RUSTED MUFFLER AND BRACKETS, CONSUMER ALSO NOTICE STRONG GAS ODOR INSIDE VEHICLE. NLM
CAR WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT ON 1/31/96. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. THE FIRE COMPLETELY CONSUMED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND INTERIOR DASHBOARD AREA. THE PALM BEACH GARDENS FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, HOWEVER THE CAR…
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CAR WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT ON 1/31/96. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. THE FIRE COMPLETELY CONSUMED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND INTERIOR DASHBOARD AREA. THE PALM BEACH GARDENS FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, HOWEVER THE CAR WAS TOTALED DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INCIDENT REPORT INDICATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY IGNITION RELAY. THE CAR WAS REMOVED BY A TOWING SERVICE AND DELIVERED TO A JUNK YARD. A TOTAL OF $100 WAS PROVIDED FOR THE CAR FOR USED PARTS. THERE WAS NO INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THIS INCIDENT. ON SEPT. 1996, WE RECEIVED A SAFETY RECAL NOTICE FROM THE FORD MOTOR CO. STATING THAT 1988-93 MODEL MUSTANGS COULD EXPERIENCE A SHORT CIRCUT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH LEADING TO OVERHEATING AND POSSIBLY FIRE. WE HAVE ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO CONTACT FORD MOTOR CO. BUT HAVE RECEIVED NO SUPPORTING RESPONCE. ALSO, THE DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT INDICATED THAT OUR APPLICATION DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE BOARD. WE HAVE A COPY OF THE FIRE REPORT AND PHOTOS OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE ADVISE.
WHILE MY WIFE WAS GETTING INTO THE CAR THE LEFT FRONT STUD BROKE OUT OF THE SEATBACK FRAME. FROM THE SUDDEN MOVE TO THE REAR SHE PULL HERE BACK. THE PART THAT BROKE DID NOT HAVE ANY RUST. ALSO THE STUD WAS NOT SQUARED TO THE NUT. I HAVE NOT CHECK THE OTHER STUD YET. ALSO I NEED TO CHECK THE OTHER SEAT. I MAY SEEK LEGAL ACTION .…
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WHILE MY WIFE WAS GETTING INTO THE CAR THE LEFT FRONT STUD BROKE OUT OF THE SEATBACK FRAME. FROM THE SUDDEN MOVE TO THE REAR SHE PULL HERE BACK. THE PART THAT BROKE DID NOT HAVE ANY RUST. ALSO THE STUD WAS NOT SQUARED TO THE NUT. I HAVE NOT CHECK THE OTHER STUD YET. ALSO I NEED TO CHECK THE OTHER SEAT. I MAY SEEK LEGAL ACTION . JUST HOW MANY TIME HAS THIS SEAT FAILED IN A DRIVING ACCIDENT. FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO CHECK ALL MOUNTS. THIS WILL BE MY SECOND ROUND WITH FORD. I AM 1 TO 0 FOR THEM. THANK YOU. *AK
VEHICLE RECEIVED RECALL REPAIR WORK ON THE IGNITION SYSTEM (96V-071) ON APRIL 21, 1999 ON APRIL 26, 1999 VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURE. MJS
HAS CAR BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS, AND ALSO HOW MANY PREVIOUS OWNERS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED, INFORMATION REQUEST ONLY. *AK
THE PLASTIC DESIGN OF THE HEADLIGHTS GETS FADED AND OPAQUE, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO BE DIMMER, AND MAY RESULT IN VISUAL DIFFICULTIES AND IN A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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.
SEATBELT NOT RETRACTING TO PROPER POSITION. *AK
SEATBELTS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY, AND CAN TANGLE. FRONT SEAT DRIVERS SIDE ANCHOR BROKE, METAL SUPPORTING SEAT RAIL WAS SPLIT. REPAIRED VIA BRAZING. SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE CLICKED FROM DELIVERY, DEALER SAID WAS NORMAL, AT MILEAGE THE NEEDLE EXITED THE ASSEMBLY AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF WILDLY ERATIC MOVEMENT. *AK
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