IllustrationA PENNY WAS DROPPED INTO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE WIRING WAS BURNED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *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 reportsEACH 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.
WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHICH ALMOST CAUSED INJURIES. CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES AFTER PARKING FIRE STARTED UNDER HOOD. DURING EXTINGUISH NOTICED SPARKING AT ALTERNATOR WIRE HOOKUPS.
WHILE DRIVING THE FACTORY INSTALLED SUN ROOF SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BRACKET RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NO SUMMARY
COOLING FAN/ROOF CRACKED AT UPPER LEFT CORNER OF HATCH AREA/SEAT BELT RETRACTORS MALFUNCTIONED/ DRIVER'S SEAT FEELS WOBBLY.
LEFT FRONT SEAT BELT FAILED 3 TIMES.
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL FOR IGNITION SWITCH, STATES THAT DEALER WILL REPLACE SWITCH WITH NEW ONE. DEALER DID NOT, THEREFORE 10 MONTHS LATER VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THIS.*AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD.OWNER PULLED OVER AND FIRE STARTED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BURN UP COMPLETELY. *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