IllustrationA FIRE STARTED IN THE IGNITION AREA. FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AND DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE VEHICLE. *AK
1990 Ford Mustang
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1990 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: 3 of 85 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 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. 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.
10 crash reports29 fire reports7 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
35 reportsVEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, ENGINE SHUT OFF 30 MINUTES AFTER PARKING VEHICLE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE, WENT OUTSIDE, AND SAW VEHICLE HAD ROLLED FORWARD, HIT GARAGE AND WAS BURNING. VEHICLE AND HOUSE BURNT, AND BOTH WERE TOTALLED. INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR STATED ALTERNATOR STARTED FIRE. NO INJURIES. *AK *SLC
FAILED WITH NO WARNING IN HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC + LOSS OF PWR STRNG + BRKS.
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH ON A FREEWAY EXIT, AS SHE WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR THE EXIT, VEHICLE SHUTDOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. LOST CONTROL AND IT WENT STRAIGHT INTO A TREE. FRONTAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE SITUATION. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK
RECALL 96V071000; CONSUMER PUT KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TURNED IT HALFWAY, AND VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. CONSUMER UNHOOKED THE BATTERY CABLE AND IT CONTINUED TO SMOKE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS USED & RECALL NOTICE WAS ISSUED 2 YEARS AGO ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER . SERVICED AT FOSTER FORD IN KANSAS. *AK
ELECTRICLA FAILURE CAUSED THE ALTERNATOR TO CATCH FIRE WHICH RESULTED IN FUMES. *YC
EVEN IF THE KEY IS TAKEN OUT THE STARTER KEEPS CRANKING THE CAR. IT KEEPS CANKING TILL THE STARTER DIES. REPLACED STARTER 5 TIMES AND THE SOLENOID COILS TWICE AND THE IGNITION SWITCH. HAVE SPENT MORE THAN $500/= ON THE PROBLEM BUT IT STILL PERSISTS.
WHILE PARKED VEHICLE EXPLODED AND A FIRE BROKE OUT UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
HAD ORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED ON 03/05/97 AS PER RECALL. REPLACEMENT IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. CAUSED TWO WIRES TO SHORT OUT WHICH CAUSED A FIRE. IGNITION SWITCH AND ASSOCIATED WIRE HARNESS WERE REPLACED BY FORD DEALER. INITIALLY, FORD INSISTED I PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK
ALTERNATOR FAILED 4 TIMES.
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
3PE94010 · 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
PE91089 · Throttle Sticks, High Idle
Opened Jun 19, 1991 · Closed Nov 26, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available