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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
85Owner complaints

Model-year median: 81

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1990 Ford Mustang

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 85 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 3 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Electrical System: 35 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 10 reports
  • Air Bags: 9 reports
  • Vehicle Speed Control: 8 reports
  • Fuel System, Gasoline: 5 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
38
1987108
1988109
198985
199077
199169
1992101
1993
Compare all Mustang years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
35Engine And Engine Cooling
10Air Bags
9Vehicle Speed Control
8Fuel System, Gasoline
5
All reported categories
Power Train
5Exterior Lighting
4Seats
4Structure
4Seat Belts
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Steering
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Visibility
2Wheels
2Equipment
1Parking Brake
1Suspension
1Tires
1Unknown Or Other
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: 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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

A BAFFEL INTERNAL TO THE FUEL TANK HAS BROKEN OFF CAUSING A LOUD "CLUNKING" WHEN THE CAR HITS BUMPS. THE FAILURE IS COMMON IN THIS MODEL OF MUSTANGS. I SPOKE WITH A MECHANIC ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HE SAID THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN HIS 1988 MUSTANG. THE DANGER IS THAT A LOOSE METAL OBJECT IN THE FUEL TANK COULD CAUSE A SPARK WHIC…

Read full complaint

A BAFFEL INTERNAL TO THE FUEL TANK HAS BROKEN OFF CAUSING A LOUD "CLUNKING" WHEN THE CAR HITS BUMPS. THE FAILURE IS COMMON IN THIS MODEL OF MUSTANGS. I SPOKE WITH A MECHANIC ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HE SAID THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN HIS 1988 MUSTANG. THE DANGER IS THAT A LOOSE METAL OBJECT IN THE FUEL TANK COULD CAUSE A SPARK WHICH COULD EXPLODE THE TANK.

NHTSA ODI #730567

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE FUEL PUMP HAD A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT BURNED THE WIRE HARNESS/ LINKAGES THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND THE FUEL GAUGE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #846303

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 1997
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineFire

ALTERNATOR FAILED FIVE TIMES, ONCE RESULTING IN A FIRE. IN ADDITION, UNDER DASH ELECTRICAL WIRES SHORTED OUT, RESULTING IN A FIRE. ALSO REPLACED FUEL PUMP/ 2 COOLING FANS AND THROTTLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #518809

Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED WHE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OVER A RAILROAD CROSSING.

NHTSA ODI #546752

Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 1995
Fuel System, GasolineFire

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, UNKNOWN CAUSE OF FIRE. TT

NHTSA ODI #969846

Recall campaigns

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 ↗

Defect investigations

3

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

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

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.