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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.

About this comparison →
85Owner complaints

Model-year median: 81

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

View investigation details →

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 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

Seat Belts complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 1998
Seat Belts

SAFETY SEAT BELT BUCKLE WHEN LOCKED SOMETIMES MAKES A CLICKING NOISE. BUT WHEN CLIPPED SHUT IT DOES NOT HOLD, IT POPS BACK OPEN. CONSUMER WENT TO A JUNK YARD AND FOUND SEVERAL MODELS THAT DID THE SAME THING, AND ONLY ONE THAT FUNCTIONED WEL. DEALER OR MANUFACTURER NOT CONTACTED. THERE IS A SPRING MECHANISM IN THE FEMALE PART …

Read full complaint

SAFETY SEAT BELT BUCKLE WHEN LOCKED SOMETIMES MAKES A CLICKING NOISE. BUT WHEN CLIPPED SHUT IT DOES NOT HOLD, IT POPS BACK OPEN. CONSUMER WENT TO A JUNK YARD AND FOUND SEVERAL MODELS THAT DID THE SAME THING, AND ONLY ONE THAT FUNCTIONED WEL. DEALER OR MANUFACTURER NOT CONTACTED. THERE IS A SPRING MECHANISM IN THE FEMALE PART OF THE BELT, AND THAT COMPONENT IS DEFECTIVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #828499

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 1996
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

DRIVING, VEHICLE IN FRONT STOPPED SUDDENLY, HIT VEHICLE IN REAR, DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #981280

Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 1995
Seat Belts

PASSENGER SEATBELT BUCKLE COMES LOOSE. TT

NHTSA ODI #977026

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

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