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
What owners actually said
85 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
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AND HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WITH NO PRIOR WARNING, AND WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. HEADLIGHT SWITCH CONTINUED TO MELT, WHICH SORT OUT WIRING. DASH GOT EXTREMELY HOT. ALSO, MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH CAUSED HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAITING FOR REPLY. *AK
FAILED WITH NO WARNING IN HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC + LOSS OF PWR STRNG + BRKS.
ANCHOR MOUNT FAILED FOR DRIVER SEAT. SEAT WAS REPAIRED BY DEALERSHIP, BUT THE ANCHOR MOUNT ITSELF WAS ATTACHED TO A PIECE OF METAL ABOUT AS THICK AS A QUARTER.*AK
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
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.
THE HOOD BROKE WINDSHIELD, GLASS SUN ROOF,COWL AND ROOF GENERIC HOOD TKY97 12A THE HOOD WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM ASTRO SALES,THREE WEEKS AFTER THE GENERIC WAS INSTALLED IT FAILED AND FLEW UP. *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
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