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: 16 of 77 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 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports22 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
77 reports
49,500 miles · Mar 4, 2020
Electrical SystemFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC NOTIFIED HIM THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HAD REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL INJECTOR, AIR FLOW, AND RO…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC NOTIFIED HIM THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HAD REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL INJECTOR, AIR FLOW, AND ROLLER ROCKERS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE MECHANIC USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, THE POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE NOT CALLED. THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,500.
NHTSA ODI #11316048
79,064 miles · Jun 24, 2015
Air BagsElectrical System
THE AIRBAGS COULD DEPLOY AT AN INAPPROPRIATE TIME OR NOT AT ALL DUE TO THIS PROBLEM THE AIR BAG BLINKS ALL THE TIME AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NO ANSWERS SO I AM RED FLAGGING THIS PROBLEM THANK YOU
NHTSA ODI #10730249
138,710 miles · Jul 14, 2014
Seat Belts
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT AUTOMATICALLY CAUSING CONCERN BELT WOULD FAIL TO WORK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10610436
65,000 miles · Apr 16, 2013
Electrical SystemFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND THEN FIRE FROM THE DASH BOARD. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND PERSONALLY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THE FIRE WAS STARTED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE CONTACT TOOK…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND THEN FIRE FROM THE DASH BOARD. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND PERSONALLY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THE FIRE WAS STARTED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE ECM. THE CONTACT CALLED MANUFACTURER AFTER NOTICING A NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER 96V071000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE PARTS FOR THE REMEDY WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL SIX MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
NHTSA ODI #10508424
160,905 miles · Oct 28, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
1991 MUSTANG LX 5.0 SUDDEN ACCELERATION ACCIDENT. 1991 MUSTANG LX 5.0 MAKING LEFT TURN FROM STOP SIGN IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN ENGINE ON ITS OWN WENT FULL THROTTLE CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND LEAVE ROADWAY WHERE IT CONTINUED UNDER FULL THROTTLE THROUGH TREE BRANCHES AND BUSHES, A 6 FOOT WROUGHT IRON STYLE FENCE…
Read full complaint
1991 MUSTANG LX 5.0 SUDDEN ACCELERATION ACCIDENT. 1991 MUSTANG LX 5.0 MAKING LEFT TURN FROM STOP SIGN IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN ENGINE ON ITS OWN WENT FULL THROTTLE CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND LEAVE ROADWAY WHERE IT CONTINUED UNDER FULL THROTTLE THROUGH TREE BRANCHES AND BUSHES, A 6 FOOT WROUGHT IRON STYLE FENCE OVER A RETAINING WALL AT WHICH POINT IT BRIEFLY BECAME AIRBORNE LANDING ON A POOL DECK THEN CONTINUING AT FULL THROTTLE ONTO THE SUBDIVISION SWIMMING POOL TARP UNTIL THE FRONT END CRASHED INTO THE POOL WALL ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE POOL CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. AFTER IMPACT WITH THE POOL WALL, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WHICH WAS STILL ON THE POOL DECK CONTINUED SPINNING LEAVING MELTED RUBBER ON THE POOL DECK. THE MUSTANG ENDED UP PARTIALLY SUBMERGED. THANK GOD THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES. 7 YEARS PREVIOUSLY THE SAME 1991 MUSTANG ON ITS OWN, WENT FULL THROTTLE, BUT ON A STRAIGHT 4 LANE ROAD. AT THAT TIME, THE DRIVER TRIED TO STOP THE MUSTANG BY BRAKING TO NO AVAIL. THE MUSTANG TRAVELED OVER 2 MILES WITH THE DRIVER APPLYING THE BRAKES UNTIL THE DRIVER RAN OUT OF ROAD AND DROVE THE CAR UPHILL BETWEEN TWO HOUSES AT WHICH TIME THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN THE CAR WAS RESTARTED IN PARK AFTER THE EVENT, THE ENGINE AGAIN WENT TO FULL THROTTLE IN PARK WITH THE TACHOMETER GOING TO THE 6,000 RPM RANGE. AT THAT TIME, THE CAR WAS TRUCKED TO A FORD DEALER WHICH ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND REPAIRED THE LINKAGE. THE FORD DEALER ASSURED US THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10362772
124,000 miles · Sep 24, 2008
Parking Brake
I HAD PARKED MY CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY, I PUT MY PARKING BRAKE ON BECAUSE MY DRIVEWAY IS ON A SLOPE. I WENT TO USE THE CAR AGAIN I REMOVED THE PARKING BRAKE AND THAT'S WHEN MY BRAKES LOCKED UP. SINCE THEN I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR IN THE GARAGE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10243310
126,000 miles · Jun 16, 2008
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFire
HAD SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER DASH. LOST RADIO, AND TAIL LIGHTS WIRES FROM LIGHT SWITCH TO TAIL LIGHT MELTED. NOT SURE IF FROM FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. WOULD LIKE MORE INFO. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10231239
170,000 miles · Jun 12, 2008
Air Bags
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNATTENDED, THE AIR BAG IN STEERING WHEEL ACTIVATED. THIS IS THE FIRST OCCURANCE. NO INJURIES,. REPLACEMENT HAS NOT OCCURED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10230858
80,000 miles · Mar 21, 2006
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT THREE TIMES IN THIS CAR. THE FIRST TIME IT HAD 20000 MILES ON IT AND UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALER SENT IT TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO REBUILT IT. ONE YEAR LATER IT WENT OUT AGAIN. THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER FORD WOULD NOT COVER. I GOT STUCK REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF POCKET. NOW THE TRA…
Read full complaint
THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT THREE TIMES IN THIS CAR. THE FIRST TIME IT HAD 20000 MILES ON IT AND UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALER SENT IT TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO REBUILT IT. ONE YEAR LATER IT WENT OUT AGAIN. THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER FORD WOULD NOT COVER. I GOT STUCK REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF POCKET. NOW THE TRANSMISSION WENT AGAIN. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10153329
115,000 miles · Jan 4, 2006
Electrical System
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN 96V071000 CONCERNING THE IGNITION. HOWEVER THE RECALL REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. *AK
THE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY CONTAINS A PARK CAM WITH INADEQUATE SURFACE HARDNESS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO PARK DISENGAGEMENT OR NO PARK ENGAGEMENT WHEN THE LEVER IS PLACED IN PARK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF PARK IS NOT ENGAGED AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS OFF, AVEHICLE ROLL-AWAY COULD RESULT.
Remedy: REPLACE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.
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
2
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
1991 Ford Mustang Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year