← New search

1994 Ford Mustang

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Mustang years

Owner complaints for the 1994 Ford Mustang are substantially higher than the model-year median of 81.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 35 of 356 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 160 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports19 fire reports16 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

160 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. VEHICLE WAS SMOKING. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8006251

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

FORD HAD A DEFECT PROGRAM BUT ONLY FOR 7YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. WILL NOT DO A THING SINCE IT IS AFTER 7 YEARS. US CAS TOLD FOR TO COVER FOR 120000 WHICH IS USEFUL LIFE. THIS IS A DEFECT ON THE VEHICLE AND WE BARE THE BRUNT BECAUSE WE PUT ON LOW MILEAGE. THIS DEFECT IS A FUNCTION OF MILEAGE NOT AGE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. …

Read full complaint

FORD HAD A DEFECT PROGRAM BUT ONLY FOR 7YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. WILL NOT DO A THING SINCE IT IS AFTER 7 YEARS. US CAS TOLD FOR TO COVER FOR 120000 WHICH IS USEFUL LIFE. THIS IS A DEFECT ON THE VEHICLE AND WE BARE THE BRUNT BECAUSE WE PUT ON LOW MILEAGE. THIS DEFECT IS A FUNCTION OF MILEAGE NOT AGE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #759592

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

TOOK TO WADE FORD SAID MOTOR SHOT. TOWED TO JERRY'S AUTOMOTIVE AND HE REPAIRED IT. DID NOT KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL TILL I TOOK BACK TO KLABEN THIS MONTH.*AK

NHTSA ODI #759554

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE DRIVING ELECTRIC FAN SHORTED OUT, CAUSING A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8005026

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

WITHOUT WARNING THERE WAS A LEAK OF ANTIFREEZE COOLANT, AND IT WOULD IDLE BETWEEN GEARS. ALSO, ENGINE WOULD STALL. MECHANIC STATED BECAUSE OF MILEAGE WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER SERVICES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8004799

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE HEAD GASKET ON MY CAR HAS FAILED TWICE AND RUINED THE ENGINE ONCE. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE MONEY I HAVE PAID FOR REPAIRS. MY CAR DOES NOT FALL UNDER THEIR WARRANTY DATES. THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN. FORN NEEDS TO REPLACE THE HEADS OR ENGINES ON ALL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH …

Read full complaint

THE HEAD GASKET ON MY CAR HAS FAILED TWICE AND RUINED THE ENGINE ONCE. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE MONEY I HAVE PAID FOR REPAIRS. MY CAR DOES NOT FALL UNDER THEIR WARRANTY DATES. THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN. FORN NEEDS TO REPLACE THE HEADS OR ENGINES ON ALL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THIS TYPE OF ENGINE. THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE DIDDIMILAR METAL USED IN THE ENGINE AND THE HEAD. THEY HEAT AND COOL AT DIFFERENT RATES, THEREBY STRESSING THE GASKET. WHEN THE GASKET GOES THE ENGINE OIL IS DILUTED BY COOLANT, THEREBY RUINING THE ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #758767

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

BLOWN HEAD GASKET, POSSIBLY CRACKED HEAD. NO WARNING LIGHTS INDICATED A PROBLEM. TEMPERATURTE GAUGE NEVER MOVED. PROBLEM STARTED OUT OF THE BLUE. NOW 2 DEALERS CAN'T DECIDE IF ITS A FORD PROBLEM OR NOT AND WHO SHOULD PAY. FORD KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN 2000, WHY DIDN'T THEY JUST FIX IT WITH A RECALL THEN. INSTEAD THEY DECIDED…

Read full complaint

BLOWN HEAD GASKET, POSSIBLY CRACKED HEAD. NO WARNING LIGHTS INDICATED A PROBLEM. TEMPERATURTE GAUGE NEVER MOVED. PROBLEM STARTED OUT OF THE BLUE. NOW 2 DEALERS CAN'T DECIDE IF ITS A FORD PROBLEM OR NOT AND WHO SHOULD PAY. FORD KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN 2000, WHY DIDN'T THEY JUST FIX IT WITH A RECALL THEN. INSTEAD THEY DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL PEOPLES ENGINES BLOW AND SAY YOU FOOT THE BILL. I WOULD LOVE IN ON A LAWSUIT IF THERE'S ONE OUT THERE. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!*AK

NHTSA ODI #758761

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

AFTER I PAID OVER $1200 TO FIX A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET, I CALLED THE FORD COMPANY VIA 1-800-392-3673 TO INQUIRE IF THERE WAS EVER A RECALL FOR THAT PROBLEM. A REPRESENTATIVE SAID THIS TYPE RECALL HAD BEEN IN AFFECT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. SHHHHHH! I GAVE THE REP MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER AND WAS TOLD I HAD BEEN NOTIFIED THROUGH …

Read full complaint

AFTER I PAID OVER $1200 TO FIX A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET, I CALLED THE FORD COMPANY VIA 1-800-392-3673 TO INQUIRE IF THERE WAS EVER A RECALL FOR THAT PROBLEM. A REPRESENTATIVE SAID THIS TYPE RECALL HAD BEEN IN AFFECT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. SHHHHHH! I GAVE THE REP MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER AND WAS TOLD I HAD BEEN NOTIFIED THROUGH THE MAIL. THE ADDRESS THAT PERTAINED TO ME WAS DIFFERENT THEN MY OWN. HMMMMMMMM! HOW CAN THAT BE? I'VE BEEN LIVING AT MY ADDRESS FOR MORE THEN 18 YEARS. I BOUGHT MY MUSTANG IN 1994 VIA MY CURRENT ADDRESS. I HAVE ASKED OTHERS WHO OWN FORDS IF THEY HAD BEEN NOTIFIED AND THEY'VE ALL SAID NO. I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR SOME MINOR FIX'ES, BUT NOT FOR SOMETHING AS EXPENSIVE OR SERIOUS LIKE THE REPLACEMENT OF AND ENGINE HEAD GASKET. IF I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE MINOR STUFF, I SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE MAJOR ITEM AS WELL. THIS IS NOT FAIR NOR ETHICAL. I'VE BEEN METICULOUS IN CARING FOR MY CAR VIA MY INVESTMENT IN IT OVER THE YEARS. I'M CONCERNED NOW THAT THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS GOING TO UNFOLD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #758729

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A CRACKED HEAD GASKET. *JG

NHTSA ODI #785888

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. THIS WAS SECOND TIME THAT HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWNOUT. CAUSE UNKNOWN PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8004261

Official recalls

4

01V318000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Oct 3, 2001

EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE REPLACED AFTER APRIL 5, 2000. THE REPLACEMENT DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE INFLATOR MAY HAVE INSUFFICIENT WELDS THAT COULD PREVENT PROPER INFLATION OF THE AIR BAG.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MAY NOT PROPERLY DEPLOY WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN LESS THAN THE INTENDED LEVEL OF OCCUPANT PROTECTION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

00V349000 · Parking Brake:conventional

Oct 30, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. IF A VEHICLE IS PARKED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE NOT FULLY APPLIED AND NOT IN FIRST GEAR, AS DIRECTED IN THE OWNER GUIDE, AND THE SELF ADJUSTMENT PAWL SUBSEQUENTLY SKIPS ONE OR TWO TEETH, THE VEHICLE COULD MOVE ON SOME GRADES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL AND INSTALL A PLATE OR OVER-BRACKET TO THE CONTROL TO LOCK THE SELF ADJUST MECHANISM IN POSITION FOLLOWING ADJUSTMENT.

97V180000 · Structure:body:hood

Oct 20, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS. TEARING OF THE BOND BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER HOOD PANELS DURING MINOR FRONT END COLLISIONS CAN RESULT IN A GAP AT THE LEADING EDGE OF THE HOOD. AIR FORCED BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER PANELS CAN PRODUCE ENOUGH PRESSURE TO FORCE THE OUTER PANEL UPWARD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN TOTAL SEPARATION OF THE OUTER HOOD PANEL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HOOD AREA FOR ANY DAMAGE ALONG THE LEADING EDGE OF THE HOOD. IF THERE IS ANY EVIDENCE OF BOND SEPARATION, THE HOOD WILL BE REPLACED. IF THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF BOND SEPARATION, ADDITIONAL ADHESIVE WILL BE APPLIED BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER HOOD PANELS.

95V062000 · Seats

Mar 27, 1995

THE WIRE HARNESS ON THESE SEATS IS BANDED TO THE FRONT SEAT CUSHION SUPPORTS. THE END OF ONE OF THE SUPPORTS CAN PUNCTURE THE HARNESS, RESULTING IN A HIGH RESISTANCE ELECTRICAL SHORT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: OVERHEATING CAN RESULT, AND MELTING, SMOKE AND POSSIBLE IGNITION OF THE SURROUNDING MATERIALS CAN OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE TIE STRAP FROM EACH OF THE FRONT SEATS.

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

4

EA98013 · Parking Brake

Opened May 27, 1998 · Closed Oct 31, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

PE97051 · Parking Brake Failure

Opened Dec 23, 1997 · Closed May 27, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE NUMBER OF CRASHES REPORTED TOT HE MANUFACTURER WARRANTS FURTHER THIS INVESTIGATION

EA97018 · Outer Hood Panel Detachment

Opened Sep 30, 1997 · Closed Oct 22, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

PE97011 · Outer Hood Panel Detachment

Opened Mar 13, 1997 · Closed Sep 30, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION HAS RECEIVED 6 REPORTS INDICATING THE OUTER HOOD PANEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLES AS THEY WERE BEING DRIVEN.FORD HAS PROVIDE 39 ADDITIONAL REPORTS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH ODI REPORTS.FORD INDICATES THAT THE LIKELY CAUSE IS PRIOR COLLISION DAMAGE.THIS INVESTIGATION IS BEING UPGRADED TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.