IllustrationHAD KNOCKING THAT EVENTUALLY GOT WORSE AND THE GASKET BLEW IN #4 CYLINDER, AND COOLANT IN TWO OTHERS. THE TWO OTHERS WERE GOING TO BLOW SOON. *AK
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 →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: 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 reportsNO SUMMARY
WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE FORD COMPANY IN DEARBORN, MICHIGAN ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, A FEW MONTHS AGO. AT THE TIME WE HAD NO PROBLEMS. BUT NOW THE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN BUT FORD WILL NOT FIX IT BECAUSE WE ARE 2000 MILES OVER THE EXTENDED WARRARANTY. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF THEY KNEW THEY HAD A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM …
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WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE FORD COMPANY IN DEARBORN, MICHIGAN ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, A FEW MONTHS AGO. AT THE TIME WE HAD NO PROBLEMS. BUT NOW THE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN BUT FORD WILL NOT FIX IT BECAUSE WE ARE 2000 MILES OVER THE EXTENDED WARRARANTY. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF THEY KNEW THEY HAD A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM THEY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THEM AND FIXED THEM. NOW WE ARE STUCK WITH GETTING THE CAR FIXED BECAUSE FORD USED SHODDY PARTS. WE STILL OWE 17 MORE MONTHS OF PAYMENTS AND I AM NOT VERY HAPPY TO SAY THE LEAST.
CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL REGARDING HEAD GASKETS, BUT DIDN'T HAVE THE WORK DONE UNTIL VEHICLE STARTED EMITTING HEAVY SMOKE A FEW MONTHS LATER, DEALER INDICATED THAT SINCE THE FORM WASN'T RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE RECALL WASN'T REIMBURSABLE. *SLC
I HAVE HAD TO PUT LOTS OF MONEY INTO THIS CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT AND IT NEVER RUNS RIGHT . NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK
I HAD TO REPLACE A LEAKING GASKET AT @ 60000 MILES. I DID CALL FORD BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. SINCE THE HEAD GASKET SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD MUSTANGS, I BELIEVE I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST--AROUND $1000--FOR REPLACEMENT.
MY ENGINE HAS BEEN RUNNING HOT SINCE 1998. I'VE HAD IT IN NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAVE BEEN TOLD DIFFERENT THINGS EACH TIME. THE HEAD GASKET FINALLY BLEW IN JULY, 2000. FORD IS REFUSING TO COVER THE REPAIR COSTS EVEN THOUGH I'VE HAD IT IN BEFORE FOR THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM. SINCE FORD HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, TH…
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MY ENGINE HAS BEEN RUNNING HOT SINCE 1998. I'VE HAD IT IN NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAVE BEEN TOLD DIFFERENT THINGS EACH TIME. THE HEAD GASKET FINALLY BLEW IN JULY, 2000. FORD IS REFUSING TO COVER THE REPAIR COSTS EVEN THOUGH I'VE HAD IT IN BEFORE FOR THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM. SINCE FORD HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THE RECALL EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS OVER 100,000 MILES. I NEED HELP.
OUR VEHICLE HAS JUST STARTED OVER HEATING WITHOUT ANY KIND OF WARNING, THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT ELECTRIC SWITCH TO MOVE SEAT FORWARD AND BACK WILL NOT MOVE THE SEAT, AND THE REAR SUSPENSION IS NIOSEY, UPON BACKING UP AND SLIGHT DIPS IN ROAD OR MORE THAT 2 PASSENGERS IN VEHICLE AT A TIME
MY CAR ACTUALLY FAILED FOR BLOWN HEAD GASKETS (A PENDING RECALL) FOR WHICH I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, WHEN THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR WE WERE TOLD THAT THE TIMING COVER GASKET ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED AND WERE TOLD THAT ALMOST ALL OF THE HEAD GASKET RECALLS ALSO SEEM TO NEED THIS TIMING COVER GASKE…
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MY CAR ACTUALLY FAILED FOR BLOWN HEAD GASKETS (A PENDING RECALL) FOR WHICH I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, WHEN THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR WE WERE TOLD THAT THE TIMING COVER GASKET ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED AND WERE TOLD THAT ALMOST ALL OF THE HEAD GASKET RECALLS ALSO SEEM TO NEED THIS TIMING COVER GASKET, IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE INITIAL RECALL. PLEASE RESEARCH, BY CHECKING ALL RECALL VIN # AND REPAIR RECORDS, TO SEE IF THIS IS NOT A DEFECT THAT IS IN FACT CAUSED BY THE RECALLED HEAD GASKET DEFECT AND THEREFORE SHOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD PAY FOR! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME AND COOPERATION.
3.0 FORD MUSTANG BLEW HEAD GASKET (MANUFACTURING DEFECT). FORD REFUSES TO BE RESPONSIBLE IF THE VEHICLE IS OVER 100,000 MILES. REPAIR COSTS EXCEED $1,000.00. *AK
Official recalls
401V318000 · 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
4EA98013 · 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.