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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

9 reports
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110,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

THE MAJOR PROBLEM WAS THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE (AFTER 100,000 MILES) WITH THE ENGINE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT ANY TIME REGARDING THIS RECALL. FORD DENIES THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS A RECALL AND THAT IT WAS MY FAULT THAT THE ENGINE WENT SINCE I DO NOT DO ALL MY REPAIRS AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND IF I HAD, I WOULD'V…

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THE MAJOR PROBLEM WAS THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE (AFTER 100,000 MILES) WITH THE ENGINE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT ANY TIME REGARDING THIS RECALL. FORD DENIES THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS A RECALL AND THAT IT WAS MY FAULT THAT THE ENGINE WENT SINCE I DO NOT DO ALL MY REPAIRS AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND IF I HAD, I WOULD'VE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY MAIL OR BY PHONE OF THIS PROBLEM, FORD TOLD ME THAT SINCE THE CAR WENT OVER 100,000 MILES AND WAS THREE MONTHE PAST THE DEADLINE DATE THAT I WAS OUT OF LUCK AND THAT THERE WOULD BE NO EXTENSIONS OR EXCEPTIONS. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT I HAVE IS THAT I DID NOT EXPERIENCE A HEAD GASKET FAILURE DURING THEIR SO CALLED WARRANTY EXTENSION PERIOD AND THAT MY 1994 FORD MUSTANG ONLY FAILED SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY EXTENSION EXPIRED. A DEFECTIVE PART IS A DEFECTIVE PART FROM THE DAY OF MANUFACTURE TO THE DAY THE CAR IS JUNKED UNLESS THE PART IS REPAIRED OR REPLACED. SO MUCH TIME AND MONEY WAS PUT OUT BY ME BECAUSE OF FORD'S LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE. I DESERVED TO HAVE BEEN REIMBURSED BY THE FORD MOTOR CORPORATION BUT IN TURN I RECEIVED NOTHING. I COULD GO ON BUT THIS IS VERY UPSETTING TO ME. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

NHTSA ODI #10070954

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

WHILE TRAVELING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON ,AND VEHICLE COMMENCED TO RUN ROUGH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF A BLOWNOUT HEAD GASKET. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #895245

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

HEAD GASKET WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING. ENGINE QUIT THEN WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. A LITTLE TOO LATE! *AK

NHTSA ODI #747214

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2000
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

CAN FORD DO ANYTHING RIGHT CAR HAS BROKEN DOWN MORE THAN I CAN REMEMBER! *AK

NHTSA ODI #726037

Mileage unknown · May 16, 2000
Unknown Or Other

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #722765

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

I HAVE HEARD ABOUT BLOWN HEAD GASKETS IN FORD WINDSTARS AND SOME INFORMATION ABOUT MUSTANGS, I JUST WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT TO GET MUSTANGS INVOLVED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ALSO. I RECENTLY TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAD COME ON AND I WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO FLUSH OUT …

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I HAVE HEARD ABOUT BLOWN HEAD GASKETS IN FORD WINDSTARS AND SOME INFORMATION ABOUT MUSTANGS, I JUST WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT TO GET MUSTANGS INVOLVED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ALSO. I RECENTLY TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAD COME ON AND I WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO FLUSH OUT MY RADIATOR. AFTER THAT, I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE MY WATER PUMP. AFTER THEY HAD REPLACED THAT I ASKED TO SEE IT AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE IT ANYMORE. I WAS THEN CALLED LATER AND TOLD THAT MY HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN AND THAT WOULD COST ME AN ADDITIONAL $1500 ON TOP OF THE OTHER $800 THAT I WAS BEING CHARGED FOR. I BEGAN TO DO RESEARCH ON THIS AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I AM. MY CAR IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND ONLY HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT. I'M COMPLAINING IN HOPES THAT FORD WILL RECOGNIZE THIS AS A PROBLEM AND REIMBURSE ME FOR FIXING THEIR PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #719684

Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 1998
Unknown Or Other

REQUEST CRASH TEST INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI #538249

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 1998
Interior LightingUnknown Or OtherVisibility

WINDSHIELD WASHER MOTOR FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #532566

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 1995
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

OTHER: AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON.

NHTSA ODI #500088

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.