IllustrationVEHICLES CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED DUE TO A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE AREA OF THE UNDERHOOD. *AK
1989 Ford Mustang
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1989 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: 4 of 109 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 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. 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.
3 crash reports31 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
109 reportsIGNITION SWITCH FIRE.
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
DUE TO A SHORT CIRCUIT HEADLAMP WIRING THERE IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO FLASH ON A OFF. THERE IS A TSB PUT OUT FOR THAT PROBLEM TSB NUMBER 8917-11. *AK
VEHICLE FAULTY IGNITION FAILED AFTER RECALL REPAIR CAUSING IT TO CATCH ON FIRE.
PARKED CAR AND A FIRE BROKE OUT, FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD . *AK
DOOR LATCH/STRIKER FAILED. (PENNSYLVANIA POLICE REPORT)
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE.
LAP/SHOULDER BELTS ON DRIVER'S/ PASSENGER'S SIDES AND REAR ARE BROKEN, WILL NOT RETRACT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE INCREASES IN SPEED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *AK CONSUMER STATES ENGINE STARTED TO INTERMITTENLY INCREASE IN SPEED THERE SEEMED TO BE NO COMMON DENOMINATOR ENGINE WOULD HOT OR COLD DRY OR WET WEATHER, HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND IS ALWAYS A SURPRIS, WHEN THE ENGINE RPM INCREASE IT LEVELS OUT ANYWHERE FROM 1,500 TO …
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE INCREASES IN SPEED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *AK CONSUMER STATES ENGINE STARTED TO INTERMITTENLY INCREASE IN SPEED THERE SEEMED TO BE NO COMMON DENOMINATOR ENGINE WOULD HOT OR COLD DRY OR WET WEATHER, HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND IS ALWAYS A SURPRIS, WHEN THE ENGINE RPM INCREASE IT LEVELS OUT ANYWHERE FROM 1,500 TO 3,00 RPM, IN ORDER TO STOP THE PROBLEM THE ENGINE MUST BE TURNED OFF AN RESTARTED, THIS USUALLY CORRECTS THE PROBLEM BUT NOT ALWAYS SOMETIMES SEVERAL RESTARTS, CONSUMR STATES HE TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS CHARGED $200 AND PROBLEM STILL REMAINS.JB
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
4PE94010 · 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
PE90052 · Fr Seat Floor Mount Fails
Opened Mar 7, 1990 · Closed Jun 20, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
There is no summary currently available
PE89133 · Underdash Fires
Opened Jun 29, 1989 · Closed Nov 28, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available