IllustrationAIR BAG EXPLODED INJURING THE CONSUMER. *PH THE AIR BAG EXPLODED IN THE CONSUMERS FACE AND INJURED HER BADLY. *SC *JB
1990 Ford Mustang
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1990 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: 3 of 85 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 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. 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.
10 crash reports29 fire reports7 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
9 reportsCONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AT 30 MPH WITH A WOODEN FENCE THAT RESULTED IN AIR BAG DEPLOYING, BUT NO AIR WAS IN THE BAGS. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH ON A FREEWAY EXIT, AS SHE WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR THE EXIT, VEHICLE SHUTDOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. LOST CONTROL AND IT WENT STRAIGHT INTO A TREE. FRONTAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE SITUATION. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING DIDEWAY COLLISION, RESULTING IN AN INJURY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING TURNED THE CORNER AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, WHICH AT THAT TIME ATTEMPED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, HAD TO HIT A TREE BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. *AK
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY COMES ON. *AK
UPON IMPACT, DURING FRONTAL CRASH AT APPROX. 35-40MPH, 3:00 ON FRONT BUMPER AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK
THE AIRBAG IS FAULTY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON HITTING A MEDIAN WALL. TT
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
3PE94010 · 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
PE91089 · Throttle Sticks, High Idle
Opened Jun 19, 1991 · Closed Nov 26, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available