IllustrationALTERNATOR FAILED FIVE TIMES, ONCE RESULTING IN A FIRE. IN ADDITION, UNDER DASH ELECTRICAL WIRES SHORTED OUT, RESULTING IN A FIRE. ALSO REPLACED FUEL PUMP/ 2 COOLING FANS AND THROTTLE. *AK
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
Electrical System complaints
35 reportsRECALL WAS DONE ON VEHICLE 3MONTHS AGO ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER SAID THAT FIRE STARTED BECAUSE OF THE IGNITION . OWNER THINKS THAT THE RECALL WAS NEVER DONE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE ALTERNATOR/CONNECTOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WILL BE SEEN BY DEALER. *AK
CAR WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, RECEIVED RECALL LETTER ON THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION # 96V071000 . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND A FIRE STARTED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS PARKED HAD JUST BEEN DRIVEN A FEW HOURS PRIOR AND A NEIGHBOR NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THE ENTIRE DASH WAS MELTED AND THE EXTERIOR.*JB
ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED VEHICLE. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE. *SD
CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. FIRE STARTED IN THE IGNITION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
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