IllustrationTHE HEADLIGHTS FAILED AND AFTER INVESTIGATING THIS HAS HAPPENED TO COUNTLESS OTHER FORD MUSTANG OWNERS WHO SAY THAT THE WIREING IN THE HEADLIGHT COLUMN IS NOT RATED FOR THAT AMPAGE..FROM THE FACTORY
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
What owners actually said
85 reportsEVEN IF THE KEY IS TAKEN OUT THE STARTER KEEPS CRANKING THE CAR. IT KEEPS CANKING TILL THE STARTER DIES. REPLACED STARTER 5 TIMES AND THE SOLENOID COILS TWICE AND THE IGNITION SWITCH. HAVE SPENT MORE THAN $500/= ON THE PROBLEM BUT IT STILL PERSISTS.
WHILE PARKED VEHICLE EXPLODED AND A FIRE BROKE OUT UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
TIE ROD END BROKE WHILE DRIVING CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENT (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS
THE FUEL PUMP HAD A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT BURNED THE WIRE HARNESS/ LINKAGES THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND THE FUEL GAUGE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
HAD ORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED ON 03/05/97 AS PER RECALL. REPLACEMENT IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. CAUSED TWO WIRES TO SHORT OUT WHICH CAUSED A FIRE. IGNITION SWITCH AND ASSOCIATED WIRE HARNESS WERE REPLACED BY FORD DEALER. INITIALLY, FORD INSISTED I PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK
SAFETY SEAT BELT BUCKLE WHEN LOCKED SOMETIMES MAKES A CLICKING NOISE. BUT WHEN CLIPPED SHUT IT DOES NOT HOLD, IT POPS BACK OPEN. CONSUMER WENT TO A JUNK YARD AND FOUND SEVERAL MODELS THAT DID THE SAME THING, AND ONLY ONE THAT FUNCTIONED WEL. DEALER OR MANUFACTURER NOT CONTACTED. THERE IS A SPRING MECHANISM IN THE FEMALE PART …
Read full complaint
SAFETY SEAT BELT BUCKLE WHEN LOCKED SOMETIMES MAKES A CLICKING NOISE. BUT WHEN CLIPPED SHUT IT DOES NOT HOLD, IT POPS BACK OPEN. CONSUMER WENT TO A JUNK YARD AND FOUND SEVERAL MODELS THAT DID THE SAME THING, AND ONLY ONE THAT FUNCTIONED WEL. DEALER OR MANUFACTURER NOT CONTACTED. THERE IS A SPRING MECHANISM IN THE FEMALE PART OF THE BELT, AND THAT COMPONENT IS DEFECTIVE. *AK
REAR BRAKES MALFUNCTION.
FORD REPRESENTATIVE AT 1 800 392 3673 AID SINCE CAR OUT OF WARRANTY NO FINANCIAL HELP WITH REPAIR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ITEM AND IF NOT FOR MY OWN INSPECTION, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS INCIDENT/ACCIDENT. THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF RUST, THE CRACKS IN THE FRAME SEEM TO BE NETAL FATIGUE.
WHILE DRIVING GAS PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCELERATING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. CONSUMER HAD TO KICK PEDAL AND TURN OFF IGNITION TO STOP VEHICLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *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