IllustrationWHILE OPERATING AT ABOUT 25 TO 30 MPH VEHICLE BECAME ERRATIC, AND COOL AIR STARTED TO BLOWOUT OF HEATING SYSTEM. HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. THERE WAS A RECALL ON HEAD GASKET, AND DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD ANY FURTHER INFORMATION OR MAKE CHANGES. *AK
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 →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: 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
What owners actually said
356 reportsHEAD GASKET FAILURE LEAD TO BLOWN ENGINE AT ONLY 57,000 MILES. 7 YR 100,000 MILES WARRANTY RAN OUT IN APRIL 2001. THIS ENGINE FAILURTE OCCURRED IN AUGUST, 2001. FORD AGREED TO PAY FOR ONLY PART OF THE REPAIRS LEAVING ME RESPONSIBLE FOR $500 (TOTALL AT END $800) IN REPAIRS. I FEEL THE LIFE OF A FORD SHOULD BE LONGER THAT 57,000 (…
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HEAD GASKET FAILURE LEAD TO BLOWN ENGINE AT ONLY 57,000 MILES. 7 YR 100,000 MILES WARRANTY RAN OUT IN APRIL 2001. THIS ENGINE FAILURTE OCCURRED IN AUGUST, 2001. FORD AGREED TO PAY FOR ONLY PART OF THE REPAIRS LEAVING ME RESPONSIBLE FOR $500 (TOTALL AT END $800) IN REPAIRS. I FEEL THE LIFE OF A FORD SHOULD BE LONGER THAT 57,000 ( PURCHASED CAR AT 24,000 MLS). IF I HAD KNOWN 5 YRS AGO THAT I COULD ONLY EXPECT TO GET ANOTHER 33,000 MLS FROM THE CAR I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT HAVE PD $14,000. I HAVE KEPT GOOD CARE OF THIS CAR AND KEPT THE MILAGE LOW......AS A RESULT ENGINE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR "IN TIME" TO MEET END OF WARRANTY.*AK
GASKET (RUBBER BOOT) BETWEEN GASOLINE FILLER TUBE AND GAS TANK FAILED (TORE), THIS CAUSE GASOLINE TO LEAK ONTO THE GROUND CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD.
THIS IS MY 19 YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER'S MUSTANG. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE CAR RUNNING HOT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. WE'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO SEVERAL AUTO REPAIRS AND NOBODY COULD FIND A REASON FOR THE CAR RUNNING HOT. WE TOOK THE MUSTANG TO PRECISION TUNE IN MACON BACK IN JUNE OR JULY. AFTER THAT MY DAUGHTER WAS STRANDED WITH …
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THIS IS MY 19 YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER'S MUSTANG. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE CAR RUNNING HOT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. WE'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO SEVERAL AUTO REPAIRS AND NOBODY COULD FIND A REASON FOR THE CAR RUNNING HOT. WE TOOK THE MUSTANG TO PRECISION TUNE IN MACON BACK IN JUNE OR JULY. AFTER THAT MY DAUGHTER WAS STRANDED WITH THE CAR IN DUBLIN, GEORGIA. SHE TOOK THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN DUBLIN AND THEY KEPT IT OVER-NIGHT. THE NEXT DAY THEY CALLED TO TELL HER THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2001, SHE IS ONCE AGAIN STRANDED IN STATESBORO, GEORGIA. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO ROZIER FORD IN STATESBORO, GA. THEY SAID THAT THE CAR HAD A CRACKED HEAD GASKET AND THAT IT WOULD COST ABOUT $1,300 TO REPAIR...SINCE WE HAD MISSED THE 100,000 MILE OWNER NOTOFICATION RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT WE HAD BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND NOBODY HAD INFORMED US ABOUT A RECALL, NOT TO MENTION THAT WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED AS THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE NOT MOVED IN 14 YEARS AND WE DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY NOTIFICATION. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT OF COURSE THEY WON'T. I FEEL THAT IF THEY KNEW THE PROBLEM EXISTED WITH THESE ENGINES, THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO COMPLY WITH THE RECALL REGARDLESS OF THE MILEAGE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OTHER ACTION COULD BE TAKEN AGAINST FORD REGARDING THIS MATTER. I HAVE A COPY OF MY INVOICE DATED 9/26/01 IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,303.26 AND FEEL THAT I AM ENTITLED TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THEIR FAULTY ENGINE.
THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING WHICH WAS REPLACED AS WELL AS THE TIMING COVER GASKET WAS ALSO REPLACED, CONSUMER STATES HE WOULD OCCASIONALLY HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO A MECHANIC AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO BLOW AND TO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE.*YH
HEARD KNOCKING NOISE AND WAS TOLD ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO BLOW AND NOT TO DRIVE. HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED WATER PUMP AND TIMING COVER. *AK
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
HEAD GASKET FAILURE/E-MAIL ME RACHEL5620@AOL.COM. WE NEED CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. CAR WENT TO HOT PULLED IN PEP BOYS/TEST SHOWED HEAD GASKET FAILURE/WAS TOLD TO GO TO FORD THERE WAS A RECALL/FORD SAID TO-BAD IT ENDED ON 7/14/01 AND TODAY IS 8/16/01...SORRY--THIS WAS FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER SERVICE IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN. *AK
HEAD GASKET BLEW ON PASSENGER SIDE. DRIVER SIDE NEARLY BLOWN AFTER REMOVING THE HEADS. THIS HAPPENED AT 72,000 MILES. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME ON A 1988 T-BIRD WITH 110,000 MILES, WHICH ALSO HAD A 3.8L V6. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO ME ON A 1994 THUNDERBIRD WITH THE 3.8V6 WITH 100,000 MILES. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD.
WHILE EXITING AN AREA AND GOING INTO TRAFFIC VEHICLE GOT HIT ON DRIVER'S SIDE, AND AIR BAGS EXPLODED, BUT DID NT DEPLOY IN CRASH. CONSUMER WAS CHOKING ON AIRBAG FUMES WHEN EXPLODED. *AK
Official recalls
401V318000 · 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
4EA98013 · 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.