IllustrationMY 1994 MUSTANG OVERHEATED BECAUSE OF BLOWN HEAD GASKETS I HAVE HEARD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE.THIS RESULTED IN MAJOR REPAIR COSTS.WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS THIS SHOWS SIGNS OF A SEVERE DESIGN FLAW .*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 reportsI HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE BLOWN HEAD GASKETS ON THE WINDSTARS/TAURUS WITH THE SAME TYPE ENGINE THE 3.8. WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO CHECK INTO WHY THE FORD MUSTANG WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ALONG WITH THE WINDSTAR, TAURUS?? I HAVE HAD AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM, CAR LEAKING WATER, HEATER NOT WORKING PROPERLY, AND HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT…
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I HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE BLOWN HEAD GASKETS ON THE WINDSTARS/TAURUS WITH THE SAME TYPE ENGINE THE 3.8. WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO CHECK INTO WHY THE FORD MUSTANG WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ALONG WITH THE WINDSTAR, TAURUS?? I HAVE HAD AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM, CAR LEAKING WATER, HEATER NOT WORKING PROPERLY, AND HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND TOLD ME IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. AND TOLD ME ABOUT THE RECALL WITH THE OTHER TWO FORD MODELS, CHECK TO SEE IF MUSTANG INCLUDED. I CALLED AND IT WASN'T ,,, WHY NOT??? THIS REALLY CONFUSES ME AS TO WHY MUSTANGS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, IF SAME MOTOR, SAME PROBLEM, WHY NOT RECALLED? PLEASE FOLLOW UP WITH ME BY MAIL OR PHONE AND EXPLAIN TO ME WHY? *AK
VEHICLE HAD A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET, AND AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED ON. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. *AK *ML
BLOWN HEAD GASKETS HAD TO BE REPLACED . COST $1481.47 TO REPAIR. FORD WILL NOT REIMBURSE. THEY SAY WARRANTY HAS BEEN EXTENDED ON FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CARS ONLY. THEY SAID THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS FILED ON MUSTANGS EVEN THOUGH THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME ENGINES! *AK
I WAS HAVING A OVERHEATING PROBLEM AND LACKING ALOT OF POWER. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER,$1300.00 TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS. THE DEALER STATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8 ENGINES. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 37,000 MILES ON IT AND I TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF MY MUSTANG. I AM A PROUD MUSTANG OWNER AND HAVE OWNED SEVERAL…
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I WAS HAVING A OVERHEATING PROBLEM AND LACKING ALOT OF POWER. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER,$1300.00 TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS. THE DEALER STATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8 ENGINES. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 37,000 MILES ON IT AND I TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF MY MUSTANG. I AM A PROUD MUSTANG OWNER AND HAVE OWNED SEVERAL MUSTANGS AND NEVER HAVE HAD ANY COMPLAINTS. FORD NEEDS TO EITHER RECALL THIS OR TAKE STEPS TO MAKE SURE THIS DOES NOT OCCUR IN FUTURE VEHICLES. THANKS, LISA *AK
MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS ERRATIC REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. GAUGE STILL ERRATIC WAS DRIVING IT TO BE REPAIRED THE MOTOR LOCKED UP THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN HAD IT TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT. THEY TOLD ME I NEED A NEW MOTOR
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER HAS V-6 3. 8 LITER A REAR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE. ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, WATER WAS COMING OUT OF EXHAUST SYSTEM, AND MIXED WITH ANTI-FREEZE AND OIL. COMSUMER STATED THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS BLOWING OUT WHITE SMOKE, AND COULDN'T DRIVE VEHICLE. *AK *ML
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *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.