IllustrationGASKET BLEW ON THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SMOKE. PH
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
RECENTLY MY CAR STARTED OVERHEATING WITHOUT WARNING. I REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. IT WAS GOOD FOR TWO WEEKS THEN ON A FIVE MINUTE DRIVE DOWN THE STREET IT OVERHEATED AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN AND IT WOULD COST ME $1,600.00 I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL…
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RECENTLY MY CAR STARTED OVERHEATING WITHOUT WARNING. I REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. IT WAS GOOD FOR TWO WEEKS THEN ON A FIVE MINUTE DRIVE DOWN THE STREET IT OVERHEATED AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN AND IT WOULD COST ME $1,600.00 I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED IN MAY OF 2001. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN NOV. 2001 ONLY HAS 85,000 MILES ON IT. FROM WHERE I SIT THIS IS AN EXTENDED PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND FORD SHOULD TAKE ACTION TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM UP TO 100,000 MILES. IT SEEMS THAT 50,000 - 80,000 MILES IS WHEN THE PROBLEM BEGINS WITH THIS CAR.
1994 3.8 LITER HEAD GASKETS LEAKING .FORD TELLS ME RECALL IS ONLY GOOD FOR 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. THE CAR HAS ONLY 74,000 MILES ON IT.THE CAR WAS FIRST DELIVERED IN NOV. 1993. A LETTER WAS SENT TO THE ORGINAL OWNER( I'AM NOT ORGINAL OWNER) ON 4-27-2000. 6 YEARS AND 4 MONTHS AFTER DELIVERY. FORD NOW SAYS 7 YEARS HAS GONE BY A…
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1994 3.8 LITER HEAD GASKETS LEAKING .FORD TELLS ME RECALL IS ONLY GOOD FOR 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. THE CAR HAS ONLY 74,000 MILES ON IT.THE CAR WAS FIRST DELIVERED IN NOV. 1993. A LETTER WAS SENT TO THE ORGINAL OWNER( I'AM NOT ORGINAL OWNER) ON 4-27-2000. 6 YEARS AND 4 MONTHS AFTER DELIVERY. FORD NOW SAYS 7 YEARS HAS GONE BY AND IT DOES NOT MATTER THAT THERE IS ONLY 74,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. FORD WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE REPAIRS. I BELEIVE THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THE 100,000 MILE RECALL, KNOWING THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE.
ON NOVEMBER 4 MY 1994 FORD MUSTANG STOPPED RUNNING. I HAD IT TOWED TO A TRUSTED FAMILY MECHANIC, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN. AS OF TODAY 11/14/2002 MY CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP BEING WORKED ON, AND SO FAR THE BILL IS AT $1050 AND GROWING. MY MECHANIC WAS VERY SURPRISED AND SHOCKED WHEN HE DISCOVERED IT …
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ON NOVEMBER 4 MY 1994 FORD MUSTANG STOPPED RUNNING. I HAD IT TOWED TO A TRUSTED FAMILY MECHANIC, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN. AS OF TODAY 11/14/2002 MY CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP BEING WORKED ON, AND SO FAR THE BILL IS AT $1050 AND GROWING. MY MECHANIC WAS VERY SURPRISED AND SHOCKED WHEN HE DISCOVERED IT WAS HEAD GASKETS, BECAUSE I HAVE A LITTLE LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON MY CAR. ****DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****769756. *AK *JB
THE CAR WILL DOWNSHIFT AND THE RPM WILL INCREASE TO 3500-4000 WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT RANDOM, AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AND FREQUENTLY. I TOOK TO TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED OUT OK. I HAVE READ MANY SIMULAR COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THIS SITE. WHY HASN'T ACTION BEEN…
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THE CAR WILL DOWNSHIFT AND THE RPM WILL INCREASE TO 3500-4000 WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT RANDOM, AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AND FREQUENTLY. I TOOK TO TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED OUT OK. I HAVE READ MANY SIMULAR COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THIS SITE. WHY HASN'T ACTION BEEN TAKEN TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT? DT
THIS IS THE 3RD HEAD GASKET FAILURE IN THIS VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND SHUTDOWN. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
THE FORD 3.8L MOTOR HAS A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET WHICH FORD IS AWARE OFF, AND HAS EXTENDED A WARRANTY FOR THIS PART TO 7 YEARS OR 100000 MILES BUT IF THE CAR IS OUTSIDE THOSE GUIDLINES OR IF THE CAE IS CHECKED BY A DEALER AND IS OK WHEN CHECKED THE CO. WILL NOT FIX THE DEFECTIVE PART. WHEN THIS OCCURRED ON MY CAR IT STALLED ALMO…
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THE FORD 3.8L MOTOR HAS A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET WHICH FORD IS AWARE OFF, AND HAS EXTENDED A WARRANTY FOR THIS PART TO 7 YEARS OR 100000 MILES BUT IF THE CAR IS OUTSIDE THOSE GUIDLINES OR IF THE CAE IS CHECKED BY A DEALER AND IS OK WHEN CHECKED THE CO. WILL NOT FIX THE DEFECTIVE PART. WHEN THIS OCCURRED ON MY CAR IT STALLED ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT .*AK
WHILE IN MOTION VEHICLE OVERHEATED DUE TO A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. DEALERSHIP DID INFORM OWNER THAT FORD HAD SOME SORT OF SERVICE TO REPAIR MUSTANG FOR HEAD GASKET FAILURE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*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.