1989 Ford MUSTANG: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
64 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
121,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 64 complaints (17.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 20.3% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 12.5% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 7.8% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 4.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition | 11 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 8 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 4 |
| Seats | 4 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
Electrical System:Ignition: 11; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 8; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Electrical System:Wiring: 4; Seats: 4; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 3; Exterior Lighting: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 60 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 12 |
| 1996 | 20 |
| 2000 | 13 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
1995: 12; 1996: 20; 2000: 13; 2001: 4; 2002: 7; 2003: 1; 2006: 2; 2008: 1; 2014: 2; 2020: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10011129 · 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL #96 V 071 000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011129 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170872 · 2006-10-15 (October 15, 2006)
WHILE DRIVING OUT OF NO WHERE THE CAR WILL ACCERATOR ON ITS OWN,,THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY,,SOME TIMES NOT FOR A WEEK,, AND TEN TIMES IN ONE DAY,, I FEEL IT IS VERY DANGEROUS,,IT DONT JUST JUMP UP AND STOP,,IT WILL KEEP DOING IT AND GO FASTER UNTIL I TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART THE CAR,,I HAD A FORD DEALER REPLACE THE THOTTLE BODY,,HOWEVER BEFORE I MADE IT HOME IT DID THE SAME THING,,THIS COSTED ME 500.00 AND THE CAR IS STILL DOING IT UP TO PRESENT DAY..I HAVE ALSO HAD TO BUY MORE STARTERS THAN NORMAL BECAUSE I AM ALWAYS RESTARTING MY CAR WHILE D…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10170872 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170996 · 2006-10-16 (October 16, 2006)
I JUST FILED A COMPLAINT 10-15-06, AND AFTER GOING OVER MY ACCIDENT THAT INVOLVED MY 1989 MUSTANG ON 11-05,, I DO BELIEVE THAT THE WRECK COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAUTLY EQUIMENT THAT IS IN MY CAR,, LIKE I SAID IN MY FIRST FORM I TRIED TO HAVE THIS FIXED WITHIN A WEEK OR SO OF PURCHACING THE CAR,,AND IT DID THE SAME THING BEFORE I GOT HOME FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP. MIGHT I ADD IT WENT TO A FORD DEALER TO BE FIXED..I REALLY FEEL AS THOUGH THIS IS A BIG ISSUSE AND I THINK FORD SHOULD BE RESPONABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT IS THE PROBLEM NOT AT MY E…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10170996 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10229082 · 2008-05-28 (May 28, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD MUSTANG. WHENEVER THE KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION TO START THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE CONTACT MUST REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND RETRY IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. HE DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V071000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION); HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 6/16/08 *CN THE STARTER AND RELAY WERE REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. 123,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10229082 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10588614 · 2014-05-15 (May 15, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY BECAME EXTREMELY HOT. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TO GET A DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10588614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10651659 · 2014-10-31 (October 31, 2014)
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE MUSTANG AND FOLLOWING ME AT NIGHT. SHE HAD THE FOG LAMPS TURNED ON ALONG WITH THE HEADLAMPS AND THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. SHE RAN OFF THE ROAD BEFORE SHE COULD STOP, BUT DID NOT CAUSE ANY DAMAGE. THE LIGHTS KEPT FLICKERING ON AND OFF STAYING OFF FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. WE FINISHED THE TRIP WE WERE ON WITH JUST THE HEADLAMPS AND THEY DID NOT FLICKER. WE DID NOT BRING THE CAR BACK TO TOWN UNTIL AUGUST AND I TOOK IT TO IMMEL MOTORS FORD DEALER IN FREDERICKSBURG, TX. THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. AFTER WE GOT IT OUT …
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10651659 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11361416 · 2020-09-27 (September 27, 2020)
SEAT BELTS PULL OUT AND LATCH HOWEVER THE CROSS BODY PORTION DOES NOT RECEDE BACK INTO FRAME, ONLY CONTINUES TO LOOSEN AND NOT RETRACT THIS HAPPENS AT ANY TIME YOU ATE USING THE SEAT BELTS, HAPPENS WITH FRONT AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS, EITHER STOPPED. DRIVING, BREAKING OR EXCELLING. ITS ALL THE TIME . MY BEST GUESS IS THAT THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM IS OLD AND WORE OUT. SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO. AT THAT TIME THERE WAS 131,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON THE MOTOR. NO IDEA WHY THE SPEEDOMETER JUST STOPPED WORKING AS I WAS DRIVING …
Owner-reported narrative. 131,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11361416 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11526271 · 2023-06-09 (June 9, 2023)
I have had the outside sidewall separate from the rest of the tire on two occasions, with these tires. The first time was in May of 2021, the second on June 1, 2023. I currently have the tire that separated on June 1st. Both times I was on the highway driving around 70 when the car began to shake violently, as if I was on an exaggerated rumble strip. I was able to pull into the emergency lane and change to a spare. The first time I assumed maybe the tire was low on air and didn't report it, however now after having a second tire do the exa…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11526271 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
96V071000 · Electrical System:Ignition
Reported: 1996-04-25 (April 25, 1996)
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗