1991 Ford MUSTANG: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
51 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
119,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 51 complaints (9.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 6 | 11.8% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 7.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 5.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.9% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 4 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 5; Electrical System: 4; Electrical System:Ignition: 4; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 3; Air Bags: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 35 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 | 11 |
| 1996 | 9 |
| 2000 | 8 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
1995: 11; 1996: 9; 2000: 8; 2001: 5; 2002: 1; 2003: 5; 2004: 2; 2006: 2; 2008: 3; 2010: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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 10024792 · 2003-06-24 (June 24, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON ACCIDENT AT 35MPH. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024792 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10027287 · 2003-07-15 (July 15, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 136,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10027287 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032662 · 2003-08-12 (August 12, 2003)
I HAVE 1991 FORD MUSTANG WITH A NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 91V048000. FORD IS TELLING ME THAT THIERE IS NO SUCH RECALL IN THERE DATA BASE AND THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. THIS IS A BIG SAFTY ISSUE FOR ME CONSIDERING MY WIFE AND KIDS RIDE IN THIS CAR. I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS A VALID RECALL AND IF FORD IS NOT RESPONSIBLE TO REPAIR IT, THEN WHO?*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 133,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032662 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042712 · 2003-10-10 (October 10, 2003)
ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED UNDER THE OWNER'S NOTIFICATION CAMPAIGNS. HEAD GASKET BLEW AGAIN, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WAS REFUSING TO REPAIR IT BECAUSE IT WAS OVER THE 100,000 MILES OF THE CAMPAIGNS WARRANTY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042712 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044685 · 2003-10-24 (October 24, 2003)
THE HEATER CORE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED SMOKE ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THE WINDOW ALSO FOGGED UP, BECAUSE THE DEFOGGER BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE COIL WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044685 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061734 · 2004-03-09 (March 9, 2004)
IGNITION SWITCH GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT GO INTO THE AUXILIARY MODE. NHTSA RECALL 96V071000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. ALSO, FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE DETACHED AT THE SIDES. DEALER INSPECTED THE FLOOR, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FLOOR COULD BE FIXED, BUT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE DETACHED ON THE SIDES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 263,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10061734 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067609 · 2004-04-21 (April 21, 2004)
CAR STALLS OUT AND DOSN'T RESART FOR UP TO 30 MINUTES
Owner-reported narrative. 64,225 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067609 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10146898 · 2006-01-04 (January 4, 2006)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN 96V071000 CONCERNING THE IGNITION. HOWEVER THE RECALL REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10146898 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
91V048000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 1991-03-18 (March 18, 1991)
THE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY CONTAINS A PARK CAM WITH INADEQUATE SURFACE HARDNESS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO PARK DISENGAGEMENT OR NO PARK ENGAGEMENT WHEN THE LEVER IS PLACED IN PARK.
Consequence: IF PARK IS NOT ENGAGED AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS OFF, AVEHICLE ROLL-AWAY COULD RESULT.
Remedy: REPLACE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗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 ↗