1992 Ford Mustang

High concern

Owners filed 69 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system › ignition › switch. It has been recalled 5 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System › Ignition › Switch9
050
Electrical System › Ignition6
030
Air Bags › Frontal6
602
Electrical System › Wiring › Front Underhood4
040
Electrical System › Wiring4
030
Power Train › Automatic Transmission3
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine3
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor2
000
Steering2
101
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc2
000

5 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Headlights09E025000
Filed May 11, 200942,540 vehiclesDope, Inc.

Defect. DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights08E050000
Filed Aug 11, 20081,921 vehiclesK2 Motor Corporation

Defect. K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

Exterior Lighting06E049000
Filed May 24, 200627,176 vehiclesCk Motorsport, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Electrical System › Ignition96V071000
Filed Apr 25, 19967,900,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Apr 3, 2014108,726 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE THAT WAS HEARD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE IN ADDITION TO THE VEHICLE STALLING SPORADICALLY. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT A CONNECTOR WIRE AND A FUSE LINK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96V071000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE IGNITION AS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRE TO THE FUSE LINK WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,726.

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Aug 4, 2006108,155 milesNY

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR A SHORT CIRCUIT WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF AN EXISTING RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #96V071000, REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

Air Bags
Filed Mar 23, 200699,920 milesFL

1992 FORD MUSTANG LX. CLOCKSPRING IN STEERING WHEEL JAMMED. STEERING WHEEL VERY HARD TO TURN. I COULD DO IT BUT IF MY DAUGHTER WERE DRIVING PERHAPS NOT. SAME FAILURE DISABLED CRUISE (NO BIG DEAL) BUT ALSO HORN AND DRIVER AIRBAG. WERE I AT HIGHWAY SPEED, PASSING, CHANGING LANE, ETC., MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE FAILED PART BOTH CAUSED THE ACCIDENT AND DISABLED THE ACCIDENT SURVIVAL FEATURES OF THE CAR. *NM

SeatsFire
Filed Feb 6, 2006125,000 milesNC

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER. FLAMES ERUPTED FROM UNDER THE SEAT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP AND HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC.

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Sep 21, 2005155,000 milesMO

2 SEPERATE TIMES MY SUMITOMO SRIX0N4 225/55HR 16 TIRES, WITH LESS THEN 2500 MILES ON THEM, THE SIDEWALLS COMPLETLY BLEW AFTER TREADWEAR WAS PUNCTURED BY ROAD HAZARD. COMPLETE COLLASP/DISINTEGRATION OF TIRES ON RIM. EXTREME HAZARD (TOTAL TIRE FAILURE) AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 55MPH. REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND.

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Jun 25, 2004OR

CONSUMER WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, SHE LIFTED UP THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT THE WIRE ATTACHMENT WAS UNRAVELING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *AK

Electrical System › WiringFire
Filed Nov 5, 2003WA

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. FIRE STARTED APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED. DRIVER SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR, THAT WERE JUST RECENTLY INSTALLED, WERE LOST IN THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER OBTAINED A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Sep 5, 2003NC

UPON STARTING VEHICLE IGNITION FELT VERY HOT, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START.VEHICLE WAS TOWED. *AK

SteeringCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 3, 2003OH

NAR 6-03-2003 *MR ENCLOSED ATTACHED CRASH REPORTS THAT OCCURRED IN OHIO TURNPIKE. FEBRUARY 2003. STEERING MALFUNCTION CAUSED THE FORD MUSTANG TO SKID ACROSS THE LANES DAMAGING BUMPER, HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL, AND HOOD. *CB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 29, 200329,000 milesIL

THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AT 29000 MILES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Mar 28, 200385,000 milesIN

THE IGNITION SWITCH BECAME VERY HOT WHILE DRIVING AND INTERMITTENTLY SHORTED OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO "JIGGLE" IGNITION TO MAKE IT FUNCTION WHEN STARTING VEHICLE. ALSO, CONSUMER INTERMITTENTLY SAW SMOKE EMITTING FROM STEERING COLUMN WHEN STARTING CAR. RELATED RECALL 96V071000, HOWEVER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Mar 5, 2003134,000 milesIN

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL 96 V 071 000. IGNITION ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED IN TURN SIGNALS.*JB

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel PumpFire
Filed Dec 9, 2002171,000 milesMI

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THERE WERE FIRE FLAME SPOTS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *PH ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, SINCE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP, EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL SHORTAGES WITH THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER, CRUISE CONTROL, KEYLESS ENTRY AUTO TRUCK RELEASE, AND RADIO. *TT

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Sep 17, 2002CA

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 96V071000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ,AND DEALER STATED THEY DID RECALL REPAIRS. CONSUMER FELT DEALER NEVER CHANGED DEFECTIVE PARTS BECAUSE CAR WAS RUNNING WHEN IT WAS TAKEN IN, AND CURRENTLY IT WAS NOT RUNNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 5, 2002OH

OIL INTAKE SCREEN CLOGS UP WITH SILICONE. OIL CANNOT FLOW THROUGH PUMP, CAUSING ENGINE TO BURN OUT.*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Aug 5, 2002OH

VEHICLE HAS A GAS LEAK DUE TO RUSTED GAS TANK. THIS CAN CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Radiator Assembly
Filed Jul 31, 2002IL

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE, AND HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. VEHICLE WAS RUNNING HOT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

Electrical System › IgnitionFire
Filed Jun 26, 2001CA

AFTER VEHICLE HAD BEEN TURNED OFF A FIRE STARTED AFTER DRIVER EXITED VEHICLE WHICH CONSUMED THE ENGINE AND PASSENGER COMPARTMENTS. NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE TO THE CAUSE OF THE FIR,E AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 96V071000 DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 15, 2001IL

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON INTERSTATE ETC., ON WARM DAYS, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BUILD UP HEAT AND FLUID PRACTICALLY EXPLODES FROM THE TRANSMISSION DOUSING THE UNDERSIDE OF CAR AND EXHAUST. I AM AWARE OF THE EXACT SAME SITUATION HAPPENING ON ANOTHER FORD MUSTANG WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION. I CONTACTED FORD WHICH DENIES THAT THERE IS ANY TENDENCY IN THIS TRANSMISSION FOR A SUCH AN OCCURRENCE. FORD WANTS ME TO TAKE THE CAR IN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHILE I BELIEVE THEY MUST BE AWARE OF THE NATURE OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Apr 16, 2001NV

VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AT ANY TEMPERATURE, AND IT WILL WORSEN AT HIGHER ELEVATION. BUT, IT WILL STILL DO IT AT ANY LOWER ELEVATION. THERE IS NO PRIOR WARNING.DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE.*AK

20 of 69 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2005
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20266500Routine
202517600Routine
2024771200Do not drive
202315600Routine
202249910Routine
202155600Routine
2020120850Routine
2019148610Routine
2018191410Routine
2017265680Above average
2016376562Fatalities reported
20154361170Above average
2014359410Do not drive
2013271620Do not drive
2012469721Do not drive
2011466510Do not drive
2010261622Do not drive
2009181620Do not drive
2008347800Do not drive
2007615951Do not drive
2006424932Do not drive
2005705970Do not drive
2004116600Routine
2003145640Routine
2002118660Routine
2001173822Fatalities reported
2000311992Fatalities reported
19992131022Fatalities reported
199823614121Fatalities reported
19971761132Fatalities reported
19962461260Above average
199560216297Fatalities reported
199435613191Fatalities reported
19931017292Fatalities reported
1992 — this page695210High concern
1991776220High concern
1990855290High concern

Compare every Mustang year →

Reading this record

A high number of complaints describe fires or crashes.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 11, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.