1989 Ford Mustang Recalls, Problems & Safety Rating

1 safety recall on file

The 1989 Ford Mustang has 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA.

Owners have filed 109 complaints with NHTSA, including 3 crashes, 32 fires, 9 injuries.

The most-reported problem area is Electrical System (49 reports).

1Recalls
109Owner complaints
3Crashes reported
n/aNHTSA safety rating
Is the repair still open on your Mustang?

A recall covers specific vehicles. Your VIN shows whether yours still needs the free repair.

1989 Ford Mustang recalls

Electrical System:Ignition

Recall 96V071Apr 25, 19967,900,000 vehicles affected

Most common 1989 Ford Mustang problems

Problem areas named in the 109 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.

Problem areaReports
Electrical System49
Seat Belts20
Vehicle Speed Control9
Structure8
Seats8
Engine And Engine Cooling6
Exterior Lighting4
Latches/Locks/Linkages4
Power Train3
Fuel System, Gasoline3

What owners report

2023-06-09, Tires
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 exact same thing believe they are defective. Tire size is 225/55/16, for full disclosure I did purchase the tires and wheels off craigslist, however the
2020-09-27, Seat Belts
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 IN TOWN GOING ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR. OVERDRIVE STOPPED WORKING. NO WARNING, NO OCCASIONAL SLIPS. JUST STOPPED WORKING WHILE SWITCHING INTO OVERD
2014-10-31, Exterior Lighting
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 IT CONTINUED TO FLICKER IF WE USED THE FOG LAMPS SO WE QUIT USING THEM. I RECENTLY FOUND THAT THERE IS A TSB 891711 AUG 89 THAT IDENTIFIES THAT PROBL
2014-05-15, Electrical System
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.
2008-05-28, Electrical System
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.

1989 Ford Mustang questions

Does the 1989 Ford Mustang have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 safety recall for the 1989 Ford Mustang: Electrical System:Ignition. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

What are the most common problems with the 1989 Ford Mustang?

Based on 109 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (49), Seat Belts (20), Vehicle Speed Control (9).

How do I check if a recall on my 1989 Ford Mustang has been fixed?

Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

Other Ford Mustang years

Other 1989 Ford models