Total Complaints
35 filings
FORD MUSTANG · model year
1984 FORD MUSTANG
35 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1984FORDMUSTANG carries 35 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 5 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1984 MUSTANG is electrical system:ignition with 4 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition:module (3) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 1984 MUSTANG, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
35
Complaints
0
Crashes
5
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| INTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20080703STEERING:RACK AND PINION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1984 FORD MUSTANG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND THEY STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY AND MADE THE REPAIR. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT OF MOVEMENT. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW THE NAME OF THE MANUFACTURER OF THE RACK AND PINION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Mileage: 68,000
20080703EQUIPMENT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1984 FORD MUSTANG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND THEY STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY AND MADE THE REPAIR. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT OF MOVEMENT. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW THE NAME OF THE MANUFACTURER OF THE RACK AND PINION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Mileage: 68,000
20050303TIRES:SIDEWALL
FULDA TIRES-CARAT 195/60R15. DOT PJRBYFKR0803. DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. OWNER STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED BRAND NEW, AND THERE WAS ONLY 500 MILES OF TREAD WEAR WHEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT. *AK
Mileage: 500
20020827ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE HAS FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH DUE TO WIRING BEING CORRODED. THIS CAUSED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO INTERACT, PERFORMING POORLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
20020827ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE HAS FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH DUE TO WIRING BEING CORRODED. THIS CAUSED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO INTERACT, PERFORMING POORLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
20020109ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN THIS CAR STALLS IT WILL FIRST NOT HOLD A STEADY IDLE. THERE ARE OTHER TIMES WHEN THIS CAR WILL BE WATING ATA A LIGHT AND THE IDLE WILLL KICK UP TO OVER 2000 RPM. WHEN THIS HAPPEND THE ENGINE WILL TRY TO ENGAGE AND THE CARE WILL LURCH FORWARD. THE STALLING PROBELM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD THIS WAS ADDRESS BY A DEALER IN DAVIS, CA. AT THE TIME THE DEALR SAID THIS WAS HAPPENING BECAUSE OF A FAULTY "PROCESSOR" IT WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR RAN OKAY FOR A FEW MONTHS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. I DID NOT CONTACT THE DEALER AGAIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED . THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED. I LEARNED TO LIVE WITH IT AND DRIVE THE CAR. OVER THE YEARS VARRIOUS MECHANICS HAD LOOKED AT THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO CORRECT THE IDLE, BUT THE PROBLEM ALWAYS RETURNED. I THOUGHT THIS PROBLEMS WAS UNIQUE TO MY VECHICLE, BUT I AM AWARE OF A JUDGMENT AGAINST FORD IN A CALIFORNIA COURT IN WHICH VEHICLES WITH THE EFT SYSTEM HAV
20020109ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
WHEN THIS CAR STALLS IT WILL FIRST NOT HOLD A STEADY IDLE. THERE ARE OTHER TIMES WHEN THIS CAR WILL BE WATING ATA A LIGHT AND THE IDLE WILLL KICK UP TO OVER 2000 RPM. WHEN THIS HAPPEND THE ENGINE WILL TRY TO ENGAGE AND THE CARE WILL LURCH FORWARD. THE STALLING PROBELM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD THIS WAS ADDRESS BY A DEALER IN DAVIS, CA. AT THE TIME THE DEALR SAID THIS WAS HAPPENING BECAUSE OF A FAULTY "PROCESSOR" IT WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR RAN OKAY FOR A FEW MONTHS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. I DID NOT CONTACT THE DEALER AGAIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED . THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED. I LEARNED TO LIVE WITH IT AND DRIVE THE CAR. OVER THE YEARS VARRIOUS MECHANICS HAD LOOKED AT THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO CORRECT THE IDLE, BUT THE PROBLEM ALWAYS RETURNED. I THOUGHT THIS PROBLEMS WAS UNIQUE TO MY VECHICLE, BUT I AM AWARE OF A JUDGMENT AGAINST FORD IN A CALIFORNIA COURT IN WHICH VEHICLES WITH THE EFT SYSTEM HAV
20000918UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY
20000914UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY
19991209ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION MODULE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL.ALSO REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND HEATER HOSE.
19991209ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION MODULE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL.ALSO REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND HEATER HOSE.
19991209ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
IGNITION MODULE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL.ALSO REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND HEATER HOSE.
19991209VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW
IGNITION MODULE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL.ALSO REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND HEATER HOSE.
19990217SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
TWO LEFT AND RIGHT PADS WERE EXCESSIVELY WORN, BROKEN IN NUMEROUS LOCATIONS AND WERE DISNTEGRATING AFTER 4K MILES OF OPERATION.
19980323SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT.
19971001ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING.OWNER RECEIVED NO INDICATION THAT VEHICLE WAS GOING TO STALL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD WARM UP IT, WOULD STALL. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
19970808ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH OVERHEATED, SMELL OF SMOKE IN INTERIOR, COULD CAUSE FIRE. *AK
19961114SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT CAME APART IN ACCIDENT.
19960601FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DSH
19960531FireSTEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
(USED)VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE ROUND ABOUT THE CENTER OF VEHICLE IN THE AREA OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN STARTING UP THE VEHICLE. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. *AK
Compare 1984FORDMUSTANG to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1984 FORD MUSTANG have?▼
The 1984 FORD MUSTANG has 35 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 5 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1984 FORD MUSTANG?▼
The most-complained component for the 1984 FORD MUSTANG is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1984 FORD MUSTANG safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.