Total Complaints
22 filings
FORD MUSTANG · model year
1985 FORD MUSTANG
22 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1985FORDMUSTANG carries 22 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 4 fires, 1 injury, 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 1985 MUSTANG is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 2 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (2) and visibility:glass, side/rear (1). 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 1985 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.
22
Complaints
2
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 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 |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| INTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20090130FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
FUEL PUMP INTERMITTENTLY WORKS. SOMETIMES I HEAR IT KICK IN AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T, LIKE TODAY AFTER WORK. I REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP IN 2004 AND THE FUEL FILTER TO THE TUNE OF $550.00. I WAS NOT GIVEN THE OLD PARTS. I AM WORRIED I MAY HAVE TO GET IT DONE AGAIN TOMORROW. I THINK THE FIRST REPAIR SHOP ROBBED ME. THEY CHARGED ME 189.59 FOR THE PUMP AND 16.48 FOR THE FILTER. THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE FAILURE IS CAB FARES, BUMMING RIDES AND THE MENTAL ANGUISH OF WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL START. I AM FEMALE AND WORRIED ABOUT IT. *TR
Mileage: 100,000
20050211CrashSUSPENSION:REAR
THE VEHICLE HAD REAR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. *NM THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE ROADWAY WAS DAMP. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SLID MAKING THE CONSUMER LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE. *SC *JB
20030911SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT WAS RECALLED IN 1992. THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED, AND THE RECALL LETTER STATED THAT REPAIRS WERE FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, SEAT BELTS WERE NOT LATCHING PROPERLY, AND THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE.*AK
Mileage: 40,000
20030402SEAT BELTS:FRONT
I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER TO CHECK ON CAMPAIGN # 92V063000. HE SAID HE COULDN'T HELP BECAUSE MY VIN # DIDN'T COME UP. *NLM
Mileage: 50,000
19980924ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MULTIPLE CLUTCH FAILURES, TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS, AND THEN CRANKSHAFT BROKE AT 160,000 MILES.
19980924POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
MULTIPLE CLUTCH FAILURES, TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS, AND THEN CRANKSHAFT BROKE AT 160,000 MILES.
19980924ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MULTIPLE CLUTCH FAILURES, TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS, AND THEN CRANKSHAFT BROKE AT 160,000 MILES.
19960506FireSTEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
AFTER AUTO WAS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES SMELLED SMOKE AND SAW IT, PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND IT WAS FLAMES IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK
19960425VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE SURGED. *DSH
19960419ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
19960417FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
PARKED VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY, UNDERHOOD FIRE IGNITED; ALL WIRES MELTED DOWN; ACCORDING TO FIRE DEPT, COULD BE CAUSED BE ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK
19960405FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE (ENGINE COMPARMENT FIRE). *AK
19960314CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE WAS PARKED/KEYS WERE REMOVED VEHICLE THEN ROLLED OUT INTO THE MAIN TRAFFIC, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE STRUCK BY A VAN. *SD
19960314INTERIOR LIGHTING
DOME LIGHT SHORTED OUT SIX TIMES.
19960314SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT RETRACTORS FAIL.
19960314ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY FAILED THREE TIMES.
19960314FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
CAR STALLS INTERMITTENTLY, DUE TO FAILED CARBURETOR. *DSH
19960314FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTOR REPLACED SIX TIMES.
19950710LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS DIFFICULT TO OPEN . *AK
19950525SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER RECEIVE A RECALL # 92V063000 TOOK CAR TO BE REPAIR DEALER REFUSE TO FIX THE SEAT BELT BECAUSE THERE WAS THE PEICE IN THE BUCKLE . TT
Compare 1985FORDMUSTANG to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1985 FORD MUSTANG have?▼
The 1985 FORD MUSTANG has 22 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 4 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 FORD MUSTANG?▼
The most-complained component for the 1985 FORD MUSTANG is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR.
Is the 1985 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.