FORD MUSTANG · model year

1991 FORD MUSTANG

98 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1991FORDMUSTANG carries 98 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 27 fires, 3 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 1991 MUSTANG is electrical system:ignition:switch with 18 filings, followed by electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash (6) and power train:automatic transmission (6). 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 1991 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.

98
Complaints
5
Crashes
27
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

98 filings

Crashes Reported

5 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH18
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH6
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION5
SEATS3
SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER2
AIR BAGS2

Recent Complaints

20200304FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC NOTIFIED HIM THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HAD REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL INJECTOR, AIR FLOW, AND ROLLER ROCKERS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE MECHANIC USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, THE POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE NOT CALLED. THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,500.

Mileage: 49,500

20150624ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE AIRBAGS COULD DEPLOY AT AN INAPPROPRIATE TIME OR NOT AT ALL DUE TO THIS PROBLEM THE AIR BAG BLINKS ALL THE TIME AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NO ANSWERS SO I AM RED FLAGGING THIS PROBLEM THANK YOU

Mileage: 79,064

20150624AIR BAGS

THE AIRBAGS COULD DEPLOY AT AN INAPPROPRIATE TIME OR NOT AT ALL DUE TO THIS PROBLEM THE AIR BAG BLINKS ALL THE TIME AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NO ANSWERS SO I AM RED FLAGGING THIS PROBLEM THANK YOU

Mileage: 79,064

20140714SEAT BELTS

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT AUTOMATICALLY CAUSING CONCERN BELT WOULD FAIL TO WORK. *TR

Mileage: 138,710

20130416FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND THEN FIRE FROM THE DASH BOARD. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND PERSONALLY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THE FIRE WAS STARTED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE ECM. THE CONTACT CALLED MANUFACTURER AFTER NOTICING A NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER 96V071000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE PARTS FOR THE REMEDY WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL SIX MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

Mileage: 65,000

20101028CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1991 MUSTANG LX 5.0 SUDDEN ACCELERATION ACCIDENT. 1991 MUSTANG LX 5.0 MAKING LEFT TURN FROM STOP SIGN IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN ENGINE ON ITS OWN WENT FULL THROTTLE CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND LEAVE ROADWAY WHERE IT CONTINUED UNDER FULL THROTTLE THROUGH TREE BRANCHES AND BUSHES, A 6 FOOT WROUGHT IRON STYLE FENCE OVER A RETAINING WALL AT WHICH POINT IT BRIEFLY BECAME AIRBORNE LANDING ON A POOL DECK THEN CONTINUING AT FULL THROTTLE ONTO THE SUBDIVISION SWIMMING POOL TARP UNTIL THE FRONT END CRASHED INTO THE POOL WALL ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE POOL CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. AFTER IMPACT WITH THE POOL WALL, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WHICH WAS STILL ON THE POOL DECK CONTINUED SPINNING LEAVING MELTED RUBBER ON THE POOL DECK. THE MUSTANG ENDED UP PARTIALLY SUBMERGED. THANK GOD THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES. 7 YEARS PREVIOUSLY THE SAME 1991 MUSTANG ON ITS OWN, WENT FULL THROTTLE, BUT ON A STRAIGHT 4 LANE ROAD. AT THAT TIME, THE DRIVER TRIED

Mileage: 160,905

20080924PARKING BRAKE

I HAD PARKED MY CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY, I PUT MY PARKING BRAKE ON BECAUSE MY DRIVEWAY IS ON A SLOPE. I WENT TO USE THE CAR AGAIN I REMOVED THE PARKING BRAKE AND THAT'S WHEN MY BRAKES LOCKED UP. SINCE THEN I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR IN THE GARAGE. *TR

Mileage: 124,000

20080616FireEXTERIOR LIGHTING

HAD SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER DASH. LOST RADIO, AND TAIL LIGHTS WIRES FROM LIGHT SWITCH TO TAIL LIGHT MELTED. NOT SURE IF FROM FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. WOULD LIKE MORE INFO. *TR

Mileage: 126,000

20080616FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

HAD SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER DASH. LOST RADIO, AND TAIL LIGHTS WIRES FROM LIGHT SWITCH TO TAIL LIGHT MELTED. NOT SURE IF FROM FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. WOULD LIKE MORE INFO. *TR

Mileage: 126,000

20080612AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNATTENDED, THE AIR BAG IN STEERING WHEEL ACTIVATED. THIS IS THE FIRST OCCURANCE. NO INJURIES,. REPLACEMENT HAS NOT OCCURED. *TR

Mileage: 170,000

20060321POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT THREE TIMES IN THIS CAR. THE FIRST TIME IT HAD 20000 MILES ON IT AND UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALER SENT IT TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO REBUILT IT. ONE YEAR LATER IT WENT OUT AGAIN. THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER FORD WOULD NOT COVER. I GOT STUCK REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF POCKET. NOW THE TRANSMISSION WENT AGAIN. *JB

Mileage: 80,000

20060104ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

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

Mileage: 115,000

20040421FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

CAR STALLS OUT AND DOSN'T RESART FOR UP TO 30 MINUTES

Mileage: 64,225

20040309ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

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

Mileage: 263,000

20040309STRUCTURE

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

Mileage: 263,000

20031024VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

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

Mileage: 65,000

20031010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

Mileage: 74,000

20030812POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT

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

Mileage: 133,000

20030715AIR BAGS

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

Mileage: 136,000

20030624CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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

Compare 1991FORDMUSTANG to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1991 FORD MUSTANG have?
The 1991 FORD MUSTANG has 98 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 27 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 FORD MUSTANG?
The most-complained component for the 1991 FORD MUSTANG is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH with 18 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1991 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.