FORD MUSTANG · model year

1992 FORD MUSTANG

80 NHTSA complaints, 15 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1992FORDMUSTANG carries 80 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 15 crashes, 24 fires, 15 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 1992 MUSTANG is electrical system:ignition:switch with 9 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (6) and electrical system:ignition (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 1992 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.

80
Complaints
15
Crashes
24
Fires
15
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

80 filings

Crashes Reported

15 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:SWITCH9
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR2
STEERING2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
AIR BAGS2

Recent Complaints

20140403ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 APP

Mileage: 108,726

20060804ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

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.

Mileage: 108,155

20060323AIR BAGS

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

Mileage: 99,920

20060206FireSEATS

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.

Mileage: 125,000

20050921TIRES:SIDEWALL

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.

Mileage: 155,000

20040825CrashSTEERING

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

20040825CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

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

20040825CrashEXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

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

20040825CrashEXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

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

20040825CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD

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

20040625ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

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

20031105FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

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

20030905ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

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

20030502ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

AUTOMOBILE TEND TO STOP WHILE IDLING AND GOING AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE RPM INDICATOR JUMPS ALL AROUND DURING THIS PROCEDURE. CAR HAS BEEN TO VARIOUS MECHANICS FOR THIS PROBLEM AND CAUSE CANNOT BE DETECTED. * MR *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*740818

Mileage: 156,000

20030429POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

Mileage: 29,000

20030328ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

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.

Mileage: 85,000

20030305ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

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

Mileage: 134,000

20021209FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

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

Mileage: 171,000

20020917ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

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

20020805ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

Compare 1992FORDMUSTANG to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1992 FORD MUSTANG have?
The 1992 FORD MUSTANG has 80 NHTSA complaints, 15 crashes, 24 fires, 15 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 FORD MUSTANG?
The most-complained component for the 1992 FORD MUSTANG is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION.
Is the 1992 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.