Total Complaints
80 filings
FORD MUSTANG · model year
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.
Total Complaints
80 filings
Crashes Reported
15 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 9 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 6 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 6 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 2 |
| STEERING | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
UPON STARTING VEHICLE IGNITION FELT VERY HOT, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START.VEHICLE WAS TOWED. *AK
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
THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AT 29000 MILES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM
Mileage: 29,000
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
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
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
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
OIL INTAKE SCREEN CLOGS UP WITH SILICONE. OIL CANNOT FLOW THROUGH PUMP, CAUSING ENGINE TO BURN OUT.*AK
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.