MYRModel Year Report

1990 Ford Mustang

▲ Better than typical
1990 Ford Mustang
RENDERED 2026-09-16T12:25:56.667Z

This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Ford Mustang Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1990 highlighted. 1980: 4 complaints 1980 1981: 0 complaints 1982: 1 complaints 1983: 5 complaints 1984: 18 complaints 1985: 16 complaints 1986: 30 complaints 1986 1987: 38 complaints 1988: 108 complaints 1989: 111 complaints 1990: 87 complaints 1990 1991: 78 complaints 1992: 70 complaints 1992 1993: 102 complaints 1994: 368 complaints 1995: 603 complaints 1996: 246 complaints 1997: 176 complaints 1998: 236 complaints 1998 1999: 213 complaints 2000: 311 complaints 2001: 173 complaints 2002: 118 complaints 2003: 145 complaints 2004: 116 complaints 2004 2005: 705 complaints 2006: 423 complaints 2007: 615 complaints 2008: 347 complaints 2009: 181 complaints 2010: 261 complaints 2010 2011: 466 complaints 2012: 469 complaints 2013: 271 complaints 2014: 359 complaints 2015: 436 complaints 2016: 375 complaints 2016 2017: 265 complaints 2018: 191 complaints 2019: 148 complaints 2020: 119 complaints 2021: 55 complaints 2022: 49 complaints 2022 2023: 15 complaints 2024: 76 complaints 2025: 16 complaints 2026: 5 complaints 2026
1990: 87 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19804
19810
19821
19835
198418
198516
198630
198738
1988108
1989111
199087
199178
199270
1993102
1994368
1995603
1996246
1997176
1998236
1999213
2000311
2001173
2002118
2003145
2004116
2005705
2006423
2007615
2008347
2009181
2010261
2011466
2012469
2013271
2014359
2015436
2016375
2017265
2018191
2019148
2020119
202155
202249
202315
202476
202516
20265

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

Percentages can add to more than 100% -- a complaint can name more than one system.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 46%

46% of complaints: electrical system — 40 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing switch and ignition.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

NOTICE A FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, DUE TO DEFECT IN ALTERNATOR. TT

NHTSA ODI report, 19950202

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT, RESULTING IN FIRE. *SKD

NHTSA ODI report, 19940112

THE WINDOWS WON'T ROLL DOWN AND I'VE SPENT A WHOLE DAY AND AROUND $100 TRYING TO FIX IT. ALL I WANT IS WORKING WINDOWS, CAN I GET SOME MANUAL DOORS? *TR

NHTSA ODI report, 20130330

Also filed under VISIBILITY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 11%

11% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 10 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing gasoline and engine.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN AT A STOP AND WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER AND THE VEHICLE TO BE NON DRIVABLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ODI report, 20021031

AIR BAGS 10%

10% of complaints: air bags — 9 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing frontal.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

AIR BAG EXPLODED INJURING THE CONSUMER. *PH THE AIR BAG EXPLODED IN THE CONSUMERS FACE AND INJURED HER BADLY. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI report, 20040205

AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON HITTING A MEDIAN WALL. TT

NHTSA ODI report, 19950124

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 9%

9% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 8 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing accelerator pedal.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

CONSUMER GOING 50 M.P.H., ACCELERATED TO CHANGE LANES, CAR WAS REARENDED, SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND IMPACTED CENTER DIVIDER AT 9:00 POSITION. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19950703

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 9%

9% of complaints: exterior lighting — 8 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing switch and headlights.

Show complaint excerpts

HEADLIGHTS FUNCTION ERRATICALLY.

NHTSA ODI report, 19940604

SAFETY TIMELINE

I 19910619 — PE (closed 19911126)

THROTTLE STICKS, HIGH IDLE

I 19911009 — PE (closed 19920227)

HOOD LATCH FAILURES

I 19940202 — PE (closed 19940419)

FUEL LINE ROUTING

R 19960607 — electrical system

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

Campaign 96V071000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060701 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE N

Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Campaign 06E049000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20081217 — exterior lighting

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH

Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

Campaign 08E050000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1990 Ford Mustang — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (40 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (10 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (9 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 96V071000 (electrical system) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E049000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 08E050000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1986 ▲ 1987 ▲ 2022

WORST YEARS

■ 2005 ■ 2007 ■ 1995

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1990 Ford Mustang reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1990 Ford Mustang is rated "better than typical".

What are the most common problems with the 1990 Ford Mustang?

The most-reported component is electrical system, accounting for 46% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1990 Ford Mustang have?

5 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-09-16 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.