FaultScore report
Owners have filed 35 complaints about the 1984 Ford Mustang with NHTSA between 1996 and 2008. The largest single group is the electrical system.
35
Complaints
0
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 68,000 mi
Median failure at 68,000 miles
Median failure at 500 miles
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
SAFETY BELT TONGUE BREAKS
SEAT BELT LATCH ASSEMBLY
STALLING
NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN DETECTED.===
SEATBACK FAILURE
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:FORD BELIEVES THAT THE AL-LEGED DEFECT ONLY OCCURS IN A SMALL NUMBER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ANDRECALLED ABOUT 195,732 1984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986.ANALYSIS: VEHICLES POTENTIALLY INVOLVED INCLUDE TEMPO/TOPAZ, ESCORT/LYNX/EXP, MUSTANG/CAPRI, LTD/MARQUIS, AND THUNDERBIRD/COUGAR.FORD SOLD ABOUT 110,000 REPLACEMENT MIO BOLTS, MAINLY FOR 1983 AND 1984MODELS. LOW CLAMPING FORCE APPEARS TO BE A LARGE PART OF THE PROBLEM.FORD INCREASED THE TORQUE REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRED THE USE OF A MANUALTORQUE TOOL IN MARCH AND SEPTEMBER 1985 PRODUCTION CHANGES. 1...
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.
Seats And Restraints
PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT MAY CAUSE THE FRONT SEAT BELT TONGUE ASSEMBLY PLASTIC SLEEVE THAT RETAINS THE LOCK BAR TO DETERIORATE AND BECOME DISPLACED. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN THE TONGUE BECOMING DETACHED FROM THE SEAT BELT WEBBING MAKING THE SEATBELT USELESS TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT. CORRECTION: OWNERS WILL BE ADVISED THAT FORD WILL REPAIR SEAT BELTS EXPERIENCING THIS CONDITION.
CARBURETOR THROTTLE SHAFTS MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO DIRT CONTAMINATION AND WEAR OF THE BEARING COATINGS. THIS COULD CAUSE THE SECONDARY THROTTLE PLATES TO REMAIN PARTIALLY OPEN AFTER THE DRIVER HAS RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS THIS WERE TO OCCUR, ENGINE SPEED WOULD NOT RETURN TO IDLE POTENTIALLY AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND STOPPING DISTANCES.
THE UPPER TORSO RESTRAINT D-RING WHICH ATTACHES THE SHOULDER BELT TO THE B PILLAR, UNDER CERTAIN TEST CONDITIONS, SEPARATED FROM ITS ANCHORAGE, AND MAY NOT COMPLY WITH CMVSS 210 - BELT ANCHORAGE.
Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #504144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
(USED)VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE ROUND ABOUT THE CENTER OF VEHICLE IN THE AREA OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN STARTING UP THE VEHICLE. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #985099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
AFTER SHUTTING OFF, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FORT MYERS CITY FIRE DEPT., ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSE OF FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #984479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
INTERIOR COMPARTMENT FIRE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, FIRE ORIGINATED INSIDE THE DASHBOARD.
NHTSA complaint #983019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
INTERIOR COMPARTMENT FIRE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, FIRE ORIGINATED INSIDE THE DASHBOARD.
NHTSA complaint #983019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1984 FORD MUSTANG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND THEY STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY AND MADE THE REPAIR. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT OF MOVEMENT. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW THE NAME OF THE MANUFACTURER OF THE RACK AND PINION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
NHTSA complaint #10233139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1984 FORD MUSTANG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND THEY STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY AND MADE THE REPAIR. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT OF MOVEMENT. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW THE NAME OF THE MANUFACTURER OF THE RACK AND PINION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
NHTSA complaint #10233139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:SIDEWALL
FULDA TIRES-CARAT 195/60R15. DOT PJRBYFKR0803. DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. OWNER STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED BRAND NEW, AND THERE WAS ONLY 500 MILES OF TREAD WEAR WHEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10113396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE HAS FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH DUE TO WIRING BEING CORRODED. THIS CAUSED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO INTERACT, PERFORMING POORLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #8017302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE HAS FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH DUE TO WIRING BEING CORRODED. THIS CAUSED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO INTERACT, PERFORMING POORLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #8017302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN THIS CAR STALLS IT WILL FIRST NOT HOLD A STEADY IDLE. THERE ARE OTHER TIMES WHEN THIS CAR WILL BE WATING ATA A LIGHT AND THE IDLE WILLL KICK UP TO OVER 2000 RPM. WHEN THIS HAPPEND THE ENGINE WILL TRY TO ENGAGE AND THE CARE WILL LURCH FORWARD. THE STALLING PROBELM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD THIS WAS ADDRESS BY A DEALER IN DAVIS, CA. AT THE TIME THE DEALR SAID THIS WAS HAPPENING BECAUSE OF A FAULTY "PROCESSOR" IT WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR RAN OKAY FOR A FEW MONTHS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. I DID NOT CONTACT THE DEALER AGAIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED . THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED. I LEARNED TO LIVE WITH IT AND DRIVE THE CAR. OVER THE YEARS VARRIOUS MECHANICS HAD LOOKED AT THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO CORRECT THE IDLE, BUT THE PROBLEM ALWAYS RETURNED. I THOUGHT THIS PROBLEMS WAS UNIQUE TO MY VECHICLE, BUT I AM AWARE OF A JUDGMENT AGAINST FORD IN A CALIFORNIA COURT IN WHICH VEHICLES WITH THE EFT SYSTEM HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO STALL. THIS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL ISSUSED SO THAT FORD CA REPAIR THESE VEHICLES REGARDLSS OF AGE.
NHTSA complaint #756276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
WHEN THIS CAR STALLS IT WILL FIRST NOT HOLD A STEADY IDLE. THERE ARE OTHER TIMES WHEN THIS CAR WILL BE WATING ATA A LIGHT AND THE IDLE WILLL KICK UP TO OVER 2000 RPM. WHEN THIS HAPPEND THE ENGINE WILL TRY TO ENGAGE AND THE CARE WILL LURCH FORWARD. THE STALLING PROBELM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD THIS WAS ADDRESS BY A DEALER IN DAVIS, CA. AT THE TIME THE DEALR SAID THIS WAS HAPPENING BECAUSE OF A FAULTY "PROCESSOR" IT WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR RAN OKAY FOR A FEW MONTHS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. I DID NOT CONTACT THE DEALER AGAIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED . THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED. I LEARNED TO LIVE WITH IT AND DRIVE THE CAR. OVER THE YEARS VARRIOUS MECHANICS HAD LOOKED AT THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO CORRECT THE IDLE, BUT THE PROBLEM ALWAYS RETURNED. I THOUGHT THIS PROBLEMS WAS UNIQUE TO MY VECHICLE, BUT I AM AWARE OF A JUDGMENT AGAINST FORD IN A CALIFORNIA COURT IN WHICH VEHICLES WITH THE EFT SYSTEM HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO STALL. THIS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL ISSUSED SO THAT FORD CA REPAIR THESE VEHICLES REGARDLSS OF AGE.
NHTSA complaint #756276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #730664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #730664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
IGNITION MODULE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL.ALSO REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND HEATER HOSE.
NHTSA complaint #526397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION MODULE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL.ALSO REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND HEATER HOSE.
NHTSA complaint #526397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION MODULE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL.ALSO REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND HEATER HOSE.
NHTSA complaint #526397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW
IGNITION MODULE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL.ALSO REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND HEATER HOSE.
NHTSA complaint #526397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
TWO LEFT AND RIGHT PADS WERE EXCESSIVELY WORN, BROKEN IN NUMEROUS LOCATIONS AND WERE DISNTEGRATING AFTER 4K MILES OF OPERATION.
NHTSA complaint #537625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT.
NHTSA complaint #531149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING.OWNER RECEIVED NO INDICATION THAT VEHICLE WAS GOING TO STALL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD WARM UP IT, WOULD STALL. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #816791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH OVERHEATED, SMELL OF SMOKE IN INTERIOR, COULD CAUSE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #813552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT CAME APART IN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #510198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #504144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
(USED)VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE ROUND ABOUT THE CENTER OF VEHICLE IN THE AREA OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN STARTING UP THE VEHICLE. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #985099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE. NO ONE WAS INJURED.
NHTSA complaint #984947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
AFTER SHUTTING OFF, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FORT MYERS CITY FIRE DEPT., ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSE OF FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #984479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
INTERIOR COMPARTMENT FIRE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, FIRE ORIGINATED INSIDE THE DASHBOARD.
NHTSA complaint #983019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
INTERIOR COMPARTMENT FIRE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, FIRE ORIGINATED INSIDE THE DASHBOARD.
NHTSA complaint #983019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #485098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.