FaultScore report
Owners have filed 22 complaints about the 1985 Ford Mustang with NHTSA between 1995 and 2009. The largest single group is the fuel & propulsion.
22
Complaints
2
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
1
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.
Median failure at 45,000 miles
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 100,000 mi
0 crashes, 1 fires
0 crashes, 1 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
0 crashes, 1 fires
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
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
SPEED CONTROL MALFUNCTION
===
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.
THE TANDEM POWER BRAKE BOOSTER REAR SHELLS MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH REDUCED WALL THICKNESSES. REPEATED BRAKE APPLICATIONS COULD CAU SE SUCH A SHELL TO CRACK AND THE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY TO COME APART.THIS COULD RESULT IN A TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILTY WITHOUT PRIOR WARN ING AND PRESENT THE POSSIBILITY FOR LOSS OF CONTROL AND VEHICLE CRAS H.
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.
SUSPENSION:REAR
THE VEHICLE HAD REAR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. *NM THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE ROADWAY WAS DAMP. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SLID MAKING THE CONSUMER LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10109579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
AFTER AUTO WAS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES SMELLED SMOKE AND SAW IT, PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND IT WAS FLAMES IN THE STEERING COLUMN.
NHTSA complaint #984074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
PARKED VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY, UNDERHOOD FIRE IGNITED; ALL WIRES MELTED DOWN; ACCORDING TO FIRE DEPT, COULD BE CAUSED BE ELECTRICAL SHORT.
NHTSA complaint #982850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE (ENGINE COMPARMENT FIRE).
NHTSA complaint #982382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE WAS PARKED/KEYS WERE REMOVED VEHICLE THEN ROLLED OUT INTO THE MAIN TRAFFIC, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE STRUCK BY A VAN.
NHTSA complaint #487197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
UNDERHOOD FIRE CAUSED BY POOR CLAMPING OF FUEL LINE TO THE FUEL FILTER. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
NHTSA complaint #961150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
FUEL PUMP INTERMITTENTLY WORKS. SOMETIMES I HEAR IT KICK IN AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T, LIKE TODAY AFTER WORK. I REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP IN 2004 AND THE FUEL FILTER TO THE TUNE OF $550.00. I WAS NOT GIVEN THE OLD PARTS. I AM WORRIED I MAY HAVE TO GET IT DONE AGAIN TOMORROW. I THINK THE FIRST REPAIR SHOP ROBBED ME. THEY CHARGED ME 189.59 FOR THE PUMP AND 16.48 FOR THE FILTER. THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE FAILURE IS CAB FARES, BUMMING RIDES AND THE MENTAL ANGUISH OF WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL START. I AM FEMALE AND WORRIED ABOUT IT.
NHTSA complaint #10256997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
THE VEHICLE HAD REAR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. *NM THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE ROADWAY WAS DAMP. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SLID MAKING THE CONSUMER LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10109579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT WAS RECALLED IN 1992. THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED, AND THE RECALL LETTER STATED THAT REPAIRS WERE FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, SEAT BELTS WERE NOT LATCHING PROPERLY, AND THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE.
NHTSA complaint #10039778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER TO CHECK ON CAMPAIGN # 92V063000. HE SAID HE COULDN'T HELP BECAUSE MY VIN # DIDN'T COME UP. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10013853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MULTIPLE CLUTCH FAILURES, TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS, AND THEN CRANKSHAFT BROKE AT 160,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #780503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MULTIPLE CLUTCH FAILURES, TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS, AND THEN CRANKSHAFT BROKE AT 160,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #780503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
MULTIPLE CLUTCH FAILURES, TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS, AND THEN CRANKSHAFT BROKE AT 160,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #780503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
AFTER AUTO WAS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES SMELLED SMOKE AND SAW IT, PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND IT WAS FLAMES IN THE STEERING COLUMN.
NHTSA complaint #984074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE SURGED. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #487367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #983036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
PARKED VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY, UNDERHOOD FIRE IGNITED; ALL WIRES MELTED DOWN; ACCORDING TO FIRE DEPT, COULD BE CAUSED BE ELECTRICAL SHORT.
NHTSA complaint #982850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE (ENGINE COMPARMENT FIRE).
NHTSA complaint #982382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE WAS PARKED/KEYS WERE REMOVED VEHICLE THEN ROLLED OUT INTO THE MAIN TRAFFIC, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE STRUCK BY A VAN.
NHTSA complaint #487197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY FAILED THREE TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #487526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT RETRACTORS FAIL.
NHTSA complaint #487526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
DOME LIGHT SHORTED OUT SIX TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #487526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
CAR STALLS INTERMITTENTLY, DUE TO FAILED CARBURETOR. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #487526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTOR REPLACED SIX TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #487526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS DIFFICULT TO OPEN .
NHTSA complaint #968461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER RECEIVE A RECALL # 92V063000 TOOK CAR TO BE REPAIR DEALER REFUSE TO FIX THE SEAT BELT BECAUSE THERE WAS THE PEICE IN THE BUCKLE . TT
NHTSA complaint #965830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
UNDERHOOD FIRE CAUSED BY POOR CLAMPING OF FUEL LINE TO THE FUEL FILTER. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
NHTSA complaint #961150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
REAR WINDOW SHATTERED AFTER REAR DEFROSTER WAS ON FOR 5 MINUTES. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #480898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.