FaultScore

1990 Ford Mustang engine problems

10 of the 119 complaints about the 1990 Ford Mustang are about the engine — 8% of everything reported for this model year.

F

10

Complaints

0

Crashes

7

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Gasoline 7 70.0%
Engine 1 10.0%
FAN 1 10.0%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 1 10.0%

Engine & Cooling across every Ford Mustang year

1990 10 0.6%
1993 12 0.8%
1994 194 12.5%
1995 410 26.4%
1996 95 6.1%
1997 42 2.7%
1998 48 3.1%
1999 35 2.3%
2000 47 3.0%
2001 27 1.7%
2002 27 1.7%
2003 47 3.0%
2005 44 2.8%
2006 27 1.7%
2007 20 1.3%
2010 12 0.8%
2011 55 3.5%
2012 33 2.1%
2013 23 1.5%
2014 19 1.2%
2015 51 3.3%
2016 82 5.3%
2017 34 2.2%
2018 62 4.0%
2019 59 3.8%
2020 27 1.7%
2021 10 0.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Winnipeg, UN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THERE ARE 54,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR END OF NOVEMBER WHEN THERE WERE ONLY 49,000 MILES ON IT. THE PAINT IS PEELING VERY BADLY ON THE FRONT BUMPER. I INQUIRED ABOUT A REPAINT AND IT WAS GOING TO BE WELL OVER $5,800. I HAD TO PUT 3 TRANSMISSIONS IN THE CAR (IN ABOUT END OF FEBRUARY, AGAIN IN ABOUT 3 WEEKS ANOTHER ONE HAD TO BE PUT IN) I ONLY PAID ABOUT $1,100.00 FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE OTHERS WERE COVERED BY THE MECHANICS WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS IN THERE WAS FRIED WHEN THEY SOLD IT TO ME. A RIM HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS BENT WHICH COSTED $45.00. I HAD TO REPLACE THE COOLING SYSTEM ($800.00) (JUNE 24 2003) BECAUSE IT WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL. THE ENGINE HAD OVER HEATED CAUSING THE RADIO TO MALFUNCTION. A/C DOES NOT WORK AT ALL, IT BLOWS HOT AIR. HEATER WORKS BUT IT TAKES A VERY LONG TIME BEFORE HEAT COMES OUT. IF THE CAR COULD JUST BE REPAINTED BY FORD, I?LL PAY A DEDUCTABLE IF NECESSARY BECAUSE IT IS A VERY NICE CAR AND I LOVE THE WAY IT DRIVES AND HANDLES. NOTHING COMPARES TO THE MUSTANG, BUT THE PAINT PEELING SOMETIMES IS A BIT EMBARRASSING BECAUSE IT?S A NICE CAR, WELL MAINTAINED, BUT THE PAINT IS PEELING. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO MAKE FORD REPAINT MY CAR FOR ME?

NHTSA complaint #10071359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Hempstead, NY Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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 complaint #8022026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Scarborough, ME Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN THE DRIVEWAY, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURSTED INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY LOST.

NHTSA complaint #821876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wichita FA, TX Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE PARKED, VEHICLE FIRE OCCURRED FROM UNDER HOOD.

NHTSA complaint #525468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bremen, GA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN PARKING LOT IT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALLED.

NHTSA complaint #820965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tobaccovil, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE CAR IS RUNNING IT SMOKES AND MAKES A CLANKING NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #510291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Matamoras, PA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

ALTERNATOR FAILED FIVE TIMES, ONCE RESULTING IN A FIRE. IN ADDITION, UNDER DASH ELECTRICAL WIRES SHORTED OUT, RESULTING IN A FIRE. ALSO REPLACED FUEL PUMP/ 2 COOLING FANS AND THROTTLE.

NHTSA complaint #518809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Virginia Beach, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE BURNED UP.

NHTSA complaint #505129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Gatos, CA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #505219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louiville, KY Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THEVEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AND THERE WAS A FIRE PRESENT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #983199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1990 Ford Mustang problems

← Full 1990 Ford Mustang report