1989 FORD MUSTANG PROBLEMS

Model Trims
Mustang 2.3i (106 Hp)
Mustang 4.9 V8 (228 Hp)
Mustang 2.3i (106 Hp)
Mustang 4.9 V8 (228 Hp)

Issues by Year
Click on the chart bars to get detailed information about years to avoid
Malfunction Modules
Complaints and Common Faults
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1. Paint peeling:
- 2 driver's door handles paint peeling due to engineering flaw
- Crystal blue paint peeled off mainly in several large sections of the roof/hood
- Paint os peeling off the vehicle
- 2 driver's door handles paint peeling due to engineering flaw
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2. Electrical issues/fire:
- 5 months after recall campaign 96v071000 was done, wiring harness within steering column which controls high beams/flashers and windshield wipers burned, resulting in wiring harness inoperative as result of short circuit
- Fire starting in the engine compartment due to a defective wiring harness and alternator without any warning
- Electrical fire started under dash and steering column
- Electrical short or shock in ignition switch, causing the vehicle to catch on fire
- Electrical ignition switch was sticking, had it replaced, the car started overheating after replacing the switch, the recall letter was send out
- Ignition switch wiring shorted out, resulting in a fire
- Parked vehicle, turned ignition off and upon return vehicle caught on fire due to ignition wiring failure
- Vehicle fire due to ignition switch failure prior to recall notice
- 5 months after recall campaign 96v071000 was done, wiring harness within steering column which controls high beams/flashers and windshield wipers burned, resulting in wiring harness inoperative as result of short circuit
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3. Seatbelt issues:
- Both driver's and passenger's shoulder belts do not retract properly or will either just hang up, causing loss of protection
- Failure of the driver's and passenger's seat belt retractors, seat belts will not retract
- Failure of the rear lap belt, the buckle would not release, had to cut the belt to get child out
- Front passenger lap seat belt will not stay in locked position and is causing consumer not to have a seat belt on while driving
- Seat belt does not retract properly, resulting in driver hitting nose on steering wheel and can tangle
- Seatbelts pull out and latch however the cross body portion does not recede back into frame, only continues to loosen and not retract
- Both driver's and passenger's shoulder belts do not retract properly or will either just hang up, causing loss of protection
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4. Mechanical issues:
- Differential failure, while driving there is a loud noise under the vehicle
- Cruise control failure
- Door latch/striker failed (pennsylvania police report)
- Gear shift would not change gears unless car was off, also clutch cable broke
- Sudden acceleration, upon applying the accelerator pedal, caused vehicle to lose control
- Differential failure, while driving there is a loud noise under the vehicle
Other Models
- Aerostar Number of complaints: 3018
- Aspire Number of complaints: 278
- Bronco Number of complaints: 1374
- Bronco II Number of complaints: 257
- Bronco Sport Number of complaints: 534
- C-Max Number of complaints: 363
- C-Max Energi Number of complaints: 127
- C-Max Hybrid Number of complaints: 172
- Contour Number of complaints: 4342
- Crown Victoria Number of complaints: 3490
- E-150 Number of complaints: 1375
- E-250 Number of complaints: 427
- E-350 Number of complaints: 1416
- E-450 Number of complaints: 483
- E-550 Number of complaints: 91
- EcoSport Number of complaints: 1081
- Edge Number of complaints: 13049
- Escape Number of complaints: 27892
- Escape Hybrid Number of complaints: 1666
- Escort Number of complaints: 4937
- Escort ZX2 Number of complaints: 91
- Excursion Number of complaints: 1344
- Expedition Number of complaints: 9654
- Explorer Number of complaints: 34754
- Explorer Sport Number of complaints: 895
- Explorer Sport Trac Number of complaints: 881
- F-150 Number of complaints: 38224
- F-250 Number of complaints: 10492
- F-250 Super Duty Number of complaints: 3446
- F-350 Number of complaints: 5984
- F-350 Super Duty Number of complaints: 2099
- F-450 Number of complaints: 127
- F-450 Super Duty Number of complaints: 555
- F-550 Number of complaints: 74
- F-550 Super Duty Number of complaints: 550
- F-650 Number of complaints: 54
- F-650 Super Duty Number of complaints: 43
- F-750 Number of complaints: 11
- F-750 Super Duty Number of complaints: 9
- Festiva Number of complaints: 170
- Fiesta Number of complaints: 3686
- Five Hundred Number of complaints: 1466
- Flex Number of complaints: 1775
- Focus Number of complaints: 26424
- Focus Electric Number of complaints: 285
- Focus RS Number of complaints: 5
- Freestar Number of complaints: 3143
- Freestyle Number of complaints: 4914
- Fusion Number of complaints: 25001
- Fusion Energi Number of complaints: 199
- Fusion Hybrid Number of complaints: 1202
- LTD Number of complaints: 55
- Maverick Number of complaints: 757
- Mustang Number of complaints: 10395
- Mustang GT Number of complaints: 811
- Mustang Mach-E Number of complaints: 561
- Probe Number of complaints: 1452
- Ranger Number of complaints: 9595
- Ranger EV Number of complaints: 30
- Taurus Number of complaints: 22987
- Taurus SHO Number of complaints: 183
- Taurus X Number of complaints: 213
- Tempo Number of complaints: 1602
- Thunderbird Number of complaints: 3011
- Topaz Number of complaints: 19
- Transit Number of complaints: 608
- Transit Connect Number of complaints: 533
- Windstar Number of complaints: 18774