Defect
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
1990 Ford Mustang Recalls
Recalls on record Updated July 2026
The 1990 Ford Mustang has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 7,900,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 119 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
12fires
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
6crashes2injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1crashes3fires1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
5fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2crashes2fires2injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
5fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
3fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
2fires
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
1fires
Total complaints119
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“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”
“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”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1990 ford mustang. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the turn signals and air conditioner would not function. The contact was able to correct the failure by slightly turning back the ignition switch. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or…”
“Dt: the contact owns a 1990 ford mustang. The contact states that the motor caught on fire and melted the wiring under the hood. The air bag deployed without an accident. The cruise control does not work on the vehicle. Picutres are available if needed.”
“I have a ford mustang 1990. The electronical system has gone down the toliet. Both the electronical front windows and the automatic locks barely work. Both the front windows work but as they are rolling up they squeak like no other. The locking mechanisms on the driver and passenger side have a…”
“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,…”
“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,…”
“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,…”
Defect investigations
Investigation PE91089 Opened 1991-06-19 · closed 1991-11-26
THROTTLE STICKS, HIGH IDLE
There is no summary currently available
Investigation PE91137 Opened 1991-10-09 · closed 1992-02-27
HOOD LATCH FAILURES
There is no summary currently available
Investigation PE94010 Opened 1994-02-02 · closed 1994-04-19
FUEL LINE ROUTING
There is no summary currently available
Sources & methodology
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1990 Ford Mustang as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.