1988 Ford Mustang vs 1989 Ford Mustang
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1988 Ford Mustang | 1989 Ford Mustang |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 108 | 109 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 27 | 27 |
| Investigations | 5 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 2 | 3 |
| Fire reports | 38 | 33 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 17–24 | 18–22 |
| Median reported mileage | — | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Mustang | Ford Mustang |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 56 | 46 |
| Seat Belts | 10 | 20 |
| Exterior Lighting | 16 | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 9 |
| Structure | 3 | 8 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 7 | 3 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 6 |
| Seats | 2 | 8 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 9 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 8 | 6 |
| Overheating | 5 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 5 |
1988 Ford Mustang
1989 Ford Mustang
Compare all Ford Mustang vs Ford Mustang years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.