1991 Ford Mustang Problems, Recalls & Reliability

98 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1991 Ford Mustang, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 14/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Electrical leads the reports.

One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 1991 Ford Mustang has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.

98Complaints
14/100Trouble index
6Recalls

Better year

Where 1991 sits among all Mustang years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Electrical 41 complaints (42%)
“Ignition switch failed per recall notice 95s28, consumer experiencing dealer problem because he wants dealer to give him the defective ignition switch. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 1991 Mustang
Transmission & drivetrain 9 complaints (9%)
Airbags 7 complaints (7%)
Brakes & stability 7 complaints (7%)
Engine 7 complaints (7%)
Seats & interior 5 complaints (5%)

Recalls (6)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 09E025000 2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…

Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 09E012000 2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…

Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 08E050000 2008

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD…

Fix: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 06E049000 2006

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO…

Fix: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 96V071000 1996

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

POWER TRAIN 91V048000 1991

THE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY CONTAINS A PARK CAM WITH INADEQUATE SURFACE HARDNESS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO PARK DISENGAGEMENT OR NO PARK ENGAGEMENT WHEN THE LEVER IS PLACED IN PARK.

Fix: REPLACE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.

Federal defect investigations

FUEL LINE ROUTING PE94010 opened 1994, closed 1994
HOOD LATCH FAILURES PE91137 opened 1991, closed 1992

Technical service bulletins

35 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on transmission & drivetrain and engine — are on file for the 1991 Ford Mustang. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 1991 Mustang TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

1995peak 26 in 19962020

Questions buyers ask

Is the 1991 Ford Mustang reliable?

The 1991 Ford Mustang drew 98 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 14/100, scored against the model's worst year (2005).

What are the most common 1991 Ford Mustang problems?

The top reported problems for the 1991 Ford Mustang are electrical (41 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (9), and airbags (7).

Does the 1991 Ford Mustang have recalls?

6 recall campaigns apply to the 1991 Ford Mustang. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

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Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.