Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1983 Ford Mustang, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system3
- Steering1
- Engine and engine cooling1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1983 Ford Mustang failed the safety check 1.34% of the time — 57% more often than the average 1983 passenger car (0.85%). Median odometer at inspection: 64,463 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
26 first registered in 1983 are on Dutch roads; 96% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen5
- Remverschil op 1 as te groot5
- Remslang beschadigd, wapeningsmateriaal zichtbaar3
- CO meer dan wettelijk toegestaan2
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse2
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld2
- Achterlicht werkt niet (goed)1
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm1
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
3 cars built in 1983 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In New Zealand
13 1983 cars are on the New Zealand register; 62% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1983 Ford Mustang.
| 1988066 17 May 1988 | Seats And Restraints THE FORWARD SCREW WHICH PROVIDES PART OF THE ATTACHMENT BETWEEN THE DRIVER`S SEAT BACK ASSEMBLY AND THE SEAT CUSHION FRAME COULD FRACTURE AND PERMIT THE DRIVER'… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1983 Ford Mustang.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1983 Ford Mustang: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 69012 | UNKNOWN |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 601238 | INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC |
| 51945 | FLUID- TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *JD |
| 39900 | ROUGHNESS CONCERN DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. *TW |
| 3010500 | UNKNOWN |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FLOOR PAN FRACTURE
SEATBACK FAILURE
FLOOR PAN CRACKS
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation