Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1984 Ford Mustang, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system9
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Steering3
- Seat belts2
- Equipment2
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Visibility1
- Power train1
- Tires1
- Vehicle speed control1
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 1984 Ford Mustang failed the safety check 0.63% of the time — 19% less often than the average 1984 passenger car (0.77%). Median odometer at inspection: 62,800 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
22 first registered in 1984 are on Dutch roads; 91% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde8
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen5
- Band onvoldoende profiel4
- Stofhoes stuurinrichting beschadigd, dicht niet af2
- Verstelinrichting bestuurderszitplaats of -rugleuning vergre2
- Ruitensproeierinstallatie werkt niet1
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse1
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 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 1984 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 Finland
5 of these cars first registered in 1984 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 64,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
16 1984 cars are on the New Zealand register; 81% arrived as used imports, 6% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 1984 Ford Mustang.
| 1992117 28 Sept 1992 | Seats And Restraints PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT MAY CAUSE THE FRONT SEAT BELT TONGUE ASSEMBLY PLASTIC SLEEVE THAT RETAINS THE LOCK BAR TO DETERIORATE AND BECOME DISPLACED. THI… |
| 1984117 28 Sept 1984 | Not Entered CARBURETOR THROTTLE SHAFTS MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO DIRT CONTAMINATION AND WEAR OF THE BEARING COATINGS. THIS COULD CAUSE THE SECONDARY THROTTLE PLATES TO REMAIN … |
| 1983114 17 Dec 1983 | Not Entered THE UPPER TORSO RESTRAINT D-RING WHICH ATTACHES THE SHOULDER BELT TO THE B PILLAR, UNDER CERTAIN TEST CONDITIONS, SEPARATED FROM ITS ANCHORAGE, AND MAY NOT COMP… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
THE PLASTIC SLEEVE IN THE FRONT SAFETY BELT TONGUE ASSEMBLY WHICH RETAINS THE LOCK BAR CAN DETERIORATE FROM PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT AND BECOME DISPLACED, CAUSING THE TONGUE TO DETACH FROM THE SAFETY BELT WEBBING.
THE SECONDARY THROTTLE SHAFT MAY, WITH ACCUMULATED MILEAGE, BECOME CONTAMINATED AND MAY STICK IN A PARTIALLY OPEN POSITION WHILE DRIVING.
THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE D-SHAPED RING FOR THE SHOULDER BELT ARE INADEQUATELY SUPPORTED BY THE MATERIAL IN WHICH THEY ARE MOUNTED. THE ATTACHMENT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES".
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 1984 Ford Mustang: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 616522 | SUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM. *TT |
| 601343 | A NEW SILICONE GASKET AND SEALANT. *YC |
| 601290 | INFORMATION ON TIRE COMPANY TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. *YC |
| 601238 | INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC |
| 601012 | THE USE OF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE AS A LUBRICANT IN SERVICING DISC BRAKES IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE. *YC |
| 51945 | FLUID- TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *JD |
| 50940 | WINDSHIELD AND INTERIOR GLASS - FOG/FILM. *TW |
| 50908 | TORQUE CONVERTER - LEAK TEST PROCEDURE - SERVICE TIP. *TW |
| 50905 | WIRING - ELECTRICAL DIODE IDENTIFICATION AND SERVICE REPLACEMENTS. *TW |
| 46478 | THE USE OF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE AS A LUBRICANT IN SERVICING DISC BRAKES IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE IT MAY BE INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE RUBBER MATERIAL USED IN THE DISC BRAKE SYSTEM. IF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE IS USED TO LUBRICATE ANY PART OF THE DISC BRAKE SYSTEM, IT COULD CAUSE RUBBER PARTS TO SWELL IF LUBRICANT CONTACTS THE RUBBER MATERIAL. |
| 39900 | ROUGHNESS CONCERN DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. *TW |
| 3010500 | UNKNOWN |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SAFETY BELT TONGUE BREAKS
SEAT BELT LATCH ASSEMBLY
STALLING
SEATBACK FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation