Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 132 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993 Ford Mustang, and it carries 7 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 32 | 24% |
| Air bags | 15 | 11% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 13 | 10% |
| Visibility | 9 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 8 | 6% |
| Power train | 6 | 5% |
| Fuel system | 6 | 5% |
| Steering | 6 | 5% |
| Structure | 6 | 5% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
MY NAME IS [XXX] AS [XXX] I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN 1997 WHILE DRIVING MY SON IN LAWS FORD MUSTANG THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND SEAT BELT GRABBED WELL THE AIRBAG EXPLODED IN MY FACE CAUSE GREAT DAMAGE I LOST SITE IN RIGHT EYE B
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I BOUGHT A 93 MUSTANG 4 CYLINDER WITH 12,000 MILES ON IT IN 12\93. THE CAR NOW ONLY HAS 28,000 MILES ON IT TOTAL. THE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK, THE HATCHBACK LATCH DOESN'T ENGAGE CORRECTLY, WHEN I GO TO LOCK THE IGNITION
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
1993 FORD MUSTANG IGNITION SYSTEM FIRE VEHICLE WAS IN GARAGE AFTER BEING DRIVEN THE DAY BEFORE. ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE STARTER THEN SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL FR
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
STUCK GAS PEDAL THROTTLE LINKAGE CAUSING CONTINUOUS FULL THROTTLE TRANSMISSION KICK DOWN CABLE ON 1993 FORD MUSTANG 5.0 LX MUSTANG THAT CONTROLS FLUID DELIVERY TO TRANSMISSION OVERDRIVE AND IS ATTACHED TO THROTTLE CONTR
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
TOGGLE SWITCH ON SUNROOF HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND NOW IT HAS GONE OUT AGAIN. DOES NOT STOP ON ITS OWN FOR OPEN AND CLOSE. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT CONTINUES TO BREAK.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
DT: THE VEHICLE BLEW UP AND CAUGHT ON FIRE DAMAGING 3 OTHER VEHICLE AROUND IT. THE FIRE MARSHAL CAME OUT AND SAID IT WAS MECHIANICAL AND ELECTRICAL DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS COMING TO INVESTAGA
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
VEHICLE COMMENCED TO ACCELERATE WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT 55 MPH. VEHICLE SPEED UP TO 80 MPH BEFORE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. CONSUMER SHIFTE D THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND COASTED OUT
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE 30 TO 40 MILES TO A DOCTOR. PARKED FOR 10 MINUTES, AND CAR WAS REPORTED ON FIRE. FIRE FIGHTER SAID ALTENATOR STARTED THE FIRE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE ALTENATOR HAD BEEN REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 1993 Ford Mustang. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND A
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
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 STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
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 STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
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 FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
| Reliability | 59 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 67 | good |
| Maintenance | 69 | good |
| Depreciation | 96 | excellent |
| Performance | 71 | good |
| Efficiency | 33 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 132 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 32 of them (24%). There are 7 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 59/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.
AVOIR scores its longevity 67/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1993 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.