Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the reliability record is poor enough to outweigh everything else here.
Owners have filed 440 complaints with NHTSA about the 1994 Ford Mustang, and it carries 13 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 155 | 35% |
| Power train | 41 | 9% |
| Air bags | 31 | 7% |
| Seats | 23 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 22 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 20 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 13 | 3% |
| Structure | 11 | 3% |
| Suspension | 11 | 3% |
| Visibility | 11 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLAMPS WERE VERY DIM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HOOD LATCH FRACTURED CAUSING THE HOOD TO
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE RIM. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT SLID INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND WENT A
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONT
NHTSA complaint: Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK SEPARATED FROM THE STRAP. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE HIMSELF AND FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANK AND STRAPS FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. THE CON
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
WHILE TRYING TO BUCKLE UP THE LOWER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR LOCKED AND WILL NOT UNLOCK. I TRIED CONTACTING EVERY THIRD PART, OEM AND DEALER IN THE EASTERN HALF OF THE UNITED STATES FOR A REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT. THIS PART IS
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
STARTED CAR, DROVE LESS THAN A MILE DOWN THE ROAD AND GOT A BIG CLOUD OF SMOKE INSIDE THE CAR. PULLED OVER AND MADE IT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THE BACK PANEL WAS ALREADY BUBBLING WITH FIRE. CALLED 911 BUT THE CAR WAS
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE MADE A STRANGE SOUND THEN ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHIC
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. A DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DEALER WAS FORTHCOMING. THE VEHICLE HAD N
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns for the 1994 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.
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.
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.
CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPME
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
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.
| Reliability | 41 | below average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 61 | average |
| Maintenance | 69 | good |
| Depreciation | 96 | excellent |
| Performance | 58 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 440 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 155 of them (35%). There are 13 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 41/100 (below 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 61/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1994 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: skip, because the reliability record is poor enough to outweigh everything else here. Its overall ownership score is 60/100. 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.