1991 Ford Mustang: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 1991 Ford Mustang: 2 recalls, 77 owner complaints and up to 22 mpg combined.

Recalls
2 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 4 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #91V048000 · 1991 · 6,800 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If park is not engaged and the parking brake is off, avehicle roll-away could result.
The fix: Replace park rod assembly on automatic transmissions.
Electrical Vehicle recall #96V071000 · 1996 · 7,900,000 vehicles
What's wrong: The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
Why it matters: This condition could cause overheating, smoke, and possibly fire in the steering column area of the vehicle.
The fix: Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
4 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Exterior lights Equipment recall #06E049000 · 2006 · 27,176 vehicles
What's wrong: 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. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
Why it matters: Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
The fix: Ck motorsport will notify owners and replace the noncompliant lamps free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2006.
Exterior lights Equipment recall #08E050000 · 2008 · 1,921 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 associated equipment."
Why it matters: Without the amber side reflex reflectors, the lighting visibility May be affected, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The fix: K2 motor will notify owners and offer a full refund. The recall began on decemeber 17, 2008.
Exterior lights Equipment recall #09E012000 · 2009 · 16,270 vehicles
What's wrong: These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
Why it matters: Decreased lighting visibility May result in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009.
Exterior lights Equipment recall #09E025000 · 2009 · 42,540 vehicles
What's wrong: 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, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
Why it matters: Decreased lighting visibility May result in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Dope, Inc. will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 22 mention a fire, 3 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (31): the most common themes are fire / smoke (17), electrical failure (8).
- Transmission & drivetrain (9): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Airbags (7): the most common themes are fails to deploy (3).
- Engine & cooling (6): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 1991 Ford Mustang has 77 owner complaints, ranking #31 of 37 Mustang model years for complaints (well below the 240 average). Complaints peaked in 1996 (15 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 119,500 miles. Neighboring years: 1990 (85 complaints, 1 recalls), 1992 (69 complaints, 1 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 | 28 | 22 | Regular |
| 2.3 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 | 26 | 21 | Regular |
| 5.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 19 | Regular |
| 5.0 L 8-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 22 | 17 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 1991 Ford Mustang.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
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FAQ
Does the 1991 Ford Mustang have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 vehicle recalls for the 1991 Ford Mustang, plus 4 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 1991 Ford Mustang problems?
Owners have filed 77 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (31), transmission & drivetrain (9), airbags (7).
What gas mileage does the 1991 Ford Mustang get?
EPA ratings run up to 22 mpg combined (2.3 L, Manual 5-spd), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 1991 Ford Mustang repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.