Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1980 Mustang.
The 1980 Ford Mustang enters the reference record as a comparatively low-complaint entry in the model's long reliability history, with just 8 total owner complaints and 2 recalls on file against it. Steering stands out as the top complaint area for this model year, a detail worth flagging for researchers tracing systemic weaknesses across generations of the nameplate. When measured against the broader Mustang complaint history spanning 1990 through 2026—where the 2005 model year spikes to 868 complaints and the 2026 floor drops to just 4—the 1980 Mustang's modest complaint total suggests a relatively trouble-free early chapter, though its pair of recalls means it is not without documented safety concerns for anyone assessing long-term ownership risk.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 179.1 in |
| Overall width | 64.2 in |
| Overall height | 53.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 101.2 in |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Mustang of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Cobra Hatchback Coupe 2.3L Turbo I-4 | 10.80 sec | 18.20 sec | 132 hp | RWD |
| 1979 | Cobra Hatchback Coupe 4.9L V8 | 8.30 sec | 17.00 sec | 139 hp | RWD |
| 1979 | Hatchback Coupe 2.8L V6 | 10.70 sec | 18.60 sec | 109 hp | RWD |
| 1979 | Hatchback Coupe 3.3L I-6 | 12.90 sec | 19.20 sec | 109 hp | RWD |
| 1982 | GT Hatchback Coupe 5.0L V8 | 8.00 sec | 16.30 sec | 157 hp | RWD |
| 1982 | GT Hatchback Coupe 5.0L V8 | 8.10 sec | 16.20 sec | 157 hp | RWD |
| 1983 | GT Hatchback Coupe 5.0L V8 | 7.00 sec | 15.40 sec | 175 hp | RWD |
| 1983 | GT Hatchback Coupe 5.0L V8 | 7.43 sec | 16.06 sec | 175 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The provided federal record spans from 1990 to 2026 and entirely omits the 1980 target year and its immediate predecessors and successors, meaning the data does not specify the complaint and recall trends across the 1980 generation or where this model falls in that arc. Isolated metrics for the 1980 Ford Mustang reveal a very low total of 8 complaints, primarily concentrated in Steering and Service Brakes, Hydraulic (3 each), alongside 1 fire complaint and 0 crash complaints. The data does not specify the root causes for these steering or braking issues. Because the record lacks the necessary historical context to compare 1980 against its own generation, it is impossible to definitively rank its reliability relative to adjacent model years. Nevertheless, the extremely low complaint volume suggests 1980 is a viable year to buy, provided a prospective buyer specifically ensures the steering and hydraulic braking systems are thoroughly inspected.
All 8 complaints on record, top 4 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
INTERCONTINENTAL AUTO PARTS IS RECALLING 1,937 FUEL FILTERS, P/NOS ALG 44/1 AND PUROLATOR F10024, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 14 AND FEBRUARY 13, 2008, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FILTER'S OUTLET CAP MAY… Remedy: INTERCONTINENTAL WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING MARCH 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT INTERCONTINENTAL AT 800-451-2593.
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE… Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
Showing 5 of 7 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80-11-2 | 1980-06-01 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | UNKNOWN |
| 80-12-8 | 1980-06-01 | Power Train | UNKNOWN |
| 80-3-6-S | 1980-06-01 | Electrical System | UNKNOWN |
| 80-11-12 | 1980-06-01 | Engine And Engine Cooling | UNKNOWN |
| 80-11-9 | 1980-06-01 | Fuel System, Gasoline | UNKNOWN |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.