# Recalls that may apply to the 1981 Ford Mustang

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

## United States (NHTSA), as of 2026-10-19

- [81V102000](/recalls/nhtsa/81V102000.md), 1981-09-08: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER. THE HOUSING PLATES ON THE DRIVER SEAT BACK LATCH RECLINER ASSEMBLIES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH SUBSTANDARD MATERIAL PRODUCTS. THIS TAINTED STEEL WAS USED TO PRODUCE SEATBACK LATCHES FOR BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE SEAT ASSEMBLIES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE DEFECTIVE HOUSING PLATES MAY DISTORT, ALLOWING THE LOCKING TEETH TO DISENGAGE AND TEAR OFF. THIS PERMITS THE SEATBACK TO PIVOT BACKWARDS. Built 1981\-07\-01 to 1981\-08\-01.

## Canada (Transport Canada), as of 2026-10-19

- [1988066](/recalls/tc/1988066.md), 1988-05-17: Seats And Restraints. THE FORWARD SCREW WHICH PROVIDES PART OF THE ATTACHMENT BETWEEN THE DRIVER\`S SEAT BACK ASSEMBLY AND THE SEAT CUSHION FRAME COULD FRACTURE AND PERMIT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK TO PIVOT REARWARD. SUCH A CONDITION COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. CORRECTION: NEW DRIVER'S SEAT CUSHION ATTACHMENT SCREWS WILL BE INSTALLED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.
- [1982102](/recalls/tc/1982102.md), 1982-12-20. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH CMVSS 209 \- SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES.
- [1981092](/recalls/tc/1981092.md), 1981-09-04. VEHICLES PRODUCED AT DEARBORN ASSEMBLY PLANT.  VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH DRIVER SEAT BACK LATCH RECLINER ASSEMBLIES THAT CONTAIN HOUSING PLATES MANUFACTURED FROM SUSPECT STEEL MATERIAL. UNDER CERTAIN TYPES OF DRIVER INDUCED SEAT LOADING THE RECLINER MECHANISM HOUSING PLATES MIGHT DISTORT ALLOWING THE LOCKING TEETH TO DISENGAGE.  THIS WOULD ALLOW THE SEAT BACK TO ROTATE REARWARD INTO A RECLINED POSITION.

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.

JSON: [/v1/vehicles/1981_ford_mustang/recalls](/v1/vehicles/1981_ford_mustang/recalls)

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