FaultScore

1986 Ford Mustang electrical problems

11 of the 32 complaints about the 1986 Ford Mustang are about the electrical system — 34% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 91,000 miles.

F

11

Complaints

0

Crashes

3

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Ignition 6 54.5%
Switch 3 27.3%
Front Underhood 1 9.1%
Coil 1 9.1%

Electrical System across every Ford Mustang year

1984 14 1.2%
1986 11 1.0%
1987 17 1.5%
1988 60 5.2%
1989 49 4.3%
1990 42 3.7%
1991 38 3.3%
1992 31 2.7%
1993 34 3.0%
1994 26 2.3%
1995 39 3.4%
1996 12 1.0%
1997 10 0.9%
1998 15 1.3%
1999 11 1.0%
2000 17 1.5%
2001 10 0.9%
2002 10 0.9%
2003 10 0.9%
2005 231 20.1%
2006 31 2.7%
2007 35 3.0%
2008 16 1.4%
2010 10 0.9%
2011 24 2.1%
2012 21 1.8%
2013 18 1.6%
2014 11 1.0%
2015 66 5.7%
2016 72 6.3%
2017 34 3.0%
2018 31 2.7%
2019 32 2.8%
2020 25 2.2%
2024 35 3.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 62,000 miles Rocky River, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:COIL

The contact owns a 1986 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled and he was able to continue driving in second gear. The vehicle then lost motive power and failed to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that due to an electrical failure, the spark plugs, distributor cap, ignition wires, and the ignition control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle was jerking and then lost motive power. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed back to the independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the timing belt, the gears, and the distributor needed to be replaced. The timing belt and gears were repaired. The contact stated that there was no replacement distributor available so the distributor was sent out to be rebuilt and was then reinstalled in the vehicle; however, when the vehicle was test driven and turned off, the vehicle failed to restart. The failure could not be duplicated. The manufacture was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000.

NHTSA complaint #11486404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Renton, WA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE IGNITION SWITCH( THE ONE'S RECALLED FOR 88-93 MUSTANGS 96V071000 ) IS FAILING INTERMITTENTLY, THE ENGINE WILL TURN OFF WITHOUT NOTICE. MINE HAS BEEN HAPPENING OR MANY YEARS NOW. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE, A COUPLE OF TIMES A DAY. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP TO INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE IN THE CURRENT RECALL(96V071000) AFTER ALL IT IS THE SAME PART. THANKS A LOT.

NHTSA complaint #10200906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lancaster, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

IGNITION MODULE MOUNTED ON DITRIBUTOR, $148.00 REPLACMENT COST.

NHTSA complaint #750478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Turlock, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

IGNITION MODULE FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #557211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

I READ IN MY LOCAL NEWSPAPER THAT YOU ARE STILL TRYING TO FORCE FORD TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES. ON YOUR WEBSITE I FOUND NUMEROUS SERVICE BULLETINS INCLUDING NHTSA ITEM NUMBERS: 85891, 88320, 88321, 95709, 95716, 97188, SB006577, SB007982, SB024868. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 15 YEARS. COULD YOU GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE WHEN SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN TO HAVE FORD OWN UP TO THEIR POOR ENGINEERING. AS EMISSIONS ARE ALSO EFFECTED IN ADDITION TO DRIVER SAFETY WHEN THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY, I AM VERY CONCERNED. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1000 DOLLARS AND COUNTLESS HOURS TRYING TO CURE SOMETHING THAT I DID NOT REALIZE AT THE TIME WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THANKS FOR PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET. IT IS A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR THE PUBLIC.

NHTSA complaint #731626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bloomfield, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #715930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cotati, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE QUIT, AND LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK

NHTSA complaint #833753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Orlando, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

THE CAR WAS PARKED AND IT WENT UP IN FLAMES DUE TO THE IGNITON SWITCH.PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #985949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FT. Worth, TX Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IT STARTED SMOKING FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE.PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #984907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Largo, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CONSUMER SMELLS A BAD ODOR IN THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH IS STICKING.

NHTSA complaint #983632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Metuchen, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE VEHICLE DIED ON THE ROAD DUE TO THE IGNITON MODULE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #983523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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