FaultScore report
Owners have filed 44 complaints about the 1987 Ford Mustang with NHTSA between 1995 and 2020. The largest single group is the electrical system.
44
Complaints
4
Crashes reported
14
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Median failure at 126,000 miles
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 48,000 mi
1 crashes, 3 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
Median failure at 126,000 miles
1 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 1 fires
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTION
HOOD LATCH FAILURES
HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY FAILURE
FR SEAT FLOOR MOUNT FAILS
SPEED CNTRL MALFUNCTION
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SPEED CONTROL MALFUNCTION
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A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.
Emissions
CERTAIN 1987-89 MUSTANG 2.3 LITRE, 1986 MUSTANG & CAPRI 5.0 LITRE HO, AND 1987-89 MUSTANG & MARK VII 5.0 LITRE HO. THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. THE SUBSTRATE IN THE CATALYST MAY RATTLE AND BREAK UP DURING NORMAL USE CAUSING EXHAUST EMISSIONS TO EXCEED THE STANDARD. CORRECTION: CATALYST WILL BE REPLACED WHERE NECESSARY.
Fuel System
ON VEHICLES WITH EFI OR CFI, THE SPRING-LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING USED TO CONNECT THE FUEL SUPPLY AND RETURN LINES TO THE EFI FUEL RAILS OR TO THE CFI THROTTLE BODIES AS WELL AS OTHER FUEL LINE CONNECTIONS NEAR THE DASH PANELS ON SOME VEHICLES, COULD DISENGAGE DURING VEHICLE USE. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, LOSS OF FUEL WILL RESULT, PROVIDING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE. CORRECTION: COUPLING RETAINER CLIPS WILL BE INSTALLED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES. NOTE: ESCORT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH EFI AND CFI. LYNX VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH CFI ONLY. EFI - ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION CFI - CENTRAL FUEL INJECTION
Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
THE ALTERNATOR ON MY WIFE'S 1987 MUSTANG GT CAUGHT FIRE, DAMAGING ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPONETS BEFORE FIRE COULD BE EXTINGUISHED.
NHTSA complaint #10003325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE. FUEL CUT OFF SYSTEM SHUT OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8006246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE. FUEL CUT OFF SYSTEM SHUT OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8006246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ALTERNATOR HAS CAUGHTON FIRE TWICE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT, HARNESS HOT.
NHTSA complaint #724616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
WAS DRIVING AND VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. IT WAS TOTALLED. FORD DENIED THEY WERE ARE FAULT. YEARS LATER IT WAS PROVEN THERE WAS A VEHICLE DEFECT. INSURANCE HAD TO PAY OFF BALANCE AND I AM STILL WITHOUT A CAR 9 YEARS LATER.
NHTSA complaint #711618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID
FORD SOLENOID SWITCH HAS WEAK SPRING WHICH, OVER TIME, WEARS OUT AND ALLOWS VECHICLE TO CRANK OVER ON ITS OWN. THIS CAUSED FIRE AND EXPLOSION WHICH INJURED TWO PEOPLE AND DESTROYED GARAGE.
NHTSA complaint #710198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY COMPLAINT DOESN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM BUT IT WAS REQUIRED. MY COMPLAINT IS WITH NEW CARS NEW CARS COMING OUT NOW WHERE THEIR HEADLIGHTS ARE THERE LOW BEAMS ARE UNBELIEVABLY BRIGHT AND I CANNOT BELIEVE IF YOU'VE EVER DRIVEN AT NIGHT YOU DON'T SEE THE SAME PROBLEM IT'S BLINDING IT'S RIDICULOUS. I MEAN HONESTLY LET'S DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. YOU GUYS ARE ALL WORRIED ABOUT SPEED AND WHAT NOT BUT AT LEAST YOU CAN SEE A STREAK OF ME GOING BY GOING FAST BUT YOU'RE BLINDED WITH THOSE LIGHTS I THINK THAT'S A WAY OF MORE OF A SAFETY HAZARD THAN SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #11320733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
MY COMPLAINT DOESN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM BUT IT WAS REQUIRED. MY COMPLAINT IS WITH NEW CARS NEW CARS COMING OUT NOW WHERE THEIR HEADLIGHTS ARE THERE LOW BEAMS ARE UNBELIEVABLY BRIGHT AND I CANNOT BELIEVE IF YOU'VE EVER DRIVEN AT NIGHT YOU DON'T SEE THE SAME PROBLEM IT'S BLINDING IT'S RIDICULOUS. I MEAN HONESTLY LET'S DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. YOU GUYS ARE ALL WORRIED ABOUT SPEED AND WHAT NOT BUT AT LEAST YOU CAN SEE A STREAK OF ME GOING BY GOING FAST BUT YOU'RE BLINDED WITH THOSE LIGHTS I THINK THAT'S A WAY OF MORE OF A SAFETY HAZARD THAN SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #11320733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE RACES TO 3000-4000 RPM SUDDENLY, WHILE DRIVING OR IDLING. WHEN IGNITION IS SWITCHED OFF AND THEN BACK ON, ENGINE RETURNS TO NORMAL IDLE. THIS OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE ABOUT 1992.
NHTSA complaint #10305291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEAD LIGHT SYSTEM. THE HEADLIGHTS ON SEVERAL FORD CARS LEAK AND ALLOW WATER TO ENTER RESULTING IN DIM LIGHTS THAT ARE UNSAFE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THESE ON SEVERAL CARS. 1987 MUSTANG, 1988 THUNDERBIRD AND 1993 CROWN VICTORIA.
NHTSA complaint #10064446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
THE ALTERNATOR ON MY WIFE'S 1987 MUSTANG GT CAUGHT FIRE, DAMAGING ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPONETS BEFORE FIRE COULD BE EXTINGUISHED.
NHTSA complaint #10003325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS .PLEASE ADD MORE DETAILS. MR
NHTSA complaint #8021165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TFI MODULE FAILED WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY. AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE, ALL POWER WAS LOST WITH DRIVER STRANDED ON HIGHWAY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AKI
NHTSA complaint #8011277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE. FUEL CUT OFF SYSTEM SHUT OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8006246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE. FUEL CUT OFF SYSTEM SHUT OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8006246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ENGINE QUIT IN SUMMER OF 91.WAS ABLE TO DRIVE 2 MILES BY ENGAGING STARTER ON AND OFF.REPLACED THICK FILM IGN MODULE.
NHTSA complaint #753782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CRUISE CONTROL STUCK AND DID NOT RELEASE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL AND RESULT IN COLLISION. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #557953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THICK FILM IGNITION MODULE REPEATEDLY FAILS - CAR SIMPLY QUITS WHEN FAILING.
NHTSA complaint #737839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
A "FLOATING SHORT" HAS RUINED TO DIFFERENT HORNS, THE MAP LIGHT, THE RPM GAUGE, THE FUEL GUAGE, AND TWO STEREOS. IN ADDITION, THE HEAT/AIR ONLY WORK ON HIGH, AND THE DASH LIGHTS NOW ONLY WORK ON THE BRIGHTEST SETTING AND ARE STILL FADED TO THE POINT IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO READ.
NHTSA complaint #737810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ALTERNATOR HAS CAUGHTON FIRE TWICE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT, HARNESS HOT.
NHTSA complaint #724616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING CAR WOULD SHUT OFF AT ANY TIME. CONSUMER WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT TWICE BECAUSE OF THE CAR CUTTING OFF. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #858272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHEN OPERATING THE FOG LIGHTS HEADLIGHTS BECOME INOPERATIVE, CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #852970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
WHEN OPERATING THE FOG LIGHTS HEADLIGHTS BECOME INOPERATIVE, CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #852970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
WAS DRIVING AND VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. IT WAS TOTALLED. FORD DENIED THEY WERE ARE FAULT. YEARS LATER IT WAS PROVEN THERE WAS A VEHICLE DEFECT. INSURANCE HAD TO PAY OFF BALANCE AND I AM STILL WITHOUT A CAR 9 YEARS LATER.
NHTSA complaint #711618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID
FORD SOLENOID SWITCH HAS WEAK SPRING WHICH, OVER TIME, WEARS OUT AND ALLOWS VECHICLE TO CRANK OVER ON ITS OWN. THIS CAUSED FIRE AND EXPLOSION WHICH INJURED TWO PEOPLE AND DESTROYED GARAGE.
NHTSA complaint #710198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THE HEADLIGHT AND FOG LIGHT SWITCHES BURNED AND MELTED, WHICH CAUSED MY FOG LIGHTS TO NOT WORK. THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WOULD NOT LET MY LIGHTS TURN ON SOMETIMES AND ALSO CAUSE THEM TO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. I ALSO CANNOT USE MY BRIGHTS BECAUSE OF THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #704431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLE LOST ALL WATER DUE TO "T" CONNECTOR BROKE APART RESULTING IN LEAKAGE, HEAT GAUGE FAILED TO IDENTIFY WATER LOSS AND OVERHEATING.
NHTSA complaint #533704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
VEHICLE LOST ALL WATER DUE TO "T" CONNECTOR BROKE APART RESULTING IN LEAKAGE, HEAT GAUGE FAILED TO IDENTIFY WATER LOSS AND OVERHEATING.
NHTSA complaint #533704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
THE HEATER HOSE "T" CONNECTOR FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF WATER RESULTING IN ENGINE BLOCK TO CRACK.
NHTSA complaint #516203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE SEAT BELTS ON THIS CONVERTIBLE FLY IN THE WIND WHEN TOP IS DOWN, AND DON'T RETRACT WHEN GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #821470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THE ECA'S AND PLUG ARE NOT HEAVY ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE AMPERAGE WHEN THE ENGINE COOLANT SENSOR CLOSES TO MAKE THE RADIATOR COOLING FAN MOTOR RUN. THE ECA AND PLUGT HAS BURNED TO THE POINT OF ALMOST CATCHING THE VEHICLE ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #522519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.