17 of the 44 complaints about the 1987 Ford Mustang are about the electrical system — 39% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 65,000 miles.
17
Complaints
0
Crashes
9
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
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.
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.
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.
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: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: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.
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL ALTERNATOR MALUNCTIONING.
NHTSA complaint #808642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #504639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #505869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED AND THEN IT BURNED TO THE GROUND DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #984642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT, DRIVER DID NOT NOTICE VEHICLE UNTIL NEXT MORNING, FIRE DEPT. SAID FIRE HAD OCCURRED TO VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #984594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
EXPERIENCED SMOKE FROM IGNITION AREA.
NHTSA complaint #983638 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE PARKED IN GARAGE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES LAKE BURST INTO FLAMES AND TOTALED THE HOUSE.
NHTSA complaint #983115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
SHORT CIRCUIT IN WIRING UNDER HOOD CAUSED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. TT
NHTSA complaint #961879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.