49 of the 127 complaints about the 1989 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 123,000 miles.
49
Complaints
0
Crashes
29
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY BECAME EXTREMELY HOT. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TO GET A DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #10588614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD MUSTANG. WHENEVER THE KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION TO START THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE CONTACT MUST REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND RETRY IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. HE DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V071000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION); HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 6/16/08 *CN THE STARTER AND RELAY WERE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10229082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD MUSTANG. WHENEVER THE KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION TO START THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE CONTACT MUST REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND RETRY IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. HE DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V071000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION); HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 6/16/08 *CN THE STARTER AND RELAY WERE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10229082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL #96 V 071 000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10011129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED ON STEERING WHEEL IT CAUSES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND VEHICLE TO SHUTDOWN WHILE DRIVING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8018145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED ON STEERING WHEEL IT CAUSES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND VEHICLE TO SHUTDOWN WHILE DRIVING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8018145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
UNDER HOT CONDITIONS IGNITION SPARKS AND CLICKS. DEALER HAS REPLACED SWITCH THREE TIMES, AND PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8013249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CONSUMER STATES UNDER HOT WEATHER CONDITIONS THE VEHICLES IGNITION WILL SPARK AND CLICK. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED SWITCH 3 TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8013259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 96V071000. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND TOOK VEHICLE ON APPOINTED DATE. AFTER PICKING UP VEHICLE, NOTICED IGNITION ACTED SAME AS BEFORE GOING TO DEALER. OWNER TOOK IGNITION APART AND CONTACTED MANUFACTURER FOR PART NUMBER OF REPLACEMENT. PART WAS NEVER REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP.*AK
NHTSA complaint #8004461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #873981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAVE RECENTLY CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. MY FRIEND HAS A 1988 MUSTANG, WHO HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES. I AM AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER AND KNOW THAT THIS PROBLEM IS THE RESULT OF A BAD DESIGN (I.E. THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE GETS TOO HOT, WHICH CAUSES THE TRANSISTORS TO FUNCTION IMPROPERLY). THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM AND I HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE MANY LIVES TO FIGURE THIS OUT. THANK YOU, JOSH SHAW
NHTSA complaint #734816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS, THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE SURGES AND CUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. PROBLEM MOST OFTEN OCCURS WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT AND THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON.
NHTSA complaint #734391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
FUEL PUMP SAFETY SWITCH WOULD ENGAGE ON ITS OWN & CAR WOULDN'T START UNLESS YOU HIT THE SWITCH. ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND SO HAS BATTERY.
NHTSA complaint #732079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 96V071000 AND CONTACTED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS OF IGNITION SWITCH. 4 YEARS LATER, IGNITION SWITCH HAD A SHORT. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR, WAS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER AGREED WITH DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #868492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
RECALL 96V071000/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IGNITION SWITCH. VEHICLE HAD A BROKEN IGNITION SWITCH, AND CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE RECALL WAS THE REASON FOR THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, MSNUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #863149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
A FIRE STARTING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DUE TO A DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS AND ALTERNATOR WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *AK
NHTSA complaint #862193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
THE FUSE BOX CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN CONSUMER ACCIDENTALLY DROPPED A PENNY INTO THE CIGARETTE LIGHT. CONSUMER FEELS THE FUSE SHOULD HAVE BLOWN TO PREVENT THE FIRE FROM OCCURING. NLM
NHTSA complaint #550488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT ON 1/31/96. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. THE FIRE COMPLETELY CONSUMED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND INTERIOR DASHBOARD AREA. THE PALM BEACH GARDENS FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, HOWEVER THE CAR WAS TOTALED DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INCIDENT REPORT INDICATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY IGNITION RELAY. THE CAR WAS REMOVED BY A TOWING SERVICE AND DELIVERED TO A JUNK YARD. A TOTAL OF $100 WAS PROVIDED FOR THE CAR FOR USED PARTS. THERE WAS NO INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THIS INCIDENT. ON SEPT. 1996, WE RECEIVED A SAFETY RECAL NOTICE FROM THE FORD MOTOR CO. STATING THAT 1988-93 MODEL MUSTANGS COULD EXPERIENCE A SHORT CIRCUT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH LEADING TO OVERHEATING AND POSSIBLY FIRE. WE HAVE ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO CONTACT FORD MOTOR CO. BUT HAVE RECEIVED NO SUPPORTING RESPONCE. ALSO, THE DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT INDICATED THAT OUR APPLICATION DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE BOARD. WE HAVE A COPY OF THE FIRE REPORT AND PHOTOS OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE ADVISE.
NHTSA complaint #710457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE RECEIVED RECALL REPAIR WORK ON THE IGNITION SYSTEM (96V-071) ON APRIL 21, 1999 ON APRIL 26, 1999 VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURE. MJS
NHTSA complaint #546009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH (ELECTRICAL) PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.
NHTSA complaint #507235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE FAULTY IGNITION FAILED AFTER RECALL REPAIR CAUSING IT TO CATCH ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #528064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.
NHTSA complaint #515041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE RESULTED IN FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.
NHTSA complaint #509749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES AFTER PARKING FIRE STARTED UNDER HOOD. DURING EXTINGUISH NOTICED SPARKING AT ALTERNATOR WIRE HOOKUPS.
NHTSA complaint #780696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL FOR IGNITION SWITCH, STATES THAT DEALER WILL REPLACE SWITCH WITH NEW ONE. DEALER DID NOT, THEREFORE 10 MONTHS LATER VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THIS.
NHTSA complaint #820590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #524890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD.OWNER PULLED OVER AND FIRE STARTED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BURN UP COMPLETELY.
NHTSA complaint #819046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #519172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #515041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WIRING HARNESS FIRE AFTER RECALL REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #515584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.