FaultScore

1997 Ford Mustang electrical problems

10 of the 231 complaints about the 1997 Ford Mustang are about the electrical system — 4% of everything reported for this model year.

B

10

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electrical System 3 30.0%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 2 20.0%
Ignition 1 10.0%
Module 1 10.0%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers 1 10.0%
Interior/Under Dash 1 10.0%
Switch 1 10.0%

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.

Louisville, KY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

USED WRONG KEY IN IGNITION AND IT BLEW UP THE IGNITION SYSTEM. HAD KEY MADE AT A LOCAL HARDWARE STORE. AFTER 4 WEEKS OF FORD PROMISING ASSISTANCE-THEY DENIED IT. TRYING A WRONG KEY SHOULD NOT CAUSE THE MODULE AND TRANSCEIVER TO GO BAD. FOLLOWED RECOVERY PROCEDURE IN OWNERS MANUAL BUT CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. THIS COULD BE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. FORD SHOULD RECALL OR AT VERY LEAST PUT WARNING ON IGNITION.

NHTSA complaint #731404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Aloha, OR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1. SPARK PLUG WIRE CLAMPS NOT STAYING CONNECTED TO SPARK PLUGS CAUSING ARCING AND DAMAGE TO 5 SPARK PLUG WIRES. 2. RUPTURE OF COOLANT CROSSOVER TUBE ON FRONT OF INTAKE MANIFOLD RESULTED IN ALMOST TOTAL LOSS OF COOLANT ON ABOUT A ONE BLOCK LENGTH OF ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH. RECALL 97M91 HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY INVESTIGATED (FEB. 1999) WITH NO DAMAGE FOUND. FAILURE OCCURRED IN DEC. 1999.

NHTSA complaint #728211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Monterey P, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DOOR FOR A/C ADAPTERS BROKEN. YH

NHTSA complaint #609873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Boynton Beach, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND A FIRE STARTED BY A DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT WIRE WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #839741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mansfield, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

FIRST THE CAR HAD TO BE REPAINTED. THEN THE ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. NEXT THE WHOLE REAREND HAD TO BE REBUILT BECAUSE THE PINION AND PINION BEARING WENT BAD. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE CAR VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY WHEN YOU'RE ON THE EXPRESSWAY. IT IS HARD TO GET INTO 5TH GEAR. IT HAS POPPED OUT OF GEAR ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 70 MILES PER HOUR. THE SPARK PLUG WIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. CURRENTLY THE CAR KEEPS STALLING WHEN PULLING OUT OR ACCELERATING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES SO FAR FOR THIS LATEST PROBLEM. IT IS STILL NOT FIXED, AND I DON'T THINK THEY KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA complaint #707056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mansfield, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

FIRST THE CAR HAD TO BE REPAINTED. THEN THE ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. NEXT THE WHOLE REAREND HAD TO BE REBUILT BECAUSE THE PINION AND PINION BEARING WENT BAD. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE CAR VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY WHEN YOU'RE ON THE EXPRESSWAY. IT IS HARD TO GET INTO 5TH GEAR. IT HAS POPPED OUT OF GEAR ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 70 MILES PER HOUR. THE SPARK PLUG WIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. CURRENTLY THE CAR KEEPS STALLING WHEN PULLING OUT OR ACCELERATING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES SO FAR FOR THIS LATEST PROBLEM. IT IS STILL NOT FIXED, AND I DON'T THINK THEY KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA complaint #707056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mansfield, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

FIRST THE CAR HAD TO BE REPAINTED. THEN THE ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. NEXT THE WHOLE REAREND HAD TO BE REBUILT BECAUSE THE PINION AND PINION BEARING WENT BAD. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE CAR VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY WHEN YOU'RE ON THE EXPRESSWAY. IT IS HARD TO GET INTO 5TH GEAR. IT HAS POPPED OUT OF GEAR ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 70 MILES PER HOUR. THE SPARK PLUG WIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. CURRENTLY THE CAR KEEPS STALLING WHEN PULLING OUT OR ACCELERATING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES SO FAR FOR THIS LATEST PROBLEM. IT IS STILL NOT FIXED, AND I DON'T THINK THEY KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA complaint #707056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mansfield, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #703583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dallas, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

ENGINE ELECTRONIC CONTROL FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL/STUMBLE.

NHTSA complaint #526466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Albquerque, NM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE ENGINE ELECTRONICS WENT OUT; AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED, AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW QUITE WORKING.

NHTSA complaint #814051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Ford Mustang problems

← Full 1997 Ford Mustang report