15 of the
297 complaints about the 1998 Ford Mustang are about the
electrical system — 5% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
131,000 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD MUSTANG. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, IT WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION WIRES AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE PROPERLY ALIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
NHTSA complaint #10721986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesMorrow, GAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD MUSTANG WHICH WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 1998. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF HIS HOME WHEN HE NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. HE IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE TO NO AVAIL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND WERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE MARSHALL STATED THAT THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL AND ALSO INCLUDED THAT IN THE POLICE/FIRE REPORT FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE IF THERE WERE ANY OPEN RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #10300442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooklin, NYFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
LEFT THE VEHICLE PARKED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE STARTED INSIDE OF COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA complaint #8017546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RED House, WV
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
IN DECEMBER WENT TO START CAR AND HAD TO GET JUMPED. CAR RAN FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND IT DID IT AGAIN. AND THE INTERVALS BETWEEN JUMPS GOT CLOSER, THEN WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY SO WE GOT A NEW BATTERY AND HAD THE ALTERNATOR TESTED AND IT CAME BACK OAY.. RADIO QUIT WORKING AS DID THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER THE SAME DAY AND THEN ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE THEFT LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND THEN WENT OFF. THEN LAST WEEK THE DASH LIGHTS QUIT WORKING AND REPLACED FUSE, BUT STILL NO LIGHTS AND AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. WE PUT IN NEW RADIO 2 WEEKS AGO. WE PUT IT IN SHOP LAST WEEK TO HAVE CHECKED AND THEY TELL ME THAT IT'S THE RADIO THAT HAS BEEN CAUSING PROBLEMS. WELL HOW COULD RADIO YOU JUST INSTALLED CAUSE PROBS BACK IN DECEMBER? THEY HAVE MY GRANDMOTHER BELIEVING THEM. COST HER $269. THEY REPROGRAMED THE COMPUTER AND PUT IN 4 FUSES, BUT DID NOT FIX THE SO CALLED RADIO PROBLEM, AND TOLD HER THAT LUCKY THE RADIO DIDNT MAKE THE CAR EXPLODE AND CATCH FIRE?? SAID THAT THE HOT AND GROUND WERE CROSSED BUT WE HAD THEM TESTED AND THEY WERENT. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE RADIO WAS PULLING 3 TIMES THE POWER THAT IT SHOULD. I THINK THAT THEY DIDNT WANT TO HONOR THE WARRANTY, AND WERE FINDING SOMETHNG TO BLAME IT ON. BECAUSE IF IT WERE THE RADIO, WHY DIDNT THEY FIX THAT INSTEAD OF REPROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER AND REPLACING FUSES??
NHTSA complaint #763194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IN DECEMBER WENT TO START CAR AND HAD TO GET JUMPED. CAR RAN FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND IT DID IT AGAIN. AND THE INTERVALS BETWEEN JUMPS GOT CLOSER, THEN WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY SO WE GOT A NEW BATTERY AND HAD THE ALTERNATOR TESTED AND IT CAME BACK OAY.. RADIO QUIT WORKING AS DID THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER THE SAME DAY AND THEN ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE THEFT LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND THEN WENT OFF. THEN LAST WEEK THE DASH LIGHTS QUIT WORKING AND REPLACED FUSE, BUT STILL NO LIGHTS AND AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. WE PUT IN NEW RADIO 2 WEEKS AGO. WE PUT IT IN SHOP LAST WEEK TO HAVE CHECKED AND THEY TELL ME THAT IT'S THE RADIO THAT HAS BEEN CAUSING PROBLEMS. WELL HOW COULD RADIO YOU JUST INSTALLED CAUSE PROBS BACK IN DECEMBER? THEY HAVE MY GRANDMOTHER BELIEVING THEM. COST HER $269. THEY REPROGRAMED THE COMPUTER AND PUT IN 4 FUSES, BUT DID NOT FIX THE SO CALLED RADIO PROBLEM, AND TOLD HER THAT LUCKY THE RADIO DIDNT MAKE THE CAR EXPLODE AND CATCH FIRE?? SAID THAT THE HOT AND GROUND WERE CROSSED BUT WE HAD THEM TESTED AND THEY WERENT. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE RADIO WAS PULLING 3 TIMES THE POWER THAT IT SHOULD. I THINK THAT THEY DIDNT WANT TO HONOR THE WARRANTY, AND WERE FINDING SOMETHNG TO BLAME IT ON. BECAUSE IF IT WERE THE RADIO, WHY DIDNT THEY FIX THAT INSTEAD OF REPROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER AND REPLACING FUSES??
NHTSA complaint #763194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greenfield, MO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILED AT 50.000 & FRIED THE BATTERY ALSO COST 275.00 WITH LABOR WANT REINBUSTMENT FOR THE PARTS & LABOR THIS SHOULD OF NEVER HAPPEN AT THAT MILEAGE
NHTSA complaint #752076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greenfield, MO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
ALTERNATOR FAILED AT 50.000 & FRIED THE BATTERY ALSO COST 275.00 WITH LABOR WANT REINBUSTMENT FOR THE PARTS & LABOR THIS SHOULD OF NEVER HAPPEN AT THAT MILEAGE
NHTSA complaint #752076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Richmond, KY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ON STARTUP, MOST OFTEN BUT NOT LIMITED TO AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, ENGINE PRODUCES A 'CLICKING' OR 'RACHETING' NOISE. WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED TO OFF, STARTER GRINDS AND MAKES HORRIBLE NOISE AS IF 'STARTING A CAR THAT IS ALREADY RUNNING'... IN ORDER TO TURN ENGINE OFF FIRST I MUST CRANK KEY TO START POSITION, WHERE STARTER THEN GRINDS AND WHIRS BECAUSE ENGINE IS RUNNING, THEN BACK TO OFF POSITION BEFORE ENGINE WILL KILL. I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN CAR WHEN CAR STARTS UP WITH 'CLICKING/RACHETING' NOISE... I ALWAYS TURN IT OFF AND RESTART IT. PROBLEM OCCURRED AFTER 1 MONTH OF OWNERSHIP AND IS SEEMINGLY RANDOM?... # OF OCCURANCES IS APPROX.10-15 TIMES OVER 3 YEARS... 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OR REPRODUCE PROBLEM... STRANGE.
NHTSA complaint #746867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jacksonville, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THEN GOES OFF. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SOMETIME BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED BUT HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE CHECKED. REAR SUSPENSION FEELS AS IF THE SHOCK ABSORBERS HAVE ALREADY FAILED, CAUSING HARDER THAN NORMAL SHOCKS SPECIALLY WHEN HITTING SMALL BUMPS OR DEEPS ON THE ROAD. KEY GETS STOCK ON THE IGNITION WHEN PARKING AND ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE KEY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS IN AN ATTEMP TO CORRECT THE FAILURE BUT IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. APPRECIATE ANY ASSIATANCE AND SUGGESTIONS YOU CAN PROVIDE WITH RESPECT TO SIMILAR PROBLEMS REPORTED TO YOU.
NHTSA complaint #745236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ST. Petersburg, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND THIS WHEN I NOTICED FIRE COMING OUT FROM ABOVE THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE THIS CAR WAS MANUFACTURED WITH A FIBERGLASS HOOD WHICH IS VERY FLAMABLE THE HOOD CAUGHT FIRE WHICH CAUGHT THE TOP ON FIRE WHICH FELL INTO THE INTERIOR WHICH CAUGHT FIRE AND RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE IF THIS WAS A WRECK AND I WAS TRAPPED IN THE CAR WHEN THE ENGINE AND HOOD CAUGHT FIRE THIS WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A LOSS OF LIFE, FORD SHOULD NOT HAVE INSTALLED A FIBERGLASS HOOD ON A CONVERTABLE ,WHEN I CONTACTED THEM ABOUT THE FIRE THEY WERE VERY COLD AND SEEMED TO NOT CARE THAT A CAR THEY BUILT WITH ONLY 25,000 MILES ON IT BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE BEING DRIVEN DOWN THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #737575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rockwall, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
IF I USE THE TURN SIGNALS MY REAR, RIGHT(PASSENGER) BRAKE LIGHT WILL QUIT WORKING. IF I USE IT AGAIN IT SOMETIMES TURNS BACK ON. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT SOMETIMES THEY DONT WORK WHEN I TURN ON MY CAR, AND HAVE NOT USED MY TURN SIGNALS. ON OCCASIONS WHEN I SWITCH ON MY HIGHBEAMS MY HEADLIGHTS GO OFF ALL TOGETHER.
NHTSA complaint #735925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rockwall, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
IF I USE THE TURN SIGNALS MY REAR, RIGHT(PASSENGER) BRAKE LIGHT WILL QUIT WORKING. IF I USE IT AGAIN IT SOMETIMES TURNS BACK ON. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT SOMETIMES THEY DONT WORK WHEN I TURN ON MY CAR, AND HAVE NOT USED MY TURN SIGNALS. ON OCCASIONS WHEN I SWITCH ON MY HIGHBEAMS MY HEADLIGHTS GO OFF ALL TOGETHER.
NHTSA complaint #735925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Austin, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THEY WITNESSED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTILATION VENTS. AFTER WITNESSING THE SMOKE, THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CAUGHT FLAMES. A NEARBY DRIVER PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH THE EXTINGUISHER, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A LOOSE WIRE THAT TOUCHED THE METAL AND SPARKED A FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED BUT NOT THE MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #829431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Atlantic Beach, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ENGINE WOULD NOT START TURN OVER. SMOKE APPEARED AROUND PARKING BRAKE HANDLE. 1ST TIME DEALER REPLACED GROUND STRAP AND STARTER. OCCURED AGAIN 2 DAY LATER. DEALER UNABLE TO ISOLATE THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM OCCURED AGAIN THAT SAME NIGHT. DEALER REPLACE MAIN WIRING HARNESS AND PROBLEM CORRECTED.
NHTSA complaint #703159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Austin, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE AND THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. GOT OUT THE VEHICLE AND THE FIRE STARTED. ANOTHER CONSUMER STANDING THREE CARS FROM HER HELPED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT.
NHTSA complaint #830760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.