FaultScore

2008 Ford Mustang electrical problems

16 of the 384 complaints about the 2008 Ford Mustang are about the electrical system — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 42,500 miles.

A

16

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electrical System 14 87.5%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers 1 6.3%
Starter Assembly 1 6.3%

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.

Easthampton, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Battery goes dead when sitting for a week when not driven. When I charge the battery and hook up the terminals and turn on the ignition with key the radio comes on and I know it was shut off before shutting car down.I always shut off radio before shutting off the car.I have seen reports of shutting radio off first then car ignition.Any idea what to look for.

NHTSA complaint #11706132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Monica, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA complaint #11689484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Monica, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA complaint #11689484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jackson, MS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I have had my car for about 3 years now and long story short one day my whole ignition switch feel out and what happens is it lock the steering wheel while driving which will cause an accident.

NHTSA complaint #11473828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Anderson, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

When making a left turn the entire car turns off when using the car all day on hot days

NHTSA complaint #11470756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Macon, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Got rain for a couple days straight the seal in the window is faulty and all the rain got into my car and did something to my electrical wires.

NHTSA complaint #11439653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Long Beach, MS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Interior fuse box keeps getting water or moisture which causing lots of electrical shorts in the wiring system.

NHTSA complaint #11421149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LA Habra, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TAKATA RECALL, I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR REPAIRS SINCE 2016. THE LOCAL DEALER SUPPOSEDLY DID AN INTERIM REPAIR ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG. EVER SINCE THEN THE MIDDLE OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOSE AND RATTLES UPON ACCELERATION. THE CAR CONSTANTLY DIES AND NEEDS TO BE JUMP STARTED EVEN AFTER REPLACING 4 NEW BATTERIES. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR. I DON'T EVEN THINK THEY DID ANYTHING TO THE DRIVER AIRBAG. I'VE HAVE SENT OVER 15 COMPLAINTS TO NUMEROUS AGENCIES INCLUDING FORD WITH NO RESPONSE BESIDES A LETTER FROM FORD RECEIVED ON APRIL 13 SAYING THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WHICH IS A LIE! HENRY AT THE DEALER SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS AND ARE STILL WAITING FOR THEM. THEY THINK THEY SHOULD BE THERE IN ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS AND IT COULD BE UP TO A MONTH OR MONTHS BEFORE THEY RECEIVE THEM.

NHTSA complaint #11092867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lexington Park, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WAS DRIVING HOME ONE EVENING WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL,MY MUSTANG THROTTLE FOR UNKNOWN REASONS THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK ON THE FLOOR AND REMAINED WIDE OPEN FOR APPROXAIMATELY 1.5 MIILES BEFORE I WA ABLE TO STOP MY VEHICLESA, WITHOUT INJURIES OR DEATH TO MYSELF AND THE PUBLIC. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN WITH THIS VEHICLE TONITE WITH MY SON DRIVING . HE STATED THE THROTTLE/ACCELERATOR HAD STUCK WIDE OPENWITH THE ACCELERATOR ON THE FLOOR. AS HE WAS UNABLE TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF . THIS SEEMS TO BE A LARGE ISSUE WITYH FORD VEHICLES ONLY TO FIND NO RECALLS BUT WITH ONE MAKE THE ESCAPE. THE VEHICLE IS A DANGER TO PUBLIC SAFETY ABROAD FOR YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THIDS WILL HAPPEN. I WAS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND AM GRATEFUL BY BLOWING THE HORN AND THE ABILITY TO THINK QUICK NO ONE WAS KILLEDB. MY VEHICLE IS BEING TAKEN TO THE FORD DEALER IN THE AM TO COORECT AN ISSUE FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEEDS TOO ADDRESS . AFTER RESEARCHING COMPLAINTS THEREARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH NO RESULTS.

NHTSA complaint #11054637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Menomonee Falls, WI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER FELL COMPLETELY OUT WHILE REMOVING THE IGNITION KEY.

NHTSA complaint #10873925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 27,000 miles Severna Park, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN IN A PARADE WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OR SURGED AT CHILDREN WALKING IN FRONT TWO SEPARATE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY THE BRAKE AND THE SECOND TIME WITH THE BRAKE AND THE GEAR SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. CAR WAS TAKEN TO FORD DEALER, THE COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM, BUT REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER AND DECARBONIZED THE ENGINE WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. COMPLAINT FILE WAS STARTED BY FORD 10733728.

NHTSA complaint #10735770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Laredo, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY DRIVING AND PASSENGER SIDE LEAKS AND FLUIDS AND MY DRIVING DOOR ALSO GETS WATER INSIDE .... MY CAR ISN'T CRASHED FROM ANY OF THOSE SIDE OR HASN'T BEEN CRASHED.

NHTSA complaint #10700806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 44,000 miles Columbia, SC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING OR IDLING AND NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA complaint #10658886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 41,000 miles Glasgow, KY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WITHIN THE VEHICLE FAILED AND THE ODOMETER WAS THREE MILES OFF. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY OFFERED PARTIAL ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

NHTSA complaint #10437860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pembroke Pines, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

2008 MUSTANG GT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AN EXPLODING ELECTRICAL STARTER MOTOR *TGW THE VEHICLE ALSO EXHIBITED LOUD TRANSMISSION NOISES FROM THE DAY OF ORIGINAL PURCHASE. BECAUSE THE NOISE DID NOT SOUND NORMAL, THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALERSHIP TOOK TEN DAYS ESTABLISH THE FACT THAT THE DRIVE-TRAIN NOISE WAS CONSIDERED BY THEM TO BE NORMAL.

NHTSA complaint #10434497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,976 miles Macomb, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2008 MUSTANG GT 4.6L, SHAKER 500 RADIO DEFECT, FUEL SENSOR DEFECT- VEHICLE IS A DAILY DRIVER, PARKED IT FOR 4 DAYS OVER HOLIDAY, BATTERY DEAD. DETERMINATION FROM FORD DEALER SERVICE WAS SHAKER 500 6 DISC CHANGER WAS CYCLING DISCS WITH THE ENGINE AND IGNITION TURNED OFF. DEAD BATTERY THEN PREVENTS PASSENGER FROM ENTERING THE VEHICLE DUE TO LOWERING OF GLASS WHEN DOOR LATCH RELEASES. AFTER CHARGING OF BATTERY ON REPAIR MODE ON TRICKLE CHARGE, STARTED AND "0 MILES TO E" READ ON MESSAGE EVEN AFTER RESET AND SELF DIAGNOSTICS. SERVICE DETERMINED THERE WAS A FAULTY ECU AND FUEL SENSOR. ***STRANDED PASSENGERS IN WINTER COLD W/OUT BEING ABLE TO GET INTO VEHICLE***2 TIMES INTO SERVICE 6,976 MILES ON VEHICLE***

NHTSA complaint #10255025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2008 Ford Mustang problems

← Full 2008 Ford Mustang report