RoadVitals

1986 Ford Mustang Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Sep 26, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
37%
of 30 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1986 Ford Mustang submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 26, 2022

The contact owns a 1986 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled and he was able to continue driving in second gear. The vehicle then lost motive power and failed to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that due to an electrical failure, the spark plugs, distributor cap, ignition wires, and the ignition control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle was jerking and then lost motive power. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed back to the independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the timing belt, the gears, and the distributor needed to be replaced. The timing belt and gears were repaired. The contact stated that there was no replacement distributor available so the distributor was sent out to be rebuilt and was then reinstalled in the vehicle; however, when the vehicle was test driven and turned off, the vehicle failed to restart. The failure could not be duplicated. The manufacture was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000.

NHTSA ID
11486404
Incident
Jul 6, 2022
Mileage
62,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 27, 2007

THE IGNITION SWITCH( THE ONE'S RECALLED FOR 88-93 MUSTANGS 96V071000 ) IS FAILING INTERMITTENTLY, THE ENGINE WILL TURN OFF WITHOUT NOTICE. MINE HAS BEEN HAPPENING OR MANY YEARS NOW. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE, A COUPLE OF TIMES A DAY. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP TO INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE IN THE CURRENT RECALL(96V071000) AFTER ALL IT IS THE SAME PART. THANKS A LOT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10200906
Incident
Aug 27, 2007
Mileage
120,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 14, 2001

IGNITION MODULE MOUNTED ON DITRIBUTOR, $148.00 REPLACMENT COST. *AK

NHTSA ID
750478
Incident
Aug 4, 2001
Electrical
Filed Nov 13, 2000

IGNITION MODULE FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *SLC

NHTSA ID
557211
Electrical
Filed Sep 16, 2000

I READ IN MY LOCAL NEWSPAPER THAT YOU ARE STILL TRYING TO FORCE FORD TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES. ON YOUR WEBSITE I FOUND NUMEROUS SERVICE BULLETINS INCLUDING NHTSA ITEM NUMBERS: 85891, 88320, 88321, 95709, 95716, 97188, SB006577, SB007982, SB024868. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 15 YEARS. COULD YOU GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE WHEN SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN TO HAVE FORD OWN UP TO THEIR POOR ENGINEERING. AS EMISSIONS ARE ALSO EFFECTED IN ADDITION TO DRIVER SAFETY WHEN THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY, I AM VERY CONCERNED. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1000 DOLLARS AND COUNTLESS HOURS TRYING TO CURE SOMETHING THAT I DID NOT REALIZE AT THE TIME WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THANKS FOR PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET. IT IS A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR THE PUBLIC.

NHTSA ID
731626
Incident
Nov 1, 1998
Electrical
Filed Dec 11, 1999

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
715930
Incident
Feb 22, 1998
Electrical
Filed Jan 20, 1999
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE QUIT, AND LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
833753
Incident
Jan 18, 1999
Electrical
Filed Jun 20, 1996
Fire reported

THE CAR WAS PARKED AND IT WENT UP IN FLAMES DUE TO THE IGNITON SWITCH.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
985949
Electrical
Filed May 28, 1996
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IT STARTED SMOKING FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
984907
Incident
May 28, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 26, 1996

ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CONSUMER SMELLS A BAD ODOR IN THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH IS STICKING. *AK

NHTSA ID
983632
Incident
Apr 20, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 25, 1996

THE VEHICLE DIED ON THE ROAD DUE TO THE IGNITON MODULE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
983523
Incident
Oct 23, 1995

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .