RoadVitals

1987 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.
15
Latest Jan 24, 2003
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.
39%
of 38 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.
9
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

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 1987 Ford Mustang submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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

Electrical
Filed Jan 24, 2003
Fire reported

THE ALTERNATOR ON MY WIFE'S 1987 MUSTANG GT CAUGHT FIRE, DAMAGING ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPONETS BEFORE FIRE COULD BE EXTINGUISHED.

NHTSA ID
10003325
Incident
Jan 22, 2003
Mileage
65,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 7, 2002

TFI MODULE FAILED WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY. AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE, ALL POWER WAS LOST WITH DRIVER STRANDED ON HIGHWAY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AKI

NHTSA ID
8011277
Electrical
Filed Oct 27, 2001

ENGINE QUIT IN SUMMER OF 91.WAS ABLE TO DRIVE 2 MILES BY ENGAGING STARTER ON AND OFF.REPLACED THICK FILM IGN MODULE. *AK

NHTSA ID
753782
Incident
Nov 18, 1991
Electrical
Filed Dec 15, 2000

THICK FILM IGNITION MODULE REPEATEDLY FAILS - CAR SIMPLY QUITS WHEN FAILING. *AK

NHTSA ID
737839
Incident
Jul 1, 1998
Electrical
Filed Jun 27, 2000
Fire reported

ALTERNATOR HAS CAUGHTON FIRE TWICE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT, HARNESS HOT.*AK

NHTSA ID
724616
Incident
Jun 26, 2000
Electrical
Filed Mar 10, 2000

WHILE DRIVING CAR WOULD SHUT OFF AT ANY TIME. CONSUMER WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT TWICE BECAUSE OF THE CAR CUTTING OFF. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH. *AK

NHTSA ID
858272
Incident
Oct 2, 1999
Electrical
Filed Aug 19, 1999
Fire reported2 injuries reported

FORD SOLENOID SWITCH HAS WEAK SPRING WHICH, OVER TIME, WEARS OUT AND ALLOWS VECHICLE TO CRANK OVER ON ITS OWN. THIS CAUSED FIRE AND EXPLOSION WHICH INJURED TWO PEOPLE AND DESTROYED GARAGE.

NHTSA ID
710198
Incident
Jan 24, 1997
Electrical
Filed Feb 5, 1997
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL ALTERNATOR MALUNCTIONING. *AK

NHTSA ID
808642
Electrical
Filed Jun 27, 1996
Fire reported

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FIRE. *DH

NHTSA ID
505869
Incident
Jun 12, 1996
Electrical
Filed May 22, 1996
Fire reported

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL.

NHTSA ID
504639
Incident
Mar 22, 1995
Electrical
Filed May 20, 1996
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED AND THEN IT BURNED TO THE GROUND DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
984642
Incident
Aug 12, 1995
Electrical
Filed May 17, 1996
Fire reported

VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT, DRIVER DID NOT NOTICE VEHICLE UNTIL NEXT MORNING, FIRE DEPT. SAID FIRE HAD OCCURRED TO VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
984594
Incident
Oct 18, 1992
Electrical
Filed Apr 26, 1996

EXPERIENCED SMOKE FROM IGNITION AREA. *AK

NHTSA ID
983638
Incident
Feb 12, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 19, 1996
Fire reported

VEHICLE PARKED IN GARAGE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES LAKE BURST INTO FLAMES AND TOTALED THE HOUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
983115
Incident
Oct 11, 1995
Electrical
Filed Mar 14, 1995

SHORT CIRCUIT IN WIRING UNDER HOOD CAUSED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. TT

NHTSA ID
961879
Incident
Feb 1, 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 .