1988 Ford Mustang Electrical Problems

I WAS DRIVING TO A FUNERAL HOME TO PICK UP ASHES 40 MILES FROM HOME WITH TWO CHOW DOGS WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING AND WAS BURNING. THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CONTACTED AAA TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A RELIABLE REPAIR SHOP. I HAD A USED ONE INSTALLED AS THE FORD DEALER SAID THE COMPUTER DOES NOT GO BACK TO THAT YEAR FOR PARTS. I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL AT THAT TIME. HOWEVER I FOUND OUT HOW TO FIND OUT DUE TO A GOOD MORNING AMERICA SHOW. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER THIS TIME IN PERSON AND AGAIN COMPUTER COULD NOT GIVE ANY INFORMATION.THE PERSON IN CHARGE WAS JOHN LARUE AND HE GAVE ME A PHONE NUMBER TO FORD 1-800-392-3673 AND I CALLED EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND APPARENTLY THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AS THERE MAY BE A BLANKET RECALL WHATEVER THAT IS AND NOTHING LISTED ON THEIR COMPUTER AND WAS BLOWN OFF. NOTHING . NADA. I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU SELL IT YOU SERVICE IT IF IT IS DEFECTIVE. THIS IS MY REASON FOR THIS COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10325609

Incident

Feb 26, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN RIDING ROUGHLY AND THE ENGINE FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED OUT OF TRAFFIC, WAITED TWENTY MINUTES, AND THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. HE DROVE A BLOCK AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE IGNITION MODULE FAILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ID

10241065

Incident

May 20, 2008

Mileage

47,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD MUSTANG. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE THE TURN SIGNALS AND HORN DO NOT WORK. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER DISCONTINUED THE PARTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

NHTSA ID

10214276

Incident

Jan 1, 2006

Mileage

17,000 mi

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED AND REPLACED DURING NHTSA CAMPAIGN 96V071000. FORD PART #F29A-11572-DA. WIRING HARNESS END WAS ALSO REPAIRED DUE TO MELTING DURING OVERHEATING OF TERMINALS. THE SWITCH THAT WAS REPLACED DID NOT MELT OR FAIL INTERNALLY, BUT BECAME SEPARATED. THE ORIGINAL SWITCH AS WELL AS THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND A LIGHT DUTY WHITE METAL THAT ARE CRIMPED ON THE ENDS TO CLOSE THE SWITCH. I FOUND THAT THE OLD SWITCH AS WELL AS THE NEW FAULTY SWITCH, BECAME SEPARATED. THE END CRIMPS SLOWLY BEND OPEN AND THE TOP OF THE SWITCH PUSHES AWAY FROM THE BASE. THIS SEPARATION SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY THE INTERNAL SPRING PRESSURE ON THE SWITCH PLATES PUSHING ON THE BATTERY SIDE. THE METAL CRIMPS ARE NOT ABLE TO HOLD THE SWITCH CLOSED. THERE IS NO OTHER MECHANICAL FASTENERS HOLDING THIS SWITCH TOGETHER. THE INCREASED GAP BETWEEN THE CONTACT PLATES CAUSES AN OVERHEATING OF THE SWITCH, PRIMARILY AT THE BATTERY CONNECTORS, MELTING THE SWITCH AND HARNESS ASSEMBLY. MY FIRST SWITCH ONLY CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE HARNESS AND WIRES. BECAUSE I CHECKED INTO THE SMELL OF BURNING INSULATION IN THE COLUMN I DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FIRE OR SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THIS TIME, I DID NOT SMELL ANYTHING, BUT LOST POWER TO MY TURN SIGNALS WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE ROAD. WHEN I TRACED THE POWER LOSS I CAME TO THE IGNITION SWITCH AND FOUND THE HARNESS MELTING AGAIN AND THE SWITCH NEARLY SPLITTING IN HALF WHEN IT WAS UNBOLTED FROM THE COLUMN. AGAIN THE SWITCH OPENED UP AS THE METAL BASE GAVE WAY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10166609

Incident

Aug 21, 2006

Mileage

98,000 mi

THE PLUG ATTACHED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS BURNED THE WIRE INSIDE OF THE SWITCH. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH

NHTSA ID

8024043

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW SOMETIME IN 1988. OVER THE YEARS IT HAS OFTEN STALLED AT THE WORST TIMES. HAD I NOT KNOWN DEFENSIVE MILITARY DRIVING THESE EVENTS MAY HAVE HAD FATAL RESULTS. IT USUALLY SEEMED TO TAKE PLACE AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD HEATED CONSIDERABLY. WHEN IT WAS COLD I WAS OFTEN ABLE TO START IT UP. I HAVE SPENT YEARS, MONEY AND GRIEF TRYING TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THIS PROBLEM. I AM PISSED TO FIND OUT THAT FORD KNEW ALL ALONG. MY CAR IS DOING THE SAME [XXX] THING, WHAT ABOUT MY CAR? FORD MADE A COMMENT ABOUT REPLACING THOSE UNDER 100K MILES; WHAT CARS FROM THIS TIME FRAME ARE REALLY UNDER 100K MILES? WILL IT AFFECT ME IN ANY REGARD? CAN YOU ANSWER ANY OF MY QUESTIONS?*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

750842

Incident

Aug 1, 2001

THE IGNITION SYSTEM FAILS WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUALLY STALL, CONSUMER IS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE ON EVERY OCCASION SO FAR. *MJS

NHTSA ID

558129

MY CAR HAS IGNITION STALLING PROBLEMS AND FORD NEEDS TO DO A RECALL.

NHTSA ID

734692

Incident

Sep 1, 2000

CAR CAME TO A STOP ON A HIGHWAY ENTRANCE RAMP. TOWED TO SERVICE STATION. FAULTY TFI MODULE

NHTSA ID

734167

Incident

May 15, 2000

THIS VEHICLE WAS PART OF MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 7774, AND WAS FIXED BY DEALER IN 1996. HOWEVER, IGNITION SWITCH STOPPED WORKING BECAUSE THE TWO WIRES THAT POWER THE IGNITION SWITH WERE MELTED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

865368

Incident

Feb 1, 2000

THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 96V071000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. DEALER PERFORMED RECALL REPAIRS, BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRED. ALSO, WHEN HEATER IS ON THE TURN SIGNALS ARE INOPERATIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

849683

Incident

Sep 30, 1999

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE FROM HOOD AREA. PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO A SERVICE CENTER, OPENED HOOD AND SAW ALTERNATOR ON FIRE. A SERVICEMAN TRIED TO PUT FIRE OUT WITH A EXTINGUISHER, BUT FIRE WOULD NOT EXTINGUISH UNTIL CABLE ON BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED. *ML

NHTSA ID

845350

Incident

Aug 17, 1998

CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED A SHORTAGE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN #. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

839391

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE, CONSUMER NOT NOTIFIED OF RECALL ON COMPONENT. *YC

NHTSA ID

544873

Incident

Feb 9, 1999

VEHICLE PARKED AT AIRPORT. OWNER ON TRIP. FIRE OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE PARKED. FIRE DEPT PUT FLAMES OUT. REPORTED AS ACCIDENT. INDICATED FIRE ORIGINATED IN IGNITION. WIFE NOTIFIED 22 OCT 98 OF FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID

831281

Incident

Oct 20, 1998

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

NHTSA ID

781226

HAD HEAD & FOG LIGHTS ON. FOG LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING OFF & ON. FOG LIGHT SWITCH OVERHEATED. TURNED OFF FOG LIGHTS. HAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER AS OF YET. *AK

NHTSA ID

828443

Incident

Jun 21, 1998

SEAT BELTS DO NOT BUCKLE.

NHTSA ID

521822

ELECTRICAL: RECALL #96V071 IGNITION SWITCH. HAD RECALL WORK DONE IN MAY 1996. VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE MAY 18,1997 . FIREMAN SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

812552

Incident

May 18, 1997

ALTERNATOR FIRE.

NHTSA ID

514739

Incident

Jun 22, 1996

RECALL #96V071, ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH: HAD RECALL WORK DONE IN AUGUST 96. VEHICLE PARKED IN LOT AND SOMEONE NOTICED IT WAS IN FLAMES. VEHICLE TOTALED,CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID

809109

Incident

Feb 14, 1997

WHILE PARKED, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE STEERING COLUMN TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

808733

Incident

Jan 16, 1997

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

NHTSA ID

513009

Incident

Jun 22, 1996

THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE LIGHT STARTED TO BURN . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

NHTSA ID

806124

THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES IN THE OFF POSITION. A VEHICLE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THE CAUSE WAS A FAULTY ALTERNATOR. *AK

NHTSA ID

805209

Incident

Sep 23, 1996