RoadVitals

1993 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.
29
Latest Feb 23, 2008
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.
29%
of 101 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.
23
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

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 1993 Ford Mustang submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 29 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

The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words

Body & structureElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Feb 23, 2008

I BOUGHT A 93 MUSTANG 4 CYLINDER WITH 12,000 MILES ON IT IN 12\93. THE CAR NOW ONLY HAS 28,000 MILES ON IT TOTAL. THE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK, THE HATCHBACK LATCH DOESN'T ENGAGE CORRECTLY, WHEN I GO TO LOCK THE IGNITION SWITCH, I HAVE TO CONTINUALLY JIGGLE THE GEARSHIFTER BEFORE THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL LOCK, AND THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HAS A LEAK IN IT SOMEWHERE. THESE PROBLEMS STARTED OCCURRING IN JUNE OF 2000, BUT DUE TO WARRANTY ONLY BEING GOOD FOR 3 YEARS, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEMS UNLESS I PAID FOR THE REPAIRS, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR ONLY HAD ~ 17,000 MILES ON IT AT THAT TIME. THE PAINT STARTED FADING OUT IN 1998. *TR

NHTSA ID
10218969
Incident
Jan 1, 1998
Mileage
17,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 22, 2006
Fire reported

1993 FORD MUSTANG IGNITION SYSTEM FIRE VEHICLE WAS IN GARAGE AFTER BEING DRIVEN THE DAY BEFORE. ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE STARTER THEN SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL FROM IGNITION WIRES BURNING UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A CLOTH AND I NOTICED THAT THE COATING ON THE WIRES UNDER THE WHEEL WERE BURNT OFF AND THE WIRE WAS CHARRED WHICH HAS RENDERED THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. AFTER SEARCHING THE WEB I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR THE VERY PROBLEM THAT I EXPERIENCED (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V071000) I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT MY VEHICLE (EARLY 1993 MODEL) WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND SINCE IT WAS OVER 10 YEARS OLD THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT ANYWAY UNDER THE RECALL. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND NEED TO WAIT FOR THEIR RESPONSE. SO FAR THE FORD DEALERSHIPS LACK OF CONCERN OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS ISSUE ASTOUNDS ME. MY GARAGE COULD HAVE BURNED DOWN PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED ETC. *JB

NHTSA ID
10166251
Incident
Jul 4, 2006
Mileage
50,548 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 22, 2005
Fire reported1 injury reported

DT: THE VEHICLE BLEW UP AND CAUGHT ON FIRE DAMAGING 3 OTHER VEHICLE AROUND IT. THE FIRE MARSHAL CAME OUT AND SAID IT WAS MECHIANICAL AND ELECTRICAL DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS COMING TO INVESTAGATE. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID
10125862
Incident
Jun 16, 2005
Mileage
100,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 31, 2004
Fire reported

CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE 30 TO 40 MILES TO A DOCTOR. PARKED FOR 10 MINUTES, AND CAR WAS REPORTED ON FIRE. FIRE FIGHTER SAID ALTENATOR STARTED THE FIRE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE ALTENATOR HAD BEEN REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO.*AK

NHTSA ID
10090112
Incident
Aug 27, 2004
Electrical
Filed Jun 19, 2002
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING ALTERNATOR, BEGINNING WITH THE ORIGINAL, HAS BURST INTO FLAMES 4 TIMES. EACH TIME, CONSUMER HAS HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE NEAREST BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT TO BORROW FIRE EXTINGUISHER. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE CHECKED FOR ELECTRICAL SHORTS AND REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THIS HAPPENS WHILE ILDING OR TRAVELING AT LOW RPMS WHILE HAVING THE HEADLIGHTS, RADIO, AND A/C ON. THE ELECTRIC FAN WOULD KICK ON AND ALL COMPONENTS WOULD SEND THE BATTERY GAUGE UNDER 10 VOLTS CATCHING FIRE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. *TT

NHTSA ID
786020
Incident
Feb 1, 2000
Electrical
Filed Mar 28, 2002

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS BECOME INOPERABLE. THERE IS A RECALL ALREADY REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. RECALL NUMBER 7774 96 V 071 000. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

NHTSA ID
8006589
Electrical
Filed Mar 14, 2001
Fire reported

BATERY LIGHT COMES ON, THEN VEHICLE OVERHEATS AND CATCHES ON FIRE. PLUG GOES INTO ALTERNATOR. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID ALTERNATER WAS BAD.*AK

NHTSA ID
883044
Incident
Mar 12, 2001
Electrical
Filed Jun 19, 2000
Fire reported

THE PLUG THAT GOES INTO THE ALTERNATOR SHORTS AND THE ENGINE CATCHES FIRE. I REPLACE THE PLUG AND ALTERNATOR. IT HAPPENS AGAIN SEVERAL MONTHS LATER. *AK

NHTSA ID
724193
Incident
Jun 19, 2000
Electrical
Filed Jan 3, 2000
Fire reported

THERE WAS A FIRE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. FORD HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
854614
Electrical
Filed Nov 3, 1999
Fire reported

VEH CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH- FORD REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL AND WONT REPAIR DAMAGE

NHTSA ID
714260
Incident
Oct 13, 1999
ElectricalSteering
Filed Oct 29, 1999
Fire reported

STEERING COLUMN FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE RECALL COMPONENT FAILURE, HOWEVER CONSUMER DENIED. MJS (96V-071)

NHTSA ID
549440
Electrical
Filed Dec 18, 1998
Fire reported

THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH IGNITION SWITCH SYSTEM. WHILE VEHICLE WAS JUST SITTING, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE VENTS, AND NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. CORROLATES TO RECALL NUMBER 96V071000. *AK

NHTSA ID
832477
Incident
Dec 1, 1998
Electrical
Filed Dec 13, 1998
Fire reported

ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. EACH TIME VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR. THERE IS A BURNING SMELL, BEFORE THE CAR FAILS. EACH TIME CABLES TO THE ALTERNATOR HAVE BEEN BURNED. *MJS

NHTSA ID
701309
Incident
Dec 10, 1998
Electrical
Filed Sep 30, 1998
Fire reported

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED UNDER THE HOOD FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH. CONSUMER SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING WHILE DRIVING. PULED OVER AND FOUNDED ENGINE ON FIRE. AFTER FIRE WAS PUT OUT, CONSUMER NOTICED WIRING ON ALTERNATOR BURNED UP. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
828373
Incident
Sep 27, 1998
Electrical
Filed Sep 9, 1998
Fire reported

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CUT OFF FOR ABOUT 10-15 MIN WHEN VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA AROUND THE ALTERNATOR. FIRE DEPARMENT CALLED, UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
827736
Incident
Sep 2, 1998
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Sep 9, 1998

AIR BAG MONITOR ASSEMBLY FAILED.

NHTSA ID
539738
Incident
Jul 30, 1998
Electrical
Filed Apr 8, 1998
Fire reported

HAD PARKED VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY. AN HOUR LATER WAS INFORMED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IT THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED & PUT OUT FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE BATTERY'S ELECTRICAL CABLES. ENTIRE ENGINE BURNED. *AK

NHTSA ID
822322
Incident
Feb 20, 1998
Electrical
Filed Aug 14, 1997
Fire reported

WIRES INSIDE DRIVER SIDE DOOR SHORTED OUT CAUSING THE INSULATION TO CATCH FIRE.

NHTSA ID
522636
Incident
May 1, 1997
Electrical
Filed May 1, 1997
Fire reported

VEHICLE PARKED FOR HALF AN HOUR; NEIGHBOR NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERHOOD, MANAGED TO EXTINGUISH FIRE BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, REPAIRED BY DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
810502
Incident
Mar 9, 1997
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningElectrical+2 more
Filed Sep 30, 1996
Fire reported

ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE AFTER BEING REPLACED FOUR TIMES.

NHTSA ID
509236
Incident
Sep 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Sep 13, 1996

DIFFICULTY LOCATING HORN BUTTONS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
508639
Incident
Jan 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Sep 9, 1996
Fire reported

UPON PARKING, MOMENTS LATER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD, THEN AN EXPLOSION, RESULTING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CATCHING ON FIRE AROUND ALTERNATOR.*AK

NHTSA ID
802103
Electrical
Filed Jun 19, 1996
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE DASH WHILE BEING DRIVEN. FIRE DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH.*AK *JB

NHTSA ID
985835
Incident
Jun 15, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 9, 1996

BATTERY FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL, ACCOMPANIED BY BURNING ODOR. *DSH

NHTSA ID
503056
Incident
Feb 16, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 2, 1996
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL FIRE. *SD

NHTSA ID
503085
Incident
Apr 2, 1996

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .