RoadVitals

1997 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.
9
Latest Sep 14, 2000
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.
5%
of 176 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.
1
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 1997 Ford Mustang submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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 Sep 14, 2000

USED WRONG KEY IN IGNITION AND IT BLEW UP THE IGNITION SYSTEM. HAD KEY MADE AT A LOCAL HARDWARE STORE. AFTER 4 WEEKS OF FORD PROMISING ASSISTANCE-THEY DENIED IT. TRYING A WRONG KEY SHOULD NOT CAUSE THE MODULE AND TRANSCEIVER TO GO BAD. FOLLOWED RECOVERY PROCEDURE IN OWNERS MANUAL BUT CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. THIS COULD BE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. FORD SHOULD RECALL OR AT VERY LEAST PUT WARNING ON IGNITION.

NHTSA ID
731404
Incident
Jul 24, 2000
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 17, 2000

1. SPARK PLUG WIRE CLAMPS NOT STAYING CONNECTED TO SPARK PLUGS CAUSING ARCING AND DAMAGE TO 5 SPARK PLUG WIRES. 2. RUPTURE OF COOLANT CROSSOVER TUBE ON FRONT OF INTAKE MANIFOLD RESULTED IN ALMOST TOTAL LOSS OF COOLANT ON ABOUT A ONE BLOCK LENGTH OF ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH. RECALL 97M91 HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY INVESTIGATED (FEB. 1999) WITH NO DAMAGE FOUND. FAILURE OCCURRED IN DEC. 1999.

NHTSA ID
728211
Incident
Dec 6, 1999
Electrical
Filed Mar 22, 2000

PAINT IS PEELING OFF, DOWN TO THE SHEET METAL & RADIO MAKES HIGH PITCHED WHINE & STATIC.

NHTSA ID
720467
Incident
Mar 17, 2000
Electrical
Filed Jun 14, 1999
Fire reported

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND A FIRE STARTED BY A DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT WIRE WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
839741
Incident
May 1, 1999
ElectricalInterior & seatsPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 1, 1999

FIRST THE CAR HAD TO BE REPAINTED. THEN THE ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. NEXT THE WHOLE REAREND HAD TO BE REBUILT BECAUSE THE PINION AND PINION BEARING WENT BAD. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE CAR VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY WHEN YOU'RE ON THE EXPRESSWAY. IT IS HARD TO GET INTO 5TH GEAR. IT HAS POPPED OUT OF GEAR ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 70 MILES PER HOUR. THE SPARK PLUG WIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. CURRENTLY THE CAR KEEPS STALLING WHEN PULLING OUT OR ACCELERATING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES SO FAR FOR THIS LATEST PROBLEM. IT IS STILL NOT FIXED, AND I DON'T THINK THEY KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA ID
707056
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Feb 22, 1999

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
703583
Incident
Nov 1, 1998
ElectricalSteering
Filed Feb 1, 1999

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
609873
Incident
Oct 8, 1998
Electrical
Filed Dec 2, 1997

ENGINE ELECTRONIC CONTROL FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL/STUMBLE.

NHTSA ID
526466
Incident
May 6, 1997
ElectricalTransmissionVisibility
Filed Jul 10, 1997

THE ENGINE ELECTRONICS WENT OUT; AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED, AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW QUITE WORKING. *AK

NHTSA ID
814051

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 .