Ford Mustang Complaints (1988)

108 consumer complaints on file.

#11418922May 28, 2021
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 1988 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while adding air to the tires, the radiator exploded in the engine. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer nor an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325609April 14, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241065September 5, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214276January 9, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166609August 26, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046511November 6, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH DRIVER HIT A CURB WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC REPLACED ROTORS AND PARTS DUE TO CORROSION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10023085June 15, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
ABOUT A MONTH AGO, WHILE RETURNING FROM A LONG TRIP, THE CRUISE CONTROL ON MY MUSTANG JUST STOPPED WORKING. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE HOLLOW PLASTIC HEAD PIECE ON THE ACTUATOR CABLE HAD BROKEN AND THE CONTROL CABLE WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO PULL ON THE THROTTLE. THE STEEL CABLE IS TERMINATED A COUPLE OF INCHES BACK OF THE THROTTLE ARM AND SLIDES FREELY INSIDE THE PLASTIC HEAD PIECE WHICH IS ATTACHED THE THROTTLE ARM ITSELF. I ASSUME IT BUILT LIKE THIS TO PREVENT BINDING WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT IN USE. FAST FORWARD TO YESTERDAY, WHILE COMING HOME ON THE FREEWAY, I WAS ACCELERATING AROUND SOME SLOWER MOVING CARS WHEN THE THROTTLE JAMMED WIDE OPEN. NO AMOUNT OF MANIPULATION OF THE PEDDLE COULD GET PROBLEM TO CLEAR SO I HAD TO KILL THE IGNITION AND COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I GOT OUT AND INSPECTED THE LINKAGE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE END OF THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE HAD SLID PAST THE END OF THE PLASTIC HEAD PIECE AND HAD JAMMED THE THROTTLE WIDE OPEN. THE NATURE OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CABLE AND THE PLASTIC END PIECE MAKES THIS TYPE OF FAILURE ONLY POSSIBLE IF THE THROTTLE IS WIDE OPEN. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS THE KIND OF PROBLEM THAT RECALLS ARE MADE OF. HAS ANYBODY ELSE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM? *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10015752April 23, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR, STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR, STRUCTURE
SWAY BAR REPLACEMENT/STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION. MR THE REPAIRED/REPLACED PARTS ARE AS FOLLOWED: SWAY BAR LINKS(REPLACED THE TWO SIDES), HEAT SHIELDS HAD COME LOOSE, AND THE STEERING WHEEL HAD COME OFF ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD HE COULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHILE LOOSE AND WITH THE BROKEN SWAY BAR/ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE SWAY BAR LOOKED AS IF IT WERE CUT ON BOTH SIDES AFTER REPAIRS. SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10000205December 18, 2002
SEATS, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
THE RESTRAINING BOLT ON THE BRACKET OF THE DRIVERS SEAT, WHICH PREVENTS THE SEAT FROM COLLAPSING BACKWARD, SHEARED. I WAS STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT AT THE TIME. HAD I BEEN IN MOTION, I WOULD HAVE COLLAPSED BACKWARD, SUBMARINING UNDERNEATH THE SEAT BELT AND WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED HAD I CRASHED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8024043December 9, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#567728October 3, 2002
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#566198June 24, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER BEGAN TO SEE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE VEHICLE WAS EVACUATED AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED, POSSIBLE CAUSE OF FIRE WAS ENGINE OIL HAD LEAKED ONTO THE EXHAUST.(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT 10-90-256)*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#750842August 21, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#738639January 2, 2001
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS
SINCE CAR NEW HAD PROBLEM WHEN USING FOG LIGHTS, ALL LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT FOR 5 MINUTES OR MORE WHILST DRIVING. DEALER AT THAT TIME SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH LIGHTS. I DID NOT REALIZE AT THAT TIME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE FOG LIGHTS. I HAD USED FOGS FREQUENTLY ON LONG DISTANCE DRIVING AND HAD INITALLY GONE OFF ROAD ON FLA TURNPIKE. AFTER WARRANTY OVER, SPOKE TO OTHER GT OWNERS WHO INFORMED ME OF THE SAME PROBLEM. STOPPED USING FOGS AFTER REALIZING WIRING HARNESS AT SWITCH WAS OVERHEATING. (GLOWING RED). *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#558129December 14, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE IGNITION SYSTEM FAILS WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUALLY STALL, CONSUMER IS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE ON EVERY OCCASION SO FAR. *MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#558110December 12, 2000
TIRES
OHTSU TIRES (P225 65 R15) EXPERIENCED BLOWOUTS, THE CONSUMER DID NOT GET COMPENSATED FOR EITHER TIRE. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#735028October 24, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE WAS PARKED. SMOKE BEGAN COMING FROM DASH. CAR CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#734692October 18, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY CAR HAS IGNITION STALLING PROBLEMS AND FORD NEEDS TO DO A RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#734167October 12, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR CAME TO A STOP ON A HIGHWAY ENTRANCE RAMP. TOWED TO SERVICE STATION. FAULTY TFI MODULE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733492October 5, 2000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS AND CONNECTORS IN DASH MELTED AND CAUSED A SHORT CIRCUIT EXTINGUISHING THE LIGHTS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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