1987 Ford MUSTANG: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 25 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 12.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 4.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 5 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 2 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 5; Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 2; Exterior Lighting: 2; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 2; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 22 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 6 |
| 1996 | 6 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
1995: 6; 1996: 6; 2000: 5; 2001: 1; 2002: 3; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2010: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003325 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)
THE ALTERNATOR ON MY WIFE'S 1987 MUSTANG GT CAUGHT FIRE, DAMAGING ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPONETS BEFORE FIRE COULD BE EXTINGUISHED.
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003325 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064446 · 2004-04-03 (April 3, 2004)
HEAD LIGHT SYSTEM. THE HEADLIGHTS ON SEVERAL FORD CARS LEAK AND ALLOW WATER TO ENTER RESULTING IN DIM LIGHTS THAT ARE UNSAFE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THESE ON SEVERAL CARS. 1987 MUSTANG, 1988 THUNDERBIRD AND 1993 CROWN VICTORIA. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064446 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10305291 · 2010-02-04 (February 4, 2010)
ENGINE RACES TO 3000-4000 RPM SUDDENLY, WHILE DRIVING OR IDLING. WHEN IGNITION IS SWITCHED OFF AND THEN BACK ON, ENGINE RETURNS TO NORMAL IDLE. THIS OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE ABOUT 1992. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10305291 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11320733 · 2020-04-10 (April 10, 2020)
MY COMPLAINT DOESN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM BUT IT WAS REQUIRED. MY COMPLAINT IS WITH NEW CARS NEW CARS COMING OUT NOW WHERE THEIR HEADLIGHTS ARE THERE LOW BEAMS ARE UNBELIEVABLY BRIGHT AND I CANNOT BELIEVE IF YOU'VE EVER DRIVEN AT NIGHT YOU DON'T SEE THE SAME PROBLEM IT'S BLINDING IT'S RIDICULOUS. I MEAN HONESTLY LET'S DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. YOU GUYS ARE ALL WORRIED ABOUT SPEED AND WHAT NOT BUT AT LEAST YOU CAN SEE A STREAK OF ME GOING BY GOING FAST BUT YOU'RE BLINDED WITH THOSE LIGHTS I THINK THAT'S A WAY OF MORE OF A SAFETY HAZARD THAN SPEED.
Owner-reported narrative. 126,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11320733 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 500053 · 1995-12-12 (December 12, 1995)
HOOD LATCH FAILED. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 500053 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504434 · 1996-05-13 (May 13, 1996)
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504434 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 505869 · 1996-06-27 (June 27, 1996)
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FIRE. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 505869 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 557953 · 2000-11-27 (November 27, 2000)
THE CRUISE CONTROL STUCK AND DID NOT RELEASE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL AND RESULT IN COLLISION. *MJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 557953 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
87V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1987-09-04 (September 4, 1987)
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗