IllustrationENGINE STALLS WHEN IN IDLE MODE WHEN STOPPING VEHICLE OR UPON STARTING. ENGINE WILL NORMALLY SHAKE AND THEN CUT OFF; IT WILL RESTART BUT MAY REPEAT THE SHUT OFF AGAIN. *AK
1986 Ford Mustang
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1986 Ford Mustang do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 81.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Mustang years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 8 of 30 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports4 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
30 reportsVEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ON, CONSUMER HEARD A POP AND TRIED TO REACH THE FOOT BRAKE, HOWEVER COULD NOT REACH IT, CONSUMER TRIED TO JUMP OUT OF VEHICLE, BUT IT ROLLED INTO A MAILBOX CAUSING PASSENGER SIDE DOOR TO TRAP CONSUMER UNTIL SOMEONE WAS ABLE TO BACK VEHICLE UP. *SLC
REPORTING A FADE/DISCOLORATION OF THE HEADLIGHT LENS, WHICH CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. DEALER / MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK CONSUMER STATES OTHER MID 1980 VEHICLES AND OTHER LATER VEHICLES HAVE CLOUDY HEADLIGHTS AS WELL WHEN PLASTIC IS USED. *SLC
IGNITION MODULE FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *SLC
I READ IN MY LOCAL NEWSPAPER THAT YOU ARE STILL TRYING TO FORCE FORD TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES. ON YOUR WEBSITE I FOUND NUMEROUS SERVICE BULLETINS INCLUDING NHTSA ITEM NUMBERS: 85891, 88320, 88321, 95709, 95716, 97188, SB006577, SB007982, SB024868. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 15 YEARS. COULD YOU GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE WHEN SOMETH…
Read full complaint
I READ IN MY LOCAL NEWSPAPER THAT YOU ARE STILL TRYING TO FORCE FORD TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES. ON YOUR WEBSITE I FOUND NUMEROUS SERVICE BULLETINS INCLUDING NHTSA ITEM NUMBERS: 85891, 88320, 88321, 95709, 95716, 97188, SB006577, SB007982, SB024868. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 15 YEARS. COULD YOU GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE WHEN SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN TO HAVE FORD OWN UP TO THEIR POOR ENGINEERING. AS EMISSIONS ARE ALSO EFFECTED IN ADDITION TO DRIVER SAFETY WHEN THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY, I AM VERY CONCERNED. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1000 DOLLARS AND COUNTLESS HOURS TRYING TO CURE SOMETHING THAT I DID NOT REALIZE AT THE TIME WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THANKS FOR PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET. IT IS A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR THE PUBLIC.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED DURING COLLISION RESULTING IN NECK AND BACK PAIN. MJS
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE QUIT, AND LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK *ML
WHILE DRIVING 25-30MPH THE VEHICLE HAD A FRONTAL AND REAR IMPACT IN WHICH THE HATCHBACK FLEW OPEN, AND THE REAR SITTING OCCUPANT FLEW OUT OF THE HATCHBACK. THE OCCUPANT SUSTAINED MANY INJURIES. NO PRIOR PROBLEM WITH THE HATCHBACK ASSEMBLY. *AK
SEAT BELT BUCKLE ON DRIVERS SIDE FAILS TO LOCK IN PLACE. *AK
Official recalls
187V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Sep 4, 1987
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Consequence & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
5PE93011 · Cruise Control Malfunction
Opened Mar 3, 1993 · Closed Jul 19, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
There is no summary currently available
PE90052 · Fr Seat Floor Mount Fails
Opened Mar 7, 1990 · Closed Jun 20, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
There is no summary currently available
PE89118 · Speed Control Malfunction
Opened Apr 19, 1989 · Closed Sep 6, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
===
PE87028 · Stalling
Opened May 1, 1987 · Closed Jan 21, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN DETECTED.===
EA86010 · Seatback Failure
Opened Mar 26, 1986 · Closed Jul 28, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:FORD BELIEVES THAT THE AL-LEGED DEFECT ONLY OCCURS IN A SMALL NUMBER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ANDRECALLED ABOUT 195,732 1984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986.ANALYSIS: VEHICLES POTENTIALLY INVOLVED INCLUDE TEMPO/TOPAZ, ESCORT/LYNX/EXP, MUSTANG/CAPRI, LTD/MARQUIS, AND THUNDERBIRD/COUGAR.FORD SOLD ABOUT 110,000 REPLACEMENT MIO BOLTS, MAINLY FOR 1983 AND 1984MODELS. LOW CLAMPING FORCE APPEARS TO BE A LARGE PART OF THE PROBLEM.FORD INCREASED THE TORQUE REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRED THE USE OF A MANUALTORQUE TOOL IN MARCH AND SEPTEMBER 1985 PRODUCTION CHANGES. 1987 MODELSWILL BE PRODUCED WITH A LONGER M10 BOLT AND A NUT TO INCREASE AND MAIN-TAIN CLAMPING FORCE. BOLTS WERE FORMERLY SELF TAPPING. REPORTS LISTEDABOVE SPECIFICALLY STATE THAT THE BOLT BROKE. NONE REFER SIMPLY TOSEAT BACK COLLAPSE ALONE.STATUS:FORD REPLY TO ODI IR DATED 2/2/87.FORD RECALLED 195,7321984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986 (86V-082). ANALYZING REPONSE,MONITORING CANADIAN PROGRESS. RESPONSE TO 4/6/87 LETTER TO FORDRECEIVED 7/15/87. WILL PROBABLY CLOSE AFTER CANADA COMPLETES THEIRACTIONS.===