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1987 Ford Mustang

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1987 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

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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: 3 of 38 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 17 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 →
  • Exterior Lighting. 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.

2 crash reports13 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

38 reports
126,000 miles · Apr 10, 2020
Exterior LightingVisibility/wiper

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 …

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #11320733

48,000 miles · Feb 4, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #10305291

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2004
Exterior Lighting

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

NHTSA ODI #10064446

65,000 miles · Jan 24, 2003
Electrical SystemFire

THE ALTERNATOR ON MY WIFE'S 1987 MUSTANG GT CAUGHT FIRE, DAMAGING ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPONETS BEFORE FIRE COULD BE EXTINGUISHED.

NHTSA ODI #10003325

Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2002
Exterior Lighting

CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS .PLEASE ADD MORE DETAILS. MR

NHTSA ODI #8021165

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2002
Electrical System

TFI MODULE FAILED WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY. AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE, ALL POWER WAS LOST WITH DRIVER STRANDED ON HIGHWAY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AKI

NHTSA ODI #8011277

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2002
Fuel System, GasolineSteeringCrashFire

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE. FUEL CUT OFF SYSTEM SHUT OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8006246

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2001
Electrical System

ENGINE QUIT IN SUMMER OF 91.WAS ABLE TO DRIVE 2 MILES BY ENGAGING STARTER ON AND OFF.REPLACED THICK FILM IGN MODULE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #753782

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2000
Electrical System

THICK FILM IGNITION MODULE REPEATEDLY FAILS - CAR SIMPLY QUITS WHEN FAILING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #737839

Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 2000
Electrical System

A "FLOATING SHORT" HAS RUINED TO DIFFERENT HORNS, THE MAP LIGHT, THE RPM GAUGE, THE FUEL GUAGE, AND TWO STEREOS. IN ADDITION, THE HEAT/AIR ONLY WORK ON HIGH, AND THE DASH LIGHTS NOW ONLY WORK ON THE BRIGHTEST SETTING AND ARE STILL FADED TO THE POINT IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO READ.

NHTSA ODI #737810

Official recalls

1

87V139000 · 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

6

PE93011 · Cruise Control Malfunction

Opened Mar 3, 1993 · Closed Jul 19, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment

There is no summary currently available

PE91137 · Hood Latch Failures

Opened Oct 9, 1991 · Closed Feb 27, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

PE91078 · Headlamp Assembly Failure

Opened May 28, 1991 · Closed Sep 23, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

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

EA89037 · Speed Cntrl Malfunction

Opened Sep 6, 1989 · Closed Nov 30, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment

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PE89118 · Speed Control Malfunction

Opened Apr 19, 1989 · Closed Sep 6, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment

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