IllustrationVEHICLE LOST ALL WATER DUE TO "T" CONNECTOR BROKE APART RESULTING IN LEAKAGE, HEAT GAUGE FAILED TO IDENTIFY WATER LOSS AND OVERHEATING.
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.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →38Owner complaints
Model-year median: 81
1Recall campaignsView recall details →
6InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1987 Ford Mustang
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 38 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 6 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Electrical System: 17 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 5 reports
- Exterior Lighting: 5 reports
- Fuel System, Gasoline: 3 reports
- Vehicle Speed Control: 3 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Mustang years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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
Unknown Or Other complaints
1 reportsRecall campaigns
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 ↗
Defect investigations
6PE93011 · 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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An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.