IllustrationTHE CRUISE CONTROL STUCK AND DID NOT RELEASE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL AND RESULT IN COLLISION. *MJS
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
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: 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 reportsALTERNATOR HAS CAUGHTON FIRE TWICE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT, HARNESS HOT.*AK
WHILE DRIVING CAR WOULD SHUT OFF AT ANY TIME. CONSUMER WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT TWICE BECAUSE OF THE CAR CUTTING OFF. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
WHEN OPERATING THE FOG LIGHTS HEADLIGHTS BECOME INOPERATIVE, CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WAS DRIVING AND VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. IT WAS TOTALLED. FORD DENIED THEY WERE ARE FAULT. YEARS LATER IT WAS PROVEN THERE WAS A VEHICLE DEFECT. INSURANCE HAD TO PAY OFF BALANCE AND I AM STILL WITHOUT A CAR 9 YEARS LATER.
FORD SOLENOID SWITCH HAS WEAK SPRING WHICH, OVER TIME, WEARS OUT AND ALLOWS VECHICLE TO CRANK OVER ON ITS OWN. THIS CAUSED FIRE AND EXPLOSION WHICH INJURED TWO PEOPLE AND DESTROYED GARAGE.
THE HEADLIGHT AND FOG LIGHT SWITCHES BURNED AND MELTED, WHICH CAUSED MY FOG LIGHTS TO NOT WORK. THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WOULD NOT LET MY LIGHTS TURN ON SOMETIMES AND ALSO CAUSE THEM TO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. I ALSO CANNOT USE MY BRIGHTS BECAUSE OF THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH.
THE SEAT BELTS ON THIS CONVERTIBLE FLY IN THE WIND WHEN TOP IS DOWN, AND DON'T RETRACT WHEN GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE. *AK
THE ECA'S AND PLUG ARE NOT HEAVY ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE AMPERAGE WHEN THE ENGINE COOLANT SENSOR CLOSES TO MAKE THE RADIATOR COOLING FAN MOTOR RUN. THE ECA AND PLUGT HAS BURNED TO THE POINT OF ALMOST CATCHING THE VEHICLE ON FIRE. *AK
VEHICLE LOST ALL WATER DUE TO "T" CONNECTOR BROKE APART RESULTING IN LEAKAGE, HEAT GAUGE FAILED TO IDENTIFY WATER LOSS AND OVERHEATING.
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
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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