IllustrationTHE PLASTIC "T" HEATER HOSE BROKE, CAUSING WATER LOSS/CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK.
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 reportsVEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL ALTERNATOR MALUNCTIONING. *AK
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL WHEN GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE.
DRIVER PARKED VEHICLE IN GARAGE, GOT OUT, RETURNED 5 MINUTES LATER, SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERHOOD, VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES, PART OF HOUSE CAUGHT FIRE, ACCORDING TO FIRE MARSHALL, FUEL LINE POPPED OUT, GASOLINE SPEWED ONTO HOT ENGINE. VEHICLE TOTALED. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FIRE. *DH
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL.
THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED AND THEN IT BURNED TO THE GROUND DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT, DRIVER DID NOT NOTICE VEHICLE UNTIL NEXT MORNING, FIRE DEPT. SAID FIRE HAD OCCURRED TO VEHICLE. *AK
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SD
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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