IllustrationTHIS VEHICLE WAS PART OF MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 7774, AND WAS FIXED BY DEALER IN 1996. HOWEVER, IGNITION SWITCH STOPPED WORKING BECAUSE THE TWO WIRES THAT POWER THE IGNITION SWITH WERE MELTED. *AK *ML
1988 Ford Mustang
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1988 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: 7 of 108 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 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 10 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 reports32 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
108 reportsCAR FROM A FAST IDLE JUMPED INTO REVERSE RAN OUT OF CONTROL INJURING ONE PERSON AND CRASHING INTO TWO VEHICLES.*AK
DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I THINK THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR AS IT IS A SAFETY REQUIREMENT.*NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING HOOD POPPED OPEN AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. THE ROOF IS ALSO BENT. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
AFTER 5 TO 15 MINUTES AFTER THE FOG LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON, ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE LIGHTS DID NOT COME BACK ON FOR ABOUT 5 TO 10 SECONDS. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MANY PEOPLE WHO OWN LATE MODEL MUSTANGS, 1986 TO 1997, AND MOST OF THEM REPORT THIS SAME PROBLEM. AS S…
Read full complaint
AFTER 5 TO 15 MINUTES AFTER THE FOG LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON, ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE LIGHTS DID NOT COME BACK ON FOR ABOUT 5 TO 10 SECONDS. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MANY PEOPLE WHO OWN LATE MODEL MUSTANGS, 1986 TO 1997, AND MOST OF THEM REPORT THIS SAME PROBLEM. AS SECRETARY AND NEWSLETTER EDITOR FOR THE FIRST PENNSYLVANIA MUSTANG CLUB, I COME IN CONTACT WITH MANY 'MUSTANG' ENTHUSIASTS. THIS PROBLEM IS SO PREVELENT THAT IT HAS BEEN COVERED IN NATIONAL "MUSTANG" MAGAZINES SEVERAL TIMES (SPECIFICALLY, I HAVE READ THIS IN MUSTANG MONTHLY AND SUPER FORD). THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM THE CIRCUIT BREAKER IN THE ASSEMBLY NOT BEING LARGE ENOUGH AND ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO OVERHEAT. THEN THE CIRCUIT TRIPS AND DOES NOT COME BACK ON FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE DRIVING/FOG LIGHTS ARE USUALLY TUNED ON WHEN MORE LIGHT IS NEEDED DUE TO BAD WEATHER. THIS IS A HORRIBLE TIME FOR ALL THE LIGHTS TO GO OUT.
THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 96V071000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. DEALER PERFORMED RECALL REPAIRS, BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRED. ALSO, WHEN HEATER IS ON THE TURN SIGNALS ARE INOPERATIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE FROM HOOD AREA. PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO A SERVICE CENTER, OPENED HOOD AND SAW ALTERNATOR ON FIRE. A SERVICEMAN TRIED TO PUT FIRE OUT WITH A EXTINGUISHER, BUT FIRE WOULD NOT EXTINGUISH UNTIL CABLE ON BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED. *ML
SEATBACK SUPPORT COLLAPSED.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
FUEL PUMP WIRING BURNED THE FUSE RECEPTICLE WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPLODE AND CAUSE A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Official recalls
196V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
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
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
PE89133 · Underdash Fires
Opened Jun 29, 1989 · Closed Nov 28, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available