IllustrationWHEN DRIVING THERE IS A SMELL OF SMOKE LIKE WIRES BURNING, VEHICLE OVERHEATS WHEN DRIVING. HAS A RECALL NOTICE , HAS TAKEN CAR TO DEALER AND THEY DID'T HAVE PARTS. HAS BEEN 2 MONTHS AND THEY STILL SAY THEY DONT' HAVE THE PARTS. 96V-071000. *AK
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 reportsVEHICLE EXTERIOR PAINT BEGAN TO PEEL OFF AND CHIP AWAY. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL.
LEAKY QUICK CONNECT FITTING ON FUEL RAIL CAUSED VEHICLE FIRE.
POWER WINDOWS FAILED.
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE.
WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS ARE ON AT THE SAME TIME THE LIGHTS WILL FLICKER. *AK
DURING PANIC STOP STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION INTO FENCE AND TREE.
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. FORD WILL NOT HONOR THE NOTICE BECAUSE THEY SAY THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN FLOODED.*AK *SLC
CAR WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE WHICH STARTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. *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