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1986 Ford Mustang

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1986 Ford Mustang do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 81.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 8 of 30 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 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 6 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 →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports4 fire reports5 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

5 reports
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68,000 miles · Apr 9, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE FOR EMISSION TESTING, THE VEHICLE DID NOT PASS DUE TO DEFECTIVE CO2 SENSORS. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE NECESSARY PARTS FOR THE REPAIRS YET THE DEALER ADVISED THE CATALYST SYSTEM WAS BRAND NEW AND WOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE FOR EMISSION TESTING, THE VEHICLE DID NOT PASS DUE TO DEFECTIVE CO2 SENSORS. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE NECESSARY PARTS FOR THE REPAIRS YET THE DEALER ADVISED THE CATALYST SYSTEM WAS BRAND NEW AND WOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR EMISSION TESTING ONE YEAR LATER AND AGAIN, THE VEHICLE DID NOT PASS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ALTERED THE CATALYST SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN RECALL FOR THE FAILURE HOWEVER THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR UNSPECIFIED REASONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10324637

48,000 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED. HE TRIED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR THREE YEARS. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WOULD TAKE TWO HOURS TO REPAIR IT. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE DEALERSHIPS ARE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND THE CONTACT …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED. HE TRIED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR THREE YEARS. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WOULD TAKE TWO HOURS TO REPAIR IT. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE DEALERSHIPS ARE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND THE CONTACT SHOULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO JAPAN FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10315799

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE JUST DIES, ALL POWER GONE, WON'T COMPRESSION START, BUT WILL RESTART WITH CLUTCH IN.

NHTSA ODI #767386

Mileage unknown · May 2, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE STALLS WHEN IN IDLE MODE WHEN STOPPING VEHICLE OR UPON STARTING. ENGINE WILL NORMALLY SHAKE AND THEN CUT OFF; IT WILL RESTART BUT MAY REPEAT THE SHUT OFF AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #744838

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

STARTED DRIVING VEHICLE UP A HILL AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE FORWARD. CONSUMER STATED THAT THEY HAD TO COAST THE VEHICLE BACKWARDS. CONSUMER THEN NOTICED SMOKE. RAISED THE HOOD AND THEN NOTICED THAT FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE GEAR SHAFT. CONSUMER PUT THE FLAMES OUT AND HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #814638

Official recalls

1

87V139000 · 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

5

PE93011 · Cruise Control Malfunction

Opened Mar 3, 1993 · Closed Jul 19, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment

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

PE89118 · Speed Control Malfunction

Opened Apr 19, 1989 · Closed Sep 6, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment

===

PE87028 · Stalling

Opened May 1, 1987 · Closed Jan 21, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN DETECTED.===

EA86010 · Seatback Failure

Opened Mar 26, 1986 · Closed Jul 28, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:FORD BELIEVES THAT THE AL-LEGED DEFECT ONLY OCCURS IN A SMALL NUMBER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ANDRECALLED ABOUT 195,732 1984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986.ANALYSIS: VEHICLES POTENTIALLY INVOLVED INCLUDE TEMPO/TOPAZ, ESCORT/LYNX/EXP, MUSTANG/CAPRI, LTD/MARQUIS, AND THUNDERBIRD/COUGAR.FORD SOLD ABOUT 110,000 REPLACEMENT MIO BOLTS, MAINLY FOR 1983 AND 1984MODELS. LOW CLAMPING FORCE APPEARS TO BE A LARGE PART OF THE PROBLEM.FORD INCREASED THE TORQUE REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRED THE USE OF A MANUALTORQUE TOOL IN MARCH AND SEPTEMBER 1985 PRODUCTION CHANGES. 1987 MODELSWILL BE PRODUCED WITH A LONGER M10 BOLT AND A NUT TO INCREASE AND MAIN-TAIN CLAMPING FORCE. BOLTS WERE FORMERLY SELF TAPPING. REPORTS LISTEDABOVE SPECIFICALLY STATE THAT THE BOLT BROKE. NONE REFER SIMPLY TOSEAT BACK COLLAPSE ALONE.STATUS:FORD REPLY TO ODI IR DATED 2/2/87.FORD RECALLED 195,7321984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986 (86V-082). ANALYZING REPONSE,MONITORING CANADIAN PROGRESS. RESPONSE TO 4/6/87 LETTER TO FORDRECEIVED 7/15/87. WILL PROBABLY CLOSE AFTER CANADA COMPLETES THEIRACTIONS.===