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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

Structure complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
150,000 miles · Aug 3, 2003
StructureVisibility

2 ISSUES (DATE AND INFO IS FOR THE FIRST DESCRIBED)HEATER CORE STARTED TO LEAK AND STEAM POURED OUR OF HEATER VENTS. VERY DIFFICULT TO REPLACE SUCH A SMALL PART, 8 HOURS OF WORK BY A PROFESSIONAL AND 300 DOLLARS. HAD ABOUT 150,000 MILES AT THE TIME. ISSUE 2: CAR WAS TOTALED IN A WRECK IN EARLY FEB 2003 WITH 162,000 MILES. CA…

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2 ISSUES (DATE AND INFO IS FOR THE FIRST DESCRIBED)HEATER CORE STARTED TO LEAK AND STEAM POURED OUR OF HEATER VENTS. VERY DIFFICULT TO REPLACE SUCH A SMALL PART, 8 HOURS OF WORK BY A PROFESSIONAL AND 300 DOLLARS. HAD ABOUT 150,000 MILES AT THE TIME. ISSUE 2: CAR WAS TOTALED IN A WRECK IN EARLY FEB 2003 WITH 162,000 MILES. CAR FISH TALLED ON ICE AT 35 MPH. HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A POLE 3 FEET HIGH WHICH RESULTED IN A COMPLETE 380 SPIN EXTREMLY QUICK DUE TO THE CURRENT FISH TAILING. MINOR INJURIES SUCH AS A SCRATCH. SPIN WAS SO FAST THAT THE GLASSES I WAS WEARING FLEW OFF INTO THE BACK SEAT. THIS IS MORE OF A COMPLIMENT THAN A COMPLAIN DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT HANDLES VERY WELL IN SUCH A COLLISON. MODEL WAS AN LX CONVERTIBLE. CONVERTIBLE ROOF TORE 3 WAYS DURING CRASH. PICTURES AVAILABLE IF NEEDED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10030684

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.===