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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 →
38Owner complaints

Model-year median: 81

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

6Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
18
198416
198530
198638
1987108
1988109
198985
1990
Compare all Mustang years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
17Engine And Engine Cooling
5Exterior Lighting
5Fuel System, Gasoline
3Vehicle Speed Control
3
All reported categories
Seat Belts
2Latches/locks/linkages
1Power Train
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Steering
1Structure
1Unknown Or Other
1Visibility
1Visibility/wiper
1

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

Visibility/wiper complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
126,000 miles · Apr 10, 2020
Exterior LightingVisibility/wiper

MY COMPLAINT DOESN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM BUT IT WAS REQUIRED. MY COMPLAINT IS WITH NEW CARS NEW CARS COMING OUT NOW WHERE THEIR HEADLIGHTS ARE THERE LOW BEAMS ARE UNBELIEVABLY BRIGHT AND I CANNOT BELIEVE IF YOU'VE EVER DRIVEN AT NIGHT YOU DON'T SEE THE SAME PROBLEM IT'S BLINDING IT'S RIDICULOUS. I MEAN HONESTLY LET'S DO SOMETHING …

Read full complaint

MY COMPLAINT DOESN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM BUT IT WAS REQUIRED. MY COMPLAINT IS WITH NEW CARS NEW CARS COMING OUT NOW WHERE THEIR HEADLIGHTS ARE THERE LOW BEAMS ARE UNBELIEVABLY BRIGHT AND I CANNOT BELIEVE IF YOU'VE EVER DRIVEN AT NIGHT YOU DON'T SEE THE SAME PROBLEM IT'S BLINDING IT'S RIDICULOUS. I MEAN HONESTLY LET'S DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. YOU GUYS ARE ALL WORRIED ABOUT SPEED AND WHAT NOT BUT AT LEAST YOU CAN SEE A STREAK OF ME GOING BY GOING FAST BUT YOU'RE BLINDED WITH THOSE LIGHTS I THINK THAT'S A WAY OF MORE OF A SAFETY HAZARD THAN SPEED.

NHTSA ODI #11320733

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

6

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

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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