IllustrationALTERNATOR FIRE.
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
Electrical System complaints
56 reportsRECALL #96V071, ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH: HAD RECALL WORK DONE IN AUGUST 96. VEHICLE PARKED IN LOT AND SOMEONE NOTICED IT WAS IN FLAMES. VEHICLE TOTALED,CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
WHILE PARKED, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE STEERING COLUMN TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
ALTERNATOR FAILED.
THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE LIGHT STARTED TO BURN . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES IN THE OFF POSITION. A VEHICLE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THE CAUSE WAS A FAULTY ALTERNATOR. *AK
GOING DOWN A STREET, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASH OF THE CAR, PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR , CHECKED THE HOOD OF VEHICLE, BLACK SMOKE CAME FROM INSIDE, BURNED THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. *AK *JB
ELECTRICAL DEFECT OR MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE DASHBOARD AREA, CAUSING FIRE. (INSURANCE AGENT FOR CLIENT)
WHEN 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
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL.
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