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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.

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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: 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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
5,000 miles · May 28, 2021
Engine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 1988 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while adding air to the tires, the radiator exploded in the engine. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer nor an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was no…

Read full complaint

The contact owns a 1988 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while adding air to the tires, the radiator exploded in the engine. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer nor an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.

NHTSA ODI #11418922

Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER BEGAN TO SEE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE VEHICLE WAS EVACUATED AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED, POSSIBLE CAUSE OF FIRE WAS ENGINE OIL HAD LEAKED ONTO THE EXHAUST.(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT 10-90-256)*JB

NHTSA ODI #566198

Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 1995
Engine And Engine Cooling

COOLING FAN INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA ODI #513992

Mileage unknown · Date not reported
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE AFTER RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #506462

Official recalls

1

96V071000 · 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

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

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