1986 Ford Mustang vs 1988 Ford Mustang
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1986 Ford Mustang | 1988 Ford Mustang |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 30 | 108 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 22 | 27 |
| Investigations | 5 | 5 |
| Crash reports | 3 | 2 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 38 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–23 | 17–24 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Mustang | Ford Mustang |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 11 | 56 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 16 |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 10 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 0 | 7 |
| Visibility | 1 | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 0 | 5 |
| Tires | 3 | 1 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 0 | 9 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 8 |
| Overheating | 0 | 5 |
1986 Ford Mustang
1988 Ford Mustang
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Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.