1988 FORD MUSTANG Electrical System Problems

I WAS DRIVING TO A FUNERAL HOME TO PICK UP ASHES 40 MILES FROM HOME WITH TWO CHOW DOGS WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING AND WAS BURNING. THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CONTACTED AAA TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A RELIABLE REPAIR SHOP. I HAD A USED ONE INSTALLED AS THE FORD DEALER SAID THE COMPUTER DOES NOT GO BACK TO THAT YEAR FOR PARTS. I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL AT THAT TIME. HOWEVER I FOUND OUT HOW TO FIND OUT DUE TO A GOOD MORNING AMERICA SHOW. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER THIS TIME IN PERSON AND AGAIN COMPUTER COULD NOT GIVE ANY INFORMATION.THE PERSON IN CHARGE WAS JOHN LARUE AND HE GAVE ME A PHONE NUMBER TO FORD 1-800-392-3673 AND I CALLED EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND APPARENTLY THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AS THERE MAY BE A BLANKET RECALL WHATEVER THAT IS AND NOTHING LISTED ON THEIR COMPUTER AND WAS BLOWN OFF. NOTHING . NADA. I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU SELL IT YOU SERVICE IT IF IT IS DEFECTIVE. THIS IS MY REASON FOR THIS COMPLAINT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN RIDING ROUGHLY AND THE ENGINE FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED OUT OF TRAFFIC, WAITED TWENTY MINUTES, AND THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. HE DROVE A BLOCK AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE IGNITION MODULE FAILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

Mileage: 47,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD MUSTANG. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE THE TURN SIGNALS AND HORN DO NOT WORK. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER DISCONTINUED THE PARTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

Mileage: 17,000

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED AND REPLACED DURING NHTSA CAMPAIGN 96V071000. FORD PART #F29A-11572-DA. WIRING HARNESS END WAS ALSO REPAIRED DUE TO MELTING DURING OVERHEATING OF TERMINALS. THE SWITCH THAT WAS REPLACED DID NOT MELT OR FAIL INTERNALLY, BUT BECAME SEPARATED. THE ORIGINAL SWITCH AS WELL AS THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND A LIGHT DUTY WHITE METAL THAT ARE CRIMPED ON THE ENDS TO CLOSE THE SWITCH. I FOUND THAT THE OLD SWITCH AS WELL AS THE NEW FAULTY SWITCH, BECAME SEPARATED. THE END CRIMPS SLOWLY BEND OPEN AND THE TOP OF THE SWITCH PUSHES AWAY FROM THE BASE. THIS SEPARATION SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY THE INTERNAL SPRING PRESSURE ON THE SWITCH PLATES PUSHING ON THE BATTERY SIDE. THE METAL CRIMPS ARE NOT ABLE TO HOLD THE SWITCH CLOSED. THERE IS NO OTHER MECHANICAL FASTENERS HOLDING THIS SWITCH TOGETHER. THE INCREASED GAP BETWEEN THE CONTACT PLATES CAUSES AN OVERHEATING OF THE SWITCH, PRIMARILY AT THE BATTERY CONNECTORS, MELTING THE SWITCH AND HARNESS ASSEMBLY. MY FIRST SWITCH ONLY CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE HARNESS AND WIRES. BECAUSE I CHECKED INTO THE SMELL OF BURNING INSULATION IN THE COLUMN I DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FIRE OR SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THIS TIME, I DID NOT SMELL ANYTHING, BUT LOST POWER TO MY TURN SIGNALS WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE ROAD. WHEN I TRACED THE POWER LOSS I CAME TO THE IGNITION SWITCH AND FOUND THE HARNESS MELTING AGAIN AND THE SWITCH NEARLY SPLITTING IN HALF WHEN IT WAS UNBOLTED FROM THE COLUMN. AGAIN THE SWITCH OPENED UP AS THE METAL BASE GAVE WAY. *JB

Mileage: 98,000

THE PLUG ATTACHED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS BURNED THE WIRE INSIDE OF THE SWITCH. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH

I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW SOMETIME IN 1988. OVER THE YEARS IT HAS OFTEN STALLED AT THE WORST TIMES. HAD I NOT KNOWN DEFENSIVE MILITARY DRIVING THESE EVENTS MAY HAVE HAD FATAL RESULTS. IT USUALLY SEEMED TO TAKE PLACE AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD HEATED CONSIDERABLY. WHEN IT WAS COLD I WAS OFTEN ABLE TO START IT UP. I HAVE SPENT YEARS, MONEY AND GRIEF TRYING TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THIS PROBLEM. I AM PISSED TO FIND OUT THAT FORD KNEW ALL ALONG. MY CAR IS DOING THE SAME [XXX] THING, WHAT ABOUT MY CAR? FORD MADE A COMMENT ABOUT REPLACING THOSE UNDER 100K MILES; WHAT CARS FROM THIS TIME FRAME ARE REALLY UNDER 100K MILES? WILL IT AFFECT ME IN ANY REGARD? CAN YOU ANSWER ANY OF MY QUESTIONS?*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE IGNITION SYSTEM FAILS WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUALLY STALL, CONSUMER IS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE ON EVERY OCCASION SO FAR. *MJS

VEHICLE WAS PARKED. SMOKE BEGAN COMING FROM DASH. CAR CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED.*AK

MY CAR HAS IGNITION STALLING PROBLEMS AND FORD NEEDS TO DO A RECALL.

CAR CAME TO A STOP ON A HIGHWAY ENTRANCE RAMP. TOWED TO SERVICE STATION. FAULTY TFI MODULE

THIS VEHICLE WAS PART OF MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 7774, AND WAS FIXED BY DEALER IN 1996. HOWEVER, IGNITION SWITCH STOPPED WORKING BECAUSE THE TWO WIRES THAT POWER THE IGNITION SWITH WERE MELTED. *AK *ML

THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 96V071000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. DEALER PERFORMED RECALL REPAIRS, BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRED. ALSO, WHEN HEATER IS ON THE TURN SIGNALS ARE INOPERATIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE FROM HOOD AREA. PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO A SERVICE CENTER, OPENED HOOD AND SAW ALTERNATOR ON FIRE. A SERVICEMAN TRIED TO PUT FIRE OUT WITH A EXTINGUISHER, BUT FIRE WOULD NOT EXTINGUISH UNTIL CABLE ON BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED. *ML

CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED A SHORTAGE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN #. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE, CONSUMER NOT NOTIFIED OF RECALL ON COMPONENT. *YC

VEHICLE PARKED AT AIRPORT. OWNER ON TRIP. FIRE OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE PARKED. FIRE DEPT PUT FLAMES OUT. REPORTED AS ACCIDENT. INDICATED FIRE ORIGINATED IN IGNITION. WIFE NOTIFIED 22 OCT 98 OF FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

HAD HEAD & FOG LIGHTS ON. FOG LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING OFF & ON. FOG LIGHT SWITCH OVERHEATED. TURNED OFF FOG LIGHTS. HAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER AS OF YET. *AK

VEHICLE HORN FAILED.

ELECTRICAL: RECALL #96V071 IGNITION SWITCH. HAD RECALL WORK DONE IN MAY 1996. VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE MAY 18,1997 . FIREMAN SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK

ALTERNATOR FIRE.

RECALL #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.

ALTERNATOR FAILED THREE TIMES.

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE.

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. FORD WILL NOT HONOR THE NOTICE BECAUSE THEY SAY THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN FLOODED.*AK *SLC

CAR WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE WHICH STARTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)

CAR BURNED UP IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE DASH WHILE PARKED IN BACKYARD ON 7/6/96. RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE ON 7/8/96. 96V071000. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT IGNITION BURN CAUSED DASH TO BURN AND WINDSHIELD TO CRACK.*JB

DRIVING CAR, SMOKE FILLED INSIDE OF CAR, CAR CAUGHT FIRE, DRIVER BURNED SLIGHTLY, STOPPED CAR & GOT OUT, CALLED FIRE DEPT TO PUT OUT FIRE, FIRE STARTED DUE TO A SHORT IN THE IGNITION WIRING. VEHICLE WA STOTALED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM IGNITION WHICH AREA DEALERSHIP INFORMED HIM IGNITION BURNT OUT. VEHICLE STALLED IN ROUTE TO DEALER W/PROBLEMS OF EXHAUST. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM IGNITION WHICH AREA DEALERSHIP INFORMED HIM IGNITION BURNT OUT. VEHICLE STALLED IN ROUTE TO DEALER W/PROBLEMS OF EXHAUST. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

IGNITION BURNED OUT WHILE TRAVELING. VEHICLE THEN BEGAN EXPERIENCING STALLING W/EXHAUST BLOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH BURNED OUT WHILE DRIVING, RESULTING IN STALLING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK

IGNITION BURNT OUT WHILE DRIVING. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND DASH CAUGHT FIRE. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE AFTER RECALL.

THE VEHICLE HAS CAUGHT ON FIRE AND EXPLODED, JUST RECEIVED LETTER FROM FORD NOTIFYING HER OF A RECALL. FIRE STARTED IN STEERING COLUMN. RECALL 96V071000. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AND PUT FOG LIGHT ON, THE HEADLIGHTS/TAIL LIGHT GO OFF, CONSUMER RECEIVED SERVICE BULLETINS . *AK SERVICE BULLETIN 89-17-11 STATES THAT WIRING IS TOO SMALL FROM THE FACTORY, CAUSING FOG LIGHT PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE FIRE. *SLC

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH,CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE. *AQK

ALTERNATOR FAILED FOUR TIMES, CAUSING FIRE. *DH

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DH

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK CAUSED THE VEHICLE IGNTION SWITCH TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, SMELLED A BAD SMOKE IN THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED/HESITATED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING IGNITION SWITCH, THEN CAUGHT FIRE. *AK

THE VEHICLES STEERING COLUMN SMOKES AND THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE IGNITON IS TURNED OFF AND KEY IS REMOVED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

INGITION SWITCH AND ATTACHED WIRING HAS MELTED. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. *AK

ON (2) OCCASIONS, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE SECOND OCCURRENCE W/HOUSE CATCHING FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT AND CAUGHT FIRE. *AK

ON (2) OCCASIONS, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE SECOND OCCURRENCE W/HOUSE CATCHING FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT AND CAUGHT FIRE. *AK

ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE. *SD