1993 FORD MUSTANG Electrical System Problems

I BOUGHT A 93 MUSTANG 4 CYLINDER WITH 12,000 MILES ON IT IN 12\93. THE CAR NOW ONLY HAS 28,000 MILES ON IT TOTAL. THE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK, THE HATCHBACK LATCH DOESN'T ENGAGE CORRECTLY, WHEN I GO TO LOCK THE IGNITION SWITCH, I HAVE TO CONTINUALLY JIGGLE THE GEARSHIFTER BEFORE THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL LOCK, AND THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HAS A LEAK IN IT SOMEWHERE. THESE PROBLEMS STARTED OCCURRING IN JUNE OF 2000, BUT DUE TO WARRANTY ONLY BEING GOOD FOR 3 YEARS, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEMS UNLESS I PAID FOR THE REPAIRS, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR ONLY HAD ~ 17,000 MILES ON IT AT THAT TIME. THE PAINT STARTED FADING OUT IN 1998. *TR

Mileage: 17,000

1993 FORD MUSTANG IGNITION SYSTEM FIRE VEHICLE WAS IN GARAGE AFTER BEING DRIVEN THE DAY BEFORE. ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE STARTER THEN SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL FROM IGNITION WIRES BURNING UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A CLOTH AND I NOTICED THAT THE COATING ON THE WIRES UNDER THE WHEEL WERE BURNT OFF AND THE WIRE WAS CHARRED WHICH HAS RENDERED THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. AFTER SEARCHING THE WEB I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR THE VERY PROBLEM THAT I EXPERIENCED (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V071000) I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT MY VEHICLE (EARLY 1993 MODEL) WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND SINCE IT WAS OVER 10 YEARS OLD THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT ANYWAY UNDER THE RECALL. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND NEED TO WAIT FOR THEIR RESPONSE. SO FAR THE FORD DEALERSHIPS LACK OF CONCERN OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS ISSUE ASTOUNDS ME. MY GARAGE COULD HAVE BURNED DOWN PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED ETC. *JB

Mileage: 50,548

DT: THE VEHICLE BLEW UP AND CAUGHT ON FIRE DAMAGING 3 OTHER VEHICLE AROUND IT. THE FIRE MARSHAL CAME OUT AND SAID IT WAS MECHIANICAL AND ELECTRICAL DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS COMING TO INVESTAGATE. *AK *NM

Mileage: 100,000

CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE 30 TO 40 MILES TO A DOCTOR. PARKED FOR 10 MINUTES, AND CAR WAS REPORTED ON FIRE. FIRE FIGHTER SAID ALTENATOR STARTED THE FIRE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE ALTENATOR HAD BEEN REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO.*AK

CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE 30 TO 40 MILES TO A DOCTOR. PARKED FOR 10 MINUTES, AND CAR WAS REPORTED ON FIRE. FIRE FIGHTER SAID ALTENATOR STARTED THE FIRE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE ALTENATOR HAD BEEN REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ALTERNATOR, BEGINNING WITH THE ORIGINAL, HAS BURST INTO FLAMES 4 TIMES. EACH TIME, CONSUMER HAS HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE NEAREST BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT TO BORROW FIRE EXTINGUISHER. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE CHECKED FOR ELECTRICAL SHORTS AND REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THIS HAPPENS WHILE ILDING OR TRAVELING AT LOW RPMS WHILE HAVING THE HEADLIGHTS, RADIO, AND A/C ON. THE ELECTRIC FAN WOULD KICK ON AND ALL COMPONENTS WOULD SEND THE BATTERY GAUGE UNDER 10 VOLTS CATCHING FIRE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. *TT

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS BECOME INOPERABLE. THERE IS A RECALL ALREADY REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. RECALL NUMBER 7774 96 V 071 000. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

WHILE TRAVELING WITH HEATER RUNNING CONSUMER NOTICED A RUBBER BURNING SMELL SOON AFTER CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED VENAL STICKING TO DASHBOARD. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

BATERY LIGHT COMES ON, THEN VEHICLE OVERHEATS AND CATCHES ON FIRE. PLUG GOES INTO ALTERNATOR. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID ALTERNATER WAS BAD.*AK

BATERY LIGHT COMES ON, THEN VEHICLE OVERHEATS AND CATCHES ON FIRE. PLUG GOES INTO ALTERNATOR. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID ALTERNATER WAS BAD.*AK

I STARTED THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY AND IT IMMEDIATELY CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE DASH. THE WHOLE DASH HARNESS MELTED ALONG WITH SOME DASH COMPONENTS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART NOR DO THEY MAKE IT ANYMORE. I NOW HAVE A 7 YEAR OLD CAR THAT IS WORTHLESS BECAUSE OF A $500.00 PART.*AK

THE PLUG THAT GOES INTO THE ALTERNATOR SHORTS AND THE ENGINE CATCHES FIRE. I REPLACE THE PLUG AND ALTERNATOR. IT HAPPENS AGAIN SEVERAL MONTHS LATER. *AK

THERE WAS A FIRE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. FORD HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

VEH CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH- FORD REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL AND WONT REPAIR DAMAGE

STEERING COLUMN FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE RECALL COMPONENT FAILURE, HOWEVER CONSUMER DENIED. MJS (96V-071)

THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH IGNITION SWITCH SYSTEM. WHILE VEHICLE WAS JUST SITTING, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE VENTS, AND NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. CORROLATES TO RECALL NUMBER 96V071000. *AK

ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. EACH TIME VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR. THERE IS A BURNING SMELL, BEFORE THE CAR FAILS. EACH TIME CABLES TO THE ALTERNATOR HAVE BEEN BURNED. *MJS

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED UNDER THE HOOD FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH. CONSUMER SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING WHILE DRIVING. PULED OVER AND FOUNDED ENGINE ON FIRE. AFTER FIRE WAS PUT OUT, CONSUMER NOTICED WIRING ON ALTERNATOR BURNED UP. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CUT OFF FOR ABOUT 10-15 MIN WHEN VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA AROUND THE ALTERNATOR. FIRE DEPARMENT CALLED, UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH GETS HOT OCCASIONALLY.

HAD PARKED VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY. AN HOUR LATER WAS INFORMED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IT THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED & PUT OUT FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE BATTERY'S ELECTRICAL CABLES. ENTIRE ENGINE BURNED. *AK

WIRES INSIDE DRIVER SIDE DOOR SHORTED OUT CAUSING THE INSULATION TO CATCH FIRE.

VEHICLE PARKED FOR HALF AN HOUR; NEIGHBOR NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERHOOD, MANAGED TO EXTINGUISH FIRE BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, REPAIRED BY DEALER. *AK

ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE AFTER BEING REPLACED FOUR TIMES.

BATTERY CABLES FAILED.

DIFFICULTY LOCATING HORN BUTTONS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. *AK

UPON PARKING, MOMENTS LATER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD, THEN AN EXPLOSION, RESULTING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CATCHING ON FIRE AROUND ALTERNATOR.*AK

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE DASH WHILE BEING DRIVEN. FIRE DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH.*AK *JB

BATTERY FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL, ACCOMPANIED BY BURNING ODOR. *DSH

ELECTRICAL FIRE. *SD

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE. *SD

SET ON FIRE BECAUSE A SHORT IN SWITCH OF THE IGNITION.PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

30 MINUTES AFTER PARKING, NOTICE HORN BLOWING, LOOKED OUT TO FIND SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING THROUGH DOOR, VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT FIRE. TT

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN AT FULL STOP OR WHEN COMING TO STOP.