1988 Ford Mustang Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 5%of 108 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 218,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 1988 Ford Mustang, 5% of the 108 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 218,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“About a month ago, while returning from a long trip, the cruise control on my Mustang just stopped working. Subsequent inspection revealed that the hollow plastic head piece on the actuator cable had broken and the control cable was no longer able to pull on the throttle. The steel cable is terminated a couple of inches back of the throttle arm and slides freely inside the plastic head piece which is attached the throttle arm itself. I assume it built like this to prevent binding when the cruise control is not in use. …”
NHTSA complaint #10023085, filed 2003-06, 218,000 milesVehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 25% |
| 2025 | 1 | 5% |
| 2024 | 4 | 5% |
| 2023 | 1 | 7% |
| 2022 | 3 | 6% |
| 2021 | 1 | 2% |
| 2020 | 4 | 3% |
| 2019 | 1 | 1% |
| 2018 | 1 | 1% |
| 2017 | 3 | 1% |
| 2016 | 10 | 3% |
| 2015 | 15 | 3% |
| 2014 | 10 | 3% |
| 2013 | 19 | 7% |
| 2012 | 35 | 7% |
| 2011 | 39 | 8% |
| 2010 | 10 | 4% |
| 2009 | 22 | 12% |
| 2008 | 19 | 5% |
| 2007 | 43 | 7% |
| 2006 | 35 | 8% |
| 2005 | 54 | 8% |
| 2004 | 33 | 28% |
| 2003 | 16 | 11% |
| 2002 | 15 | 13% |
| 2001 | 13 | 8% |
| 2000 | 19 | 6% |
| 1999 | 25 | 12% |
| 1998 | 18 | 8% |
| 1997 | 5 | 3% |
| 1996 | 10 | 4% |
| 1995 | 13 | 2% |
| 1994 | 6 | 2% |
| 1993 | 4 | 4% |
| 1991 | 2 | 3% |
| 1990 | 8 | 9% |
| 1989 | 9 | 8% |
| 1988 | 5 | 5% |
| 1987 | 3 | 8% |
| 1985 | 1 | 6% |
| 1984 | 1 | 6% |
Other parts of the 1988 Ford Mustang
56 complaintsExterior lighting
16 complaintsSeat belts
10 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaintsEngine cooling
4 complaintsSteering
4 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
3 complaintsEquipment
2 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
2 complaintsSeats
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1988 Ford Mustang
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology