# 1997 FORD MUSTANG — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
> NHTSA complaint `266639` · 2000-12-19 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** MUSTANG
- **Year:** 1997
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
- **Speed:** 5 mph
## Narrative
A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1987-1993 MUSTANG GT'S, WHEN DRIVING WITH THE FOG LIGHTS ON, THE WIRING AT THE HEADLAMP SWITCH CAN NOT HANDLE THE POWER, AND WILL  MELT DOWN CAUSING A POTENTIAL RISK OF FIRE.  THE PROBLEM IS SO COMMON THAT AFTERMARKET SUPPLIERS CARRY A PLUG AND PIGTAIL FOR THESE VEHICLES.  HERE WE HAVE A 1997 MUSTANG GT, WHILE DRIVING WITH THE FOG LIGHTS ON THE WIRING AT THE HEADLAMP SWITCH OVERHEATED , MELTING THE PLUG TO THE HEADLAMP SWITCH. ALSO I NOTICED BURN RESIDUE ON THE  SWITCH ITSELF.   BEING AWARE OF THE PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE OLDER CARS I KNEW TO SUT THE FOG LIGHTS OFF. THIS IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE GAUGE CLUSTER LIGHTS BACK ON. I TURNED THE HEADLAMP SWITCH OFF AND THE SMOKE BEGAN TO CLEAR.  THIS IS A VERY POPULAR CAR WITH A PROBLEM THAT I AM FINDING IS FAR MORE COMMON ON THE SN95 MODEL MUSTANG THAN THOUGHT. I WAS SUPRISED THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER NHTSA COMPLAINT REGARDING THE VEH. I CALLED AND CHECKED. MY FRIENDS 1995 DID THE SAME THING WITH LESS THAN 36 THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND FORD REPAIRED IT AT NO COST. I HAVE EMAILED WEB SITES ASKING ANY OTHER OWNERS TO FILE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH NHTSA AND FORD SO THAT CONSUMERS CAN BE NOTIFIED. IF NOT FOR ANY OTHER REASON THAN AT LEAST TO HAVE PEOPLE NOTIFIED NOT TO USE THE FOG LIGHTS UNTIL THIER CAR CAN BE INSPECTED. IT IS A COUPLE OF SCREWS AND THE REMOVAL OF THE HEADLAMP KNOB TO INSPECT THE SWITCH AND THE WIRING.  IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL MY FRIEND BOBBY SILVA AT 480-961-7433. HE IS ALSO AN OWNER AND WOR
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*