# 1988 FORD MUSTANG — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
> NHTSA complaint `781257` · 2010-04-14 · 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:** 1988
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- **Speed:** 55 mph
## Narrative
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
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*