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1996 Ford Mustang

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Mustang years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Ford Mustang are substantially higher than the model-year median of 81.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 26 of 246 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 82 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports6 fire reports13 injury reports

Tires complaints

9 reports
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17,033 miles · Jan 7, 2011
Exterior LightingParking BrakeTires

I PURCHASED A 1996 FORD MUSTANG FROM AUTO CREDIT #3 IN AIRWAY HEIGHTS, WASHINGTON. ON 1/2/2011, I RECEIVE THE VEHICLE AND AFTER THREE HOURS OF DRIVING, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR EMERGENCY BRAKE LOCKS UP. THIS PUTS ME INTO AN UNCONTROLLED 180 DEGREE SPIN. ON 1/3/2011, I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTER. I TOLD THE MECHANIC…

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I PURCHASED A 1996 FORD MUSTANG FROM AUTO CREDIT #3 IN AIRWAY HEIGHTS, WASHINGTON. ON 1/2/2011, I RECEIVE THE VEHICLE AND AFTER THREE HOURS OF DRIVING, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR EMERGENCY BRAKE LOCKS UP. THIS PUTS ME INTO AN UNCONTROLLED 180 DEGREE SPIN. ON 1/3/2011, I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTER. I TOLD THE MECHANIC TO CHECK THE BRAKES. AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF WAITING, I AM CALLED INTO THE WORK AREA, AND I SEE THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE IS CLEARLY NEEDING TO BE REPLACED, AS IT HAD THE APPEARANCE OF HAVING BEEN SHREDDED. THE SAME MECHANIC THEN TELLS ME THAT BOTH REAR BRAKES MUST BE REPLACED, AS THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS FROZEN IN THE ON POSITION. WHILE THE WORK WAS BEING DONE, I MANAGED TO TAKE A FEW PICTURES OF THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, NOT OF THE TIRE IN QUESTION. IN ADDITION, WHEN I RECEIVED THE VEHICLE, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT STAY LIT, AND WOULD TURN OFF AND ON AT RANDOM. WHEN I COMPLAINED TO THE BUSINESS ON 1/5/2011 AROUND 3:00 PM, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK AS I SIGNED A CONTRACT. WHAT I SIGNED WAS A LOAN AGREEMENT. EVEN WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RECEIVED IN THESE CONDITIONS, THEY STILL DID NOTHING. FINALLY, I TOLD THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND TO TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT THE NEXT DAY, REFERRING TO 1/6/2011. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10375093

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2001
Tires

TREAD PEALED OFF TIRE AT 65 MPH DESTROYING BUMPER AND ACTIVATED INERTIA SWITCH. *AK (DOT NUMBER: UNKN TIRESIZE: SS10)

NHTSA ODI #747119

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 2000
Tires

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 OF THESE TIRES AT A COST OF 685 DOLLARS TO MYSELF. THE TIRES ARE COMING APART AT WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL MUCH THE SAME AS THE FIRESTONE TIRES THAT ARE BEING RECALLED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO PAULS TIRES IN MARION INDIANA AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THEM BECAUSE FINCANNON FORD DID NOT BUY THE…

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I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 OF THESE TIRES AT A COST OF 685 DOLLARS TO MYSELF. THE TIRES ARE COMING APART AT WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL MUCH THE SAME AS THE FIRESTONE TIRES THAT ARE BEING RECALLED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO PAULS TIRES IN MARION INDIANA AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THEM BECAUSE FINCANNON FORD DID NOT BUY THE WARRANTY. I THEN TOOK THEM TO ANOTHER KELLY DEALER HERE IN MUNCIE. THEY CALLED KELLY AND KELLY DENIED ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS AND I WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPLACEMNET OF THE TIRES. THE FIRST ONES TO GO BAD WERE THE FRONT TIRES. NOW THE PASSENGER REAR IS DOING THE SAME THING. I WOULD THINK THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE AWARE THAT FIRESTONE IS NOT THE ONLY MANUFACTURER HAVING THIS SEPARATION PROBLEM. HAD I NOT HAVE BEEN PUTTING BRAKES ON THIS CAR I WOULD NOT HAVE EVEN NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WERE SEPARATING. MOST PEOPLE DO NOT LOOK AT THE TIRES ON THEIR CAR. (TIRESIZE: P255/40R17)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/40R17 )

NHTSA ODI #736593

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2000
Tires

THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR BUMPER AND WHEEL WELL (MICHELIN AMERICAN GOLD TOUR PLUS, P205/65R15, TIRE MILEAGE 5,000). NLM

NHTSA ODI #556860

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2000
Tires

I ORDERED THIS CAR AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF MODEL YEAR AND REQUESTED TO PAY FOR AN UPGRADE TO PREMIUM TIRES INSTEAD OF WHAT CAME ON THE CAR. SARASOTA FORD SAID THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE UNLESS I PAID FOR 2 FULL SETS. THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, GUARANTEED FOR 45000 WORE OUT AT 13,500 MILES SO POORLY AND UNEVENLY THAT I JUST REPLACED THE…

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I ORDERED THIS CAR AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF MODEL YEAR AND REQUESTED TO PAY FOR AN UPGRADE TO PREMIUM TIRES INSTEAD OF WHAT CAME ON THE CAR. SARASOTA FORD SAID THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE UNLESS I PAID FOR 2 FULL SETS. THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, GUARANTEED FOR 45000 WORE OUT AT 13,500 MILES SO POORLY AND UNEVENLY THAT I JUST REPLACED THEM BECAUSE THEY SCARED ME. NOW I FEEL THERE WAS MORE TO MY PROBLEM AND I COULD HAVE HAD A BLOWOUT IN A CONVERTIBLE FROM DEFECTIVE TIRES. THE SERVICE MGR AT THE TIRE STORE COULD NOT BELIEVE THE TIRES HAD ONLY GONE 13000 MILES. I DON'T KNOW IF THE TIRE INFO IS ON THE ORIGINAL SALES RECEIPT FOR THE CAR. I TRULY FEEL THOSE TIRES I WAS FORCED TO BUY WERE DEFECTIVE.( DOT NUMBER: 0 TIRE SIZE: 16 )

NHTSA ODI #729025

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2000
TiresCrash

THE TIRE EXPLODED THOUGH MY BACK BUMPER AND HIT MY INTERTIA SWITCH IN THE CARS TRUNK TURNING OFF THE GAS. I WAS STRANDED 1 HOUR EAST OF DES MOINES, IOWA. WHEN I TRIED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER THEY IGNORED ME AND STATED THE THE TIRES WERE FINE ONLY THE WILDERNESS TRIRES HAS A PROBLEM. I STILL …

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THE TIRE EXPLODED THOUGH MY BACK BUMPER AND HIT MY INTERTIA SWITCH IN THE CARS TRUNK TURNING OFF THE GAS. I WAS STRANDED 1 HOUR EAST OF DES MOINES, IOWA. WHEN I TRIED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER THEY IGNORED ME AND STATED THE THE TIRES WERE FINE ONLY THE WILDERNESS TRIRES HAS A PROBLEM. I STILL HAVE THE TIRE, THE TRED BLEW OFF AND IT NEVER DID GO FLAT.( DOT NUMBER: 479664199 TIRE SIZE: SS10 )

NHTSA ODI #727203

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 1998
Tires

TIRE ARE DRY ROTTEN.

NHTSA ODI #780742

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997
Tires

TIRES FAILED. (GOODYEAR ZR)

NHTSA ODI #604971

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkagesSeats

FRONT DRIVERS SIDE POWER SEAT ADJUSTMENT SWITCH FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #604942

Official recalls

3

01V318000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Oct 3, 2001

EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE REPLACED AFTER APRIL 5, 2000. THE REPLACEMENT DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE INFLATOR MAY HAVE INSUFFICIENT WELDS THAT COULD PREVENT PROPER INFLATION OF THE AIR BAG.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MAY NOT PROPERLY DEPLOY WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN LESS THAN THE INTENDED LEVEL OF OCCUPANT PROTECTION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

00V349000 · Parking Brake:conventional

Oct 30, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. IF A VEHICLE IS PARKED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE NOT FULLY APPLIED AND NOT IN FIRST GEAR, AS DIRECTED IN THE OWNER GUIDE, AND THE SELF ADJUSTMENT PAWL SUBSEQUENTLY SKIPS ONE OR TWO TEETH, THE VEHICLE COULD MOVE ON SOME GRADES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL AND INSTALL A PLATE OR OVER-BRACKET TO THE CONTROL TO LOCK THE SELF ADJUST MECHANISM IN POSITION FOLLOWING ADJUSTMENT.

97V180000 · Structure:body:hood

Oct 20, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS. TEARING OF THE BOND BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER HOOD PANELS DURING MINOR FRONT END COLLISIONS CAN RESULT IN A GAP AT THE LEADING EDGE OF THE HOOD. AIR FORCED BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER PANELS CAN PRODUCE ENOUGH PRESSURE TO FORCE THE OUTER PANEL UPWARD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN TOTAL SEPARATION OF THE OUTER HOOD PANEL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HOOD AREA FOR ANY DAMAGE ALONG THE LEADING EDGE OF THE HOOD. IF THERE IS ANY EVIDENCE OF BOND SEPARATION, THE HOOD WILL BE REPLACED. IF THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF BOND SEPARATION, ADDITIONAL ADHESIVE WILL BE APPLIED BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER HOOD PANELS.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

3

PE99002 · Front Brake Hose

Opened Jan 11, 1999 · Closed Jun 30, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

EA97018 · Outer Hood Panel Detachment

Opened Sep 30, 1997 · Closed Oct 22, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

PE97011 · Outer Hood Panel Detachment

Opened Mar 13, 1997 · Closed Sep 30, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION HAS RECEIVED 6 REPORTS INDICATING THE OUTER HOOD PANEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLES AS THEY WERE BEING DRIVEN.FORD HAS PROVIDE 39 ADDITIONAL REPORTS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH ODI REPORTS.FORD INDICATES THAT THE LIKELY CAUSE IS PRIOR COLLISION DAMAGE.THIS INVESTIGATION IS BEING UPGRADED TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.