Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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
What owners actually said
246 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE FIRST HEAD GASKETS BLEW AT 40,000 MILES AND WERE REPLACED AT MY COST, AND NOW, AGAIN, AT 80,000 MILES HEAD GASKETS ARE GOING BAD. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT'S PURCHASE, ALTHOUGH THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST FRUSTRATING AND COSTLY. THERE IS DEFINATELY A PROBLEM HERE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY F…
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THE FIRST HEAD GASKETS BLEW AT 40,000 MILES AND WERE REPLACED AT MY COST, AND NOW, AGAIN, AT 80,000 MILES HEAD GASKETS ARE GOING BAD. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT'S PURCHASE, ALTHOUGH THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST FRUSTRATING AND COSTLY. THERE IS DEFINATELY A PROBLEM HERE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY FORD. THEY HAVE, THUS FAR, TURNED A DEAF EAR TO THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *AK
NHTSA ODI #737015
Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline
I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE HAS BEEN MANY OTHER LISTINGS REGUARDING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #736973
Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID ABS UNIT WAS NOT WORKING.*AK
NHTSA ODI #875349
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 · Nov 7, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline
APPEARS THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SUFFERED A COOLANT LEAK. IS THERE A RECALL AND WHAT ARE THE DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #735903
Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
DEALER FIXED "HIDDEN RECALL" GASKET AFTER HEAD GASKET REPAIR - FRONT COVER GASKET - NO CHARGE FOR "HIDDEN RECALL" GASKET REPLACEMENT. I WONDER IF THE HEAD GASKET WAS REALLY THE PROBLEM OR IF THEY MADE A MISTAKE, FIXED THE WRONG THING AND THEN FIXED THE RIGHT THING FOR FREE. )AK
NHTSA ODI #735245
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 · Oct 12, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
TEMPETURE SHOWS OVERHEATING & ENGINE STALLS WITH OR WITHOUT A/C
NHTSA ODI #734147
Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2000
Power Train
TRANSMISSON NEEDS TO BE OVERHAULED(REBUILT) DUE TO A MALFUNCTION INTERNALLY THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN.*AK
NHTSA ODI #732660
Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
VERY UNHAPPY WITH CAR AND SERVICE PROVIDED BY FREDERICK MOTOR CO. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK
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.
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.
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.
1996 Ford Mustang Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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