IllustrationI HAVE HAD THE TOP REPLACED AND IT WAS NEVER ALLIGNED CORRECTLY, SO WHEN IT WENT DOWN IT WOULD GO DOWN AT AN ANGEL
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Mustang years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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 reportsTHE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED & LEAKED/STEAMED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $400. (PARTS & LABOR INCLUDED). I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL CARS & HAVE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GOING OUT AT THIS LOW MILEAGE. I ASKED THE DEALER SERVICE MGR @ MOYER FORD IN FOLEY, AL IF THIS HAD BEEN A …
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THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED & LEAKED/STEAMED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $400. (PARTS & LABOR INCLUDED). I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL CARS & HAVE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GOING OUT AT THIS LOW MILEAGE. I ASKED THE DEALER SERVICE MGR @ MOYER FORD IN FOLEY, AL IF THIS HAD BEEN A PROBLEM & HE SAID, "NOT ON THIS MODEL, THE POLICE CARS HAVE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH IT THOUGH". THIS ISN'T RIGHT & IT MAKES ME WANT TO GO BACK TO ANOTHER MAKE OF CAR THAT IS MORE RELIABLE.
THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD RUPTURED UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE COOLANT SYSTEM. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS (85-DEGREES F), BUT THERMOSTAT WAS MOST LIKELY STILL CLOSED. CAR HAD BEEN STARTED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2- TO 3-MINUTES. UPON INSPECTION OF THE CRACK, IN THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD, THE FISSURE APPEARS NEAR TH…
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THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD RUPTURED UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE COOLANT SYSTEM. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS (85-DEGREES F), BUT THERMOSTAT WAS MOST LIKELY STILL CLOSED. CAR HAD BEEN STARTED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2- TO 3-MINUTES. UPON INSPECTION OF THE CRACK, IN THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD, THE FISSURE APPEARS NEAR THE INJECTION MOLD 'SEAM'. THE CRACK DID NOT APPEAR NEAR THE GASKET SURFACES. THE CRACK WAS LOCATED ON THE BOTTOM-CENTER OF THE FORWARD SECTION OF THE MANIFOLD, RUNNING PERPENDICULAR TO THE DRIVESHAFT. THE HAIRLINE CRACK IS ABOUT 3/4-INCH LONG. TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD, IT COST ME $520 IN PARTS AND LABOR. MY MECHANIC FELT THAT THIS CRACK WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, AS A RESULT OF POOR ENGINEERING/MANUFACTURE. MY PERSONAL SUBJECTIVE ANALYSIS IS THAT A PLASTIC IS INHERENTLY WEAK (CHEAP CRAP). *AK
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE & FELT TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. HAD RETURNED TO DEALER WHO REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. LATER HAD CRUISE CONTROL ON & VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. APPLIED BRAKES SHUT IT OFF, BUT DID NOT STOP IT. TURNED VEHICLE OFF & RESTARTED IT. VEHICLE HAS NO AIR BAGS. VEHICLE HAD A 1998 FRONT REPAIR DONE, BUT NO ACCIDENT HAD HAPP…
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WAS DRIVING VEHICLE & FELT TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. HAD RETURNED TO DEALER WHO REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. LATER HAD CRUISE CONTROL ON & VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. APPLIED BRAKES SHUT IT OFF, BUT DID NOT STOP IT. TURNED VEHICLE OFF & RESTARTED IT. VEHICLE HAS NO AIR BAGS. VEHICLE HAD A 1998 FRONT REPAIR DONE, BUT NO ACCIDENT HAD HAPPENED. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 4O MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPENED, AND DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK
ENGINE OVERHEATS AFTER MANUFACTURER TSB KIT INSTALLED,DEALER KEPT CAR 1 MTH AFTERWARD, NO FURTHER UPDATES, NO REPAIR, CAR STILL RUNS HOT
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 40 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPENED, AND DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
SEAT BELT ON DRIVERS SIDE IS VERY WORN AND FRAYING.IT IS FRAYING DUE TO A PLASTIC GUIDE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP SAFETY BELT IN PLACE.I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR AND FEEL IF I WERE TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THE SEAT BELT WOULD RIP AND CAUSE ME TO BE THROWN FORWARD WITH THE IMPACT.
WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS ENGINE CUTS OFF, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE 4 TIMES AND STILL NO SOLUTION. *AK
FUEL LINE CRACKED, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK WHICH RESULTEDIN A FIRE. THIS WAS DETERMINED BY FORD AND THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR, AND FORD WAS WILLING TO PAY FOR THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Official recalls
301V318000 · 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
3PE99002 · 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.