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
61,625 miles · Jan 30, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
VECHICLE OVERHEATS RESULTING IN THE COVERGASKET FAILING, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTICEABLE RIGHT AWAY AS HAD OIL CHAGE THE WEEK BEFORE AND THE MECHANIC DID NOT NOTICE ANY PROBLEMS. THIS HAS CAUSED US TO REPLACE ALL THE GASKETS COSTING US $600.00 THEN WHEN DROVE ONE DAY VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN MA…
Read full complaint
VECHICLE OVERHEATS RESULTING IN THE COVERGASKET FAILING, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTICEABLE RIGHT AWAY AS HAD OIL CHAGE THE WEEK BEFORE AND THE MECHANIC DID NOT NOTICE ANY PROBLEMS. THIS HAS CAUSED US TO REPLACE ALL THE GASKETS COSTING US $600.00 THEN WHEN DROVE ONE DAY VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN MAKING GURGLING NOISE AND THE TEMPERTURE GAUGE WENT HOT AND NOW THE WHOLE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS THE OVERHEATING HAD CAUSED MORE PROBLEMS THAN WE FIRST THOUGHT. WE FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS FORD PRODUCT AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED.
NHTSA ODI #10004976
Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER STATES HER AUTO IS RUNNING HOT, AND SHE HAS TAKEN THE AUTO TO 4 MECHANICS AND EACH HAS SAID THAT THIS PART HAS BEEN ON RECALL. SHE ALSO STATES THAT HER AIR CONDITION AND DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK. SHE ALSO SAID SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE 95 AND 96 HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. TS
NHTSA ODI #8023737
Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2002
Latches/locks/linkages
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES HOOD OPENED AND FLEW OFF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO HOOD SEPARATION. *TS *NLM
NHTSA ODI #8021042
Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2002
Air Bags
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITH OUT ANY REASON, DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
NHTSA ODI #8020946
Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2002
Unknown Or Other
1996 FORD MUSTANG. *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**767677
NHTSA ODI #10006969
Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS CRACKED. FORD HAS RECALLED MANY OF THEIR 4.6L INTAKE MANIFOLDS IN THEIR CROWN VICTORIAS, BUT NOT IN THE SAME ENGINE IN THE MUSTANG. THEY NEED TO!! PLEASE HELP.*AK
NHTSA ODI #766638
Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2002
Exterior Lighting
WHILE DRIVING HEAD LIGHT LAMPS PLASTIC COVER FOGS UP RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY.*AK *NLM
NHTSA ODI #8014875
Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WITH ABSOLUTELY NO PRIOR WARNING THE BRAKES JUST FAILED TO RESPOND. NEXT TIME I TURNED MOTOR ON THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. IF AN ACCIDENT HAD HAPPENED THE WARNING WOULD HAVE COME TOO LATE. LOST ALL THE BRAKE FLUID.*AK
NHTSA ODI #763697
Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2002
Steering
AT ANY SPEED STEERING WHEEL WILL SHAKE AND COULD CAUSE LOSS IN STEERING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8012134
Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2002
Air BagsUnknown Or Other
AIR BAG LIGHT IS FLASHING A CODE, AND NO ONE CAN TELL CONSUMER WHAT THE CODE MEANS. EVERY NOW AND THEN ENGINE CHECK LIGHT GOES ON FOR NO REASON. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO A NUMBER OF MECHANICS, AND NO ONE COULD GIVE HER ANY REASON WHY VEHICLE WAS DOING THIS.*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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