IllustrationCASTER ADJUSTMENT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING TIRES TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. DEALERHSIP EXAMINED VEHICLE,AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT AN AUTOBODY SHOP WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THE REPAIRS TO VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
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 reportsWHILE TRAVELING 30-35MPH SWAY BAR FOR CONSUMER'S 1996, FORD, COBRA MUSTANG BROKE IN HALF. VEHICLE HAD 43,000 MILES WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY SWAY BAR BROKE AWAY FROM VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAD 43,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED FOR PROBLEM, BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR BAR. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY APPARENT REASON. THE VEHICLE WAS NO INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF IMPACT. FORD INITIALLY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGES TO THE CAR AND REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAG, BUT IS NOW CLAIMING THAT THE AIRBAG IS ONLY COVERED FOR 5 YEARS OR 50,0…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY APPARENT REASON. THE VEHICLE WAS NO INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF IMPACT. FORD INITIALLY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGES TO THE CAR AND REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAG, BUT IS NOW CLAIMING THAT THE AIRBAG IS ONLY COVERED FOR 5 YEARS OR 50,000 MILES. THEY CLAIM THAT THIS IS ONLY COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH IT IS AN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PART.*AK
RECALL NOTICE WAS NOT SENT TO OUR ADDRESS AND B CLASS RECALL IS EXPIRED. HOWEVER THIS JUST BECAME A PROBLEM WITH OUR CAR. RELATED PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWS. HEATER GIVING COLD AIR, TIMING CHAIN COVER RUSTING, 1 OR MORE GALLONS OF WATER DAILY IS LEAKED OUT THRU GASKET AFTER DRIVING. CONSTANT OVERHEATING AND FEARED OVERHEATING DAMA…
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RECALL NOTICE WAS NOT SENT TO OUR ADDRESS AND B CLASS RECALL IS EXPIRED. HOWEVER THIS JUST BECAME A PROBLEM WITH OUR CAR. RELATED PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWS. HEATER GIVING COLD AIR, TIMING CHAIN COVER RUSTING, 1 OR MORE GALLONS OF WATER DAILY IS LEAKED OUT THRU GASKET AFTER DRIVING. CONSTANT OVERHEATING AND FEARED OVERHEATING DAMAGES TO MOTOR MAY OCCUR OR ENGINE FIRE AS A RESULT OF SUCH SEVERE MOTOR OVERHEATING.
TREAD PEALED OFF TIRE AT 65 MPH DESTROYING BUMPER AND ACTIVATED INERTIA SWITCH. *AK (DOT NUMBER: UNKN TIRESIZE: SS10)
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN MAKING A GURGLING NOISE AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE RAPIDLY WENT HOT, VEHICLE IS IN NEED OF AN ENGINE, CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC
AFTER RECALL REPAIRS PARKING BRAKE STICKS OUT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
SEAT BELTS AT TIMES DO NOT RETRACT, OR AT TIMES WILL NOT BUCKLE CORRECTLY.*AK
THERE WAS CLANKING NOISE WHEN ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF/OVERHEATED. *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.