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: 35 of 356 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 160 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
22 crash reports19 fire reports16 injury reports
What owners actually said
356 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE HEAD GASKET ON MY CAR HAS FAILED TWICE AND RUINED THE ENGINE ONCE. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE MONEY I HAVE PAID FOR REPAIRS. MY CAR DOES NOT FALL UNDER THEIR WARRANTY DATES. THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN. FORN NEEDS TO REPLACE THE HEADS OR ENGINES ON ALL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH …
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THE HEAD GASKET ON MY CAR HAS FAILED TWICE AND RUINED THE ENGINE ONCE. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE MONEY I HAVE PAID FOR REPAIRS. MY CAR DOES NOT FALL UNDER THEIR WARRANTY DATES. THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN. FORN NEEDS TO REPLACE THE HEADS OR ENGINES ON ALL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THIS TYPE OF ENGINE. THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE DIDDIMILAR METAL USED IN THE ENGINE AND THE HEAD. THEY HEAT AND COOL AT DIFFERENT RATES, THEREBY STRESSING THE GASKET. WHEN THE GASKET GOES THE ENGINE OIL IS DILUTED BY COOLANT, THEREBY RUINING THE ENGINE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #758767
Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
BLOWN HEAD GASKET, POSSIBLY CRACKED HEAD. NO WARNING LIGHTS INDICATED A PROBLEM. TEMPERATURTE GAUGE NEVER MOVED. PROBLEM STARTED OUT OF THE BLUE. NOW 2 DEALERS CAN'T DECIDE IF ITS A FORD PROBLEM OR NOT AND WHO SHOULD PAY. FORD KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN 2000, WHY DIDN'T THEY JUST FIX IT WITH A RECALL THEN. INSTEAD THEY DECIDED…
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BLOWN HEAD GASKET, POSSIBLY CRACKED HEAD. NO WARNING LIGHTS INDICATED A PROBLEM. TEMPERATURTE GAUGE NEVER MOVED. PROBLEM STARTED OUT OF THE BLUE. NOW 2 DEALERS CAN'T DECIDE IF ITS A FORD PROBLEM OR NOT AND WHO SHOULD PAY. FORD KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN 2000, WHY DIDN'T THEY JUST FIX IT WITH A RECALL THEN. INSTEAD THEY DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL PEOPLES ENGINES BLOW AND SAY YOU FOOT THE BILL. I WOULD LOVE IN ON A LAWSUIT IF THERE'S ONE OUT THERE. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!*AK
NHTSA ODI #758761
Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
AFTER I PAID OVER $1200 TO FIX A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET, I CALLED THE FORD COMPANY VIA 1-800-392-3673 TO INQUIRE IF THERE WAS EVER A RECALL FOR THAT PROBLEM. A REPRESENTATIVE SAID THIS TYPE RECALL HAD BEEN IN AFFECT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. SHHHHHH! I GAVE THE REP MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER AND WAS TOLD I HAD BEEN NOTIFIED THROUGH …
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AFTER I PAID OVER $1200 TO FIX A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET, I CALLED THE FORD COMPANY VIA 1-800-392-3673 TO INQUIRE IF THERE WAS EVER A RECALL FOR THAT PROBLEM. A REPRESENTATIVE SAID THIS TYPE RECALL HAD BEEN IN AFFECT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. SHHHHHH! I GAVE THE REP MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER AND WAS TOLD I HAD BEEN NOTIFIED THROUGH THE MAIL. THE ADDRESS THAT PERTAINED TO ME WAS DIFFERENT THEN MY OWN. HMMMMMMMM! HOW CAN THAT BE? I'VE BEEN LIVING AT MY ADDRESS FOR MORE THEN 18 YEARS. I BOUGHT MY MUSTANG IN 1994 VIA MY CURRENT ADDRESS. I HAVE ASKED OTHERS WHO OWN FORDS IF THEY HAD BEEN NOTIFIED AND THEY'VE ALL SAID NO. I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR SOME MINOR FIX'ES, BUT NOT FOR SOMETHING AS EXPENSIVE OR SERIOUS LIKE THE REPLACEMENT OF AND ENGINE HEAD GASKET. IF I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE MINOR STUFF, I SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE MAJOR ITEM AS WELL. THIS IS NOT FAIR NOR ETHICAL. I'VE BEEN METICULOUS IN CARING FOR MY CAR VIA MY INVESTMENT IN IT OVER THE YEARS. I'M CONCERNED NOW THAT THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS GOING TO UNFOLD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #758729
Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A CRACKED HEAD GASKET. *JG
NHTSA ODI #785888
Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. THIS WAS SECOND TIME THAT HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWNOUT. CAUSE UNKNOWN PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8004261
Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2002
Latches/locks/linkages
HOOD LATCH WILL NOT HOLD, AND AT ANY TIME, COULD OPEN IT WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER, BUT COULD NOT BE FIXED. PLEASE PRVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8003512
Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING COULD SEE A BIG CLOUD OF SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID WHAT HAD HAPPENED WAS HEAD GASKET FAILURE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8003511
Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE OVERHEATED, AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAD TO BE REPLACED. DEALER SAID THAT PROBLEM WAS COOLING FAN. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8003509
Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2002
Seats
I'VE HAD THE TRACK THAT HOLDS THE DRIVER'S SEAT BREAK TWICE, ONCE AT 40000 MILES AND AGAIN LAST SUMMER AT 125000 MILES. ALL I DID WAS SIT AND DRIVE. I ONLY WEIGH 220LBS! THERE IS NO WARNING OR INDICATION THAT IT'S BROKE UNTIL YOU MAKE A TURN AND ALMOST FLY OUT THE WINDOW, IMAGINE IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT NOT KNOWING IT WAS BROK…
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I'VE HAD THE TRACK THAT HOLDS THE DRIVER'S SEAT BREAK TWICE, ONCE AT 40000 MILES AND AGAIN LAST SUMMER AT 125000 MILES. ALL I DID WAS SIT AND DRIVE. I ONLY WEIGH 220LBS! THERE IS NO WARNING OR INDICATION THAT IT'S BROKE UNTIL YOU MAKE A TURN AND ALMOST FLY OUT THE WINDOW, IMAGINE IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT NOT KNOWING IT WAS BROKE OR WEAKENED. TO TOP IT OFF THE ASSEMBLY JUST THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE SEAT TO THE CAR COSTS $450. THE CAR ONLY COST 13000. *AK
NHTSA ODI #757538
Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
BLOWEN HEAD GASKET; CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THERE WAS ALOT OF SMOKE THAT WAS COMING FROM VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK *YD
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.
THE WIRE HARNESS ON THESE SEATS IS BANDED TO THE FRONT SEAT CUSHION SUPPORTS. THE END OF ONE OF THE SUPPORTS CAN PUNCTURE THE HARNESS, RESULTING IN A HIGH RESISTANCE ELECTRICAL SHORT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: OVERHEATING CAN RESULT, AND MELTING, SMOKE AND POSSIBLE IGNITION OF THE SURROUNDING MATERIALS CAN OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE TIE STRAP FROM EACH OF THE FRONT SEATS.
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
4
EA98013 · Parking Brake
Opened May 27, 1998 · Closed Oct 31, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE97051 · Parking Brake Failure
Opened Dec 23, 1997 · Closed May 27, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE NUMBER OF CRASHES REPORTED TOT HE MANUFACTURER WARRANTS FURTHER THIS INVESTIGATION
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.
1994 Ford Mustang Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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