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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 →

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

Exterior Lighting complaints

5 reports
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17,033 miles · Jan 7, 2011
Exterior LightingParking BrakeTires

I PURCHASED A 1996 FORD MUSTANG FROM AUTO CREDIT #3 IN AIRWAY HEIGHTS, WASHINGTON. ON 1/2/2011, I RECEIVE THE VEHICLE AND AFTER THREE HOURS OF DRIVING, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR EMERGENCY BRAKE LOCKS UP. THIS PUTS ME INTO AN UNCONTROLLED 180 DEGREE SPIN. ON 1/3/2011, I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTER. I TOLD THE MECHANIC…

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I PURCHASED A 1996 FORD MUSTANG FROM AUTO CREDIT #3 IN AIRWAY HEIGHTS, WASHINGTON. ON 1/2/2011, I RECEIVE THE VEHICLE AND AFTER THREE HOURS OF DRIVING, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR EMERGENCY BRAKE LOCKS UP. THIS PUTS ME INTO AN UNCONTROLLED 180 DEGREE SPIN. ON 1/3/2011, I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTER. I TOLD THE MECHANIC TO CHECK THE BRAKES. AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF WAITING, I AM CALLED INTO THE WORK AREA, AND I SEE THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE IS CLEARLY NEEDING TO BE REPLACED, AS IT HAD THE APPEARANCE OF HAVING BEEN SHREDDED. THE SAME MECHANIC THEN TELLS ME THAT BOTH REAR BRAKES MUST BE REPLACED, AS THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS FROZEN IN THE ON POSITION. WHILE THE WORK WAS BEING DONE, I MANAGED TO TAKE A FEW PICTURES OF THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, NOT OF THE TIRE IN QUESTION. IN ADDITION, WHEN I RECEIVED THE VEHICLE, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT STAY LIT, AND WOULD TURN OFF AND ON AT RANDOM. WHEN I COMPLAINED TO THE BUSINESS ON 1/5/2011 AROUND 3:00 PM, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK AS I SIGNED A CONTRACT. WHAT I SIGNED WAS A LOAN AGREEMENT. EVEN WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RECEIVED IN THESE CONDITIONS, THEY STILL DID NOTHING. FINALLY, I TOLD THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND TO TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT THE NEXT DAY, REFERRING TO 1/6/2011. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10375093

49,100 miles · Mar 8, 2005
Exterior Lighting

BRAKE LIGHTS NEVER INSPECTED. WENT TO TAKE CAR BACK RIGHT AWAY, LIGHTS WERE FIXED BUT FAILURE TO DO A THOROUGH INSPECTION RESULTED IN NOT LISCENCE PLATE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10112685

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 · Nov 23, 1998
Exterior LightingSeat Belts

BRAKE LIGHTS: THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THERE HAVE BEEN NO AFTERMARKET MODIFICATIONS TO ANY PART OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK ONLY WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS LIGHTLY PRESSED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THIS PROBLEM IS CURRENTLY BEING ADDRESSED BY THE DEALER, BUT S…

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BRAKE LIGHTS: THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THERE HAVE BEEN NO AFTERMARKET MODIFICATIONS TO ANY PART OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK ONLY WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS LIGHTLY PRESSED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THIS PROBLEM IS CURRENTLY BEING ADDRESSED BY THE DEALER, BUT SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. SEAT BELTS: THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DOESN'T RETRACT. THE BELT "HANGS LOOSELY" AFTER IT IS THE DRIVER TAKES IT OFF AND REQUIRES "EXCESSIVE" MANUAL ADJUSTMENT FOR A PROPER AND SAFE FIT. MILEAGE ODOMETER: THE MILEAGE ODOMETER DOESN'T WORK. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN BROKEN, BUT I NOTICED RECENTLY THAT IT STOPS OCCASIONALLY. AFTER REVIEWING MY DRIVING PATERNS I BELIEVE THAT THE ODOMETER MAY BE REPORTING MORE MILEAGE THAN I HAVE ACTUALLY PUT ON THE CAR (BUT I HAVE NO ABSOLUTE WAY TO PROVE THIS).

NHTSA ODI #700844

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 1997
Exterior Lighting

WATER LEAKS INTO TAIL LIGHT.

NHTSA ODI #603789

Official recalls

3

01V318000 · 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

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.