IllustrationENGINE STALLED AND BEGAN SMOKING FROM UNDER HOOD. ALL COOLANT LOST FROM COOLING SYSTEM. REPAIR SHOP SAID THERE IS A CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD MADE FROM PLASTIC. HAS REPAIRED 3 IN PAST 6 MONTHS. FORD DEALER IN THE AREA KEEPS 15 OF THIS EXPENSIVE PART IN STOCK BECAUSE IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM.
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 reportsPURCHASED CAR USED WITH 28,232. TODAY, 9/5 AFTER RETURNING FROM VACATION, TRAVELLING AT LEAST 280 MILES - GOING THRU 1-1/2 TANKS OF GAS, CAR REGISTERS 28,332. TRIP ODOMETER ONLY 7 (RESET AT FILL-UP). NOTICED TRIP HAD SAID 90 AT LAST FILL-UP. THAT'S WHEN NOTICED A PROBLEM AND WATCHED. CARFAX REPORT SHOWS LAST MILEAGE 24,143 8/9…
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PURCHASED CAR USED WITH 28,232. TODAY, 9/5 AFTER RETURNING FROM VACATION, TRAVELLING AT LEAST 280 MILES - GOING THRU 1-1/2 TANKS OF GAS, CAR REGISTERS 28,332. TRIP ODOMETER ONLY 7 (RESET AT FILL-UP). NOTICED TRIP HAD SAID 90 AT LAST FILL-UP. THAT'S WHEN NOTICED A PROBLEM AND WATCHED. CARFAX REPORT SHOWS LAST MILEAGE 24,143 8/99 THEN REGISTERED IN ALABAMA 10/99 - NO MILEAGE. BACK IN CA 8/00 WHERE I PURCHASED IT. HAVE NOT CONTACTED DEALER YET. WANT TO KNOW OPTIONS FIRST.
I ORDERED THIS CAR AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF MODEL YEAR AND REQUESTED TO PAY FOR AN UPGRADE TO PREMIUM TIRES INSTEAD OF WHAT CAME ON THE CAR. SARASOTA FORD SAID THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE UNLESS I PAID FOR 2 FULL SETS. THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, GUARANTEED FOR 45000 WORE OUT AT 13,500 MILES SO POORLY AND UNEVENLY THAT I JUST REPLACED THE…
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I ORDERED THIS CAR AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF MODEL YEAR AND REQUESTED TO PAY FOR AN UPGRADE TO PREMIUM TIRES INSTEAD OF WHAT CAME ON THE CAR. SARASOTA FORD SAID THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE UNLESS I PAID FOR 2 FULL SETS. THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, GUARANTEED FOR 45000 WORE OUT AT 13,500 MILES SO POORLY AND UNEVENLY THAT I JUST REPLACED THEM BECAUSE THEY SCARED ME. NOW I FEEL THERE WAS MORE TO MY PROBLEM AND I COULD HAVE HAD A BLOWOUT IN A CONVERTIBLE FROM DEFECTIVE TIRES. THE SERVICE MGR AT THE TIRE STORE COULD NOT BELIEVE THE TIRES HAD ONLY GONE 13000 MILES. I DON'T KNOW IF THE TIRE INFO IS ON THE ORIGINAL SALES RECEIPT FOR THE CAR. I TRULY FEEL THOSE TIRES I WAS FORCED TO BUY WERE DEFECTIVE.( DOT NUMBER: 0 TIRE SIZE: 16 )
THE TIRE EXPLODED THOUGH MY BACK BUMPER AND HIT MY INTERTIA SWITCH IN THE CARS TRUNK TURNING OFF THE GAS. I WAS STRANDED 1 HOUR EAST OF DES MOINES, IOWA. WHEN I TRIED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER THEY IGNORED ME AND STATED THE THE TIRES WERE FINE ONLY THE WILDERNESS TRIRES HAS A PROBLEM. I STILL …
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THE TIRE EXPLODED THOUGH MY BACK BUMPER AND HIT MY INTERTIA SWITCH IN THE CARS TRUNK TURNING OFF THE GAS. I WAS STRANDED 1 HOUR EAST OF DES MOINES, IOWA. WHEN I TRIED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER THEY IGNORED ME AND STATED THE THE TIRES WERE FINE ONLY THE WILDERNESS TRIRES HAS A PROBLEM. I STILL HAVE THE TIRE, THE TRED BLEW OFF AND IT NEVER DID GO FLAT.( DOT NUMBER: 479664199 TIRE SIZE: SS10 )
WHILE DRIVING THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP AND LOSS OF CONTROL (ACCIDENT), AS A RESULT THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR BROKE. *ET
ENGINE OVERHEATS WITH AC ON HEADGASKET BLOW AND HEAD WARPED AND HEADS NEED SHAVING HEADGASKETS REPLACED AND HEAD BOLTS REPLACED OUT OF POCKET COST 1500.00 OR BETTER. *AK
N0 SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE STALLED & THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT DUE TO ENGINE HEAD GASKET DEFECT. CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS USED. DEALER WOULDN'T COVER THE COST OF REPAIR. *AK *ML
ON A SERVICE ROAD AT A RED LIGHT ALL OF SUDDEN BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY HOOD FLEW OFF AND BUSTED HEADLIGHTS AND THE GRILL ON FRONT OF THE CAR. CONSUMER STATES THAT HOOD HAS TWO PARTS AND THE BOTTOM PART, WHERE IT LATCHES, WAS STILL ON THE CAR, BUT THE TOP FLEW OFF. *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.