IllustrationAFTER FILLING UP THE COOLANT CONTAINER, SOMEHOW IT BECAME EMPTY WITHOUT ANY LEAKS VISIBLE. A TECHNICIAN MENTIONED A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET. *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 reportsWATER PUMP IS LEAKING. YH
THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FOR BOTH FRONT SEATS JAM. THEY JAM WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO PULL THEM OUT TO HOOK THEN TOGETHER. THIS DOES NOT ENABLE YOU TO BE ABLE TO HOOK UP YOUR SEAT BELTS. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS SOMETIMES IN 1997. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER. THEY TOOK THE COVER OFF OFF THE RETRACTOR AND STRAIGHTENED OUT THE BELT …
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THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FOR BOTH FRONT SEATS JAM. THEY JAM WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO PULL THEM OUT TO HOOK THEN TOGETHER. THIS DOES NOT ENABLE YOU TO BE ABLE TO HOOK UP YOUR SEAT BELTS. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS SOMETIMES IN 1997. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER. THEY TOOK THE COVER OFF OFF THE RETRACTOR AND STRAIGHTENED OUT THE BELT SO IT WOULD WORK. THIS HAS BEEN DONE SEVERAL TIMES BY THE DEALER AND BY THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE BELT IS EASILY TWISTED AND JAMS IN THE RETRACTOR. THE RETRACTOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER 0N SEPTEMBER 21, 1998. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED, AND THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AGAIN ON JUNE 2, 1999 AND THE RETRACTOR WAS REPLACED AGAIN. WE HAVE BEEN IN NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND IT STILL IS UNRESOLVED AS TO THE RETRACTOR JAMMING. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS DESIGN DEFECT WHICH THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD CORRECT IMMEDIATELY. THE CAR CANNOT LEGALLY OR SAFELY BE DRIVEN WITH A DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE OVERHEATED. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND CAR STARTED SMOKING. DROVE CAR HOME. THEN TOOK IT TO DEALER. DEALER SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON VEHICLE'S MAKE/MODEL, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK
THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH OTHER CARS LIKE MINE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKETS, THEY TOLD ME AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MESS THAT IT WOULD BE COVERED AND NOW THEY WILL NOT AND WANT TO CHARGE ME $1300 TO REPAIR. I BELIEVE TH. *AK
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (I/C) HOOD INSUFFICIENT TO PREVENT LOWER I/C LIGHTS FROM REFLECTING IN WINDSHIELD WITH TALL DRIVERS. CREATES VERY DISTRACTING REFLECTIONS IN DRIVERS FIELD OF VIEW. *AK
I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS MY LOCAL FORD DEALER (CHARLIE HILLARD FORD-FORT WORTH). THEY BOTH TELL ME THAT THE HEAD GASKET ON A 1995 FORD WINSTAR HAS BEEN RECALLED. THIS VEHICLE HAS VIRTUALLY THE SAME 3.8L V6 ENGINE AS MY 1996 FORD MUSTANG. MY LOCAL FORD COMPANY TELLS ME THE ONLY …
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I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS MY LOCAL FORD DEALER (CHARLIE HILLARD FORD-FORT WORTH). THEY BOTH TELL ME THAT THE HEAD GASKET ON A 1995 FORD WINSTAR HAS BEEN RECALLED. THIS VEHICLE HAS VIRTUALLY THE SAME 3.8L V6 ENGINE AS MY 1996 FORD MUSTANG. MY LOCAL FORD COMPANY TELLS ME THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IN THE TWO ENGINES IS THAT ONE VEHICLE IS FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE, AND THE OTHER REAR-WHEEL DRIVE. THE HEAD GASKETS SHOULD BE MANUFACTURED THE SAME ON THESE TWO VEHICLES. HOWEVER, FORD TELLS ME THEY CANNOT HELP ME PAY FOR THIS REPAIR - WHICH WAS A FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET. ADDITIONALLY, MY MECHANIC SAYS HE AND OTHER MECHANICS HE KNOWS HAVE SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM FREQUENTLY ON FORD MUSTANGS AND FORD THUNDERBIRDS WITH THIS SAME 3.8L V6 ENGINE. *AK
THE PLASTIC INTAKE? CRACKED FORD RECALL REPAIRED IT. 1ST DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED WAYNE MORRIS FORD IN PERRY, GA WOULD NOT HELP AT ALL. 2ND DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED WARNER ROBINS FORD FOUND THE RECALL AND REPAIRED IT A NO CHARGE. ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING/SHAKING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. I HAVE REPLACED …
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THE PLASTIC INTAKE? CRACKED FORD RECALL REPAIRED IT. 1ST DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED WAYNE MORRIS FORD IN PERRY, GA WOULD NOT HELP AT ALL. 2ND DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED WARNER ROBINS FORD FOUND THE RECALL AND REPAIRED IT A NO CHARGE. ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING/SHAKING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. I HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS WHICH HAS HELPED A LITTLE. BUT CAN NOT GET ANY ANSWERS OR A RESOLUTION FROM ANY MECHANIC TO DATE.
PLASTIC GASKET NOT ABLE TO HANDLE TO WITH STAND THE PRESSURE FROM THE COOLANT SYSTEM. MOST CARS DO NOT HAVE PLASTIC CYLINDER HEAD.
THE MENTIONED GASKETS FAILED ON MY CAR ON 10-25-99 AND ON MY HUSBAND'S FORMER 1996 MUSTANG ON 2-2-99. I ALSO FOUND A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT IN YOUR FILES ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM (ODI ID# 544839 DATED 2-15-99). I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHEN I REALIZED I WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT MY HUSBAND'S CAR HAD, AND WAS TOLD FORD WOU…
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THE MENTIONED GASKETS FAILED ON MY CAR ON 10-25-99 AND ON MY HUSBAND'S FORMER 1996 MUSTANG ON 2-2-99. I ALSO FOUND A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT IN YOUR FILES ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM (ODI ID# 544839 DATED 2-15-99). I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHEN I REALIZED I WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT MY HUSBAND'S CAR HAD, AND WAS TOLD FORD WOULD NOT OFFER ME ASSISTANCE WITH THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I AM 12,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY AND DO NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I TOLD THEM THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE AND ASKED TO SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR. I AM STILL WAITING FOR THEIR RETURN CALL. EVEN THE DEALER I TOOK IT TO (HOLLY FORD-HOLLY,MICHIGAN) SAID THAT THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO MY CAR W/THAT MILEAGE. I DON'T BELIEVE FORD IS GOING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITHOUT ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FROM ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS YOURSELF. I HAD TO PAY $489.00 TO REPAIR THESE DEFECTS, AND I WANT A FULL REFUND. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. YOU HAVE DOCUMENTATION FROM ONE CUSTOMER WITH THIS PROBLEM, AND I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH DOCUMENTATION THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH MY MUSTANG AND MY HUSBAND'S MUSTANG. HOPEFULLY YOU WILL BE ABLE TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER TO PROVE THIS DEFECT.
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.