IllustrationREFERENCE NHTSA 35-99. ONE BRAKE LINE FAILURE (LEFT FRONT) OCCURRED AS DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT, THE SECOND FAILURE (RIGHT FRONT) OCCURRED LATER WHILE BLEEDING THE SYSTEM IN MY GARAGE. THE AUTOMOBILE WAS A 96 MUSTANG GT WITH COBRA BRAKE UPGRADE WHICH INCLUDED NEW BRAKE LINES.
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 reportsFUEL TANK LEAKING ON THE FRONT LEFT CORNER WHERE THE 2 HALFS OF THE TANK ARE MATED TOGETHER. IT IS LEAKING FROM BETWEEN THE TANK HALFS
THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE COOLANT SYSTEM WHICH IS NOT ADEQUATE FOR THE SIZE OF THE ENGINE, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND STALL UNEXPECTEDLY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER WILL INSTALL A NEW COOLANT SYSTEM AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK
DRIVING AT APPROX 35 MPH ,UNEXPECTADLY THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL SNAPPED IN TWO, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT . *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO PARK, TURNED OFF ENGINE . WITHIN 2 MIN VEHICLE POPPED OUT OF GEAR FROM PARK INTO NEUTRAL CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL OFF THE DRIVEWAY HITTING A POWER TRANSFORMER LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET.
THE RUBBER SEALS KEEPS POPPING OFF DUE TO IMPROPER ALIGNMENT OF WINDOWS AND DOORS.
CAR HAS HAD SERIOUS BRAKING, TRANSMISSION AND COOLING PROBLEMS SINCE THE DATE PURCHASED. HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THESE REPAIRS MORE THEN 12 TIMES. DEALER & FORD HAVE SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE READ 33 PAGES OF COMMENTS OF 1996 MUSTANG OWNERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME SERIOUS DEFECTS THAT I HAVE. P…
Read full complaint
CAR HAS HAD SERIOUS BRAKING, TRANSMISSION AND COOLING PROBLEMS SINCE THE DATE PURCHASED. HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THESE REPAIRS MORE THEN 12 TIMES. DEALER & FORD HAVE SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE READ 33 PAGES OF COMMENTS OF 1996 MUSTANG OWNERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME SERIOUS DEFECTS THAT I HAVE. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE! *AK
BOB ALLEN FORD AND THE REGIONAL FORD REPRESENTATIVE REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE'S COOLING SYSTEM WAS NOT UPGRADED TO THE SPECIFICATIONS OUTLINED IN THE SERVICE BULLETINS PUBLISHED BY FORD WHICH ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM IN THE COOLING SYSTEMS FOR 1996 MUSTANG COBRAS. *AK
AFTER SETTING THE CRUISE CONTROL ON VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO PICK UP MORE SPEED,AND VEHICLE WAS GOING MORE THAN SPED INDICATED. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *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.