1998 Ford Mustang Cobra Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1998 Ford Mustang Cobra, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine240.0%
- Electrical120.0%
- Fuel system120.0%
- Tires & wheels120.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
APPROXIMATELY THE SECOND WEEK OF MAY WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY A LOUD HISSING NOISE OCCURRED AND AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF PRESSURE OCCURRED . WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT THE LOUD NOISE WAS EVIDENT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND THE DISCOVERY WAS A SPARK PLUG HAD DETENADED IN THE ENGINE . SPARK PLUG WIRES WERE COOKED AND BURNT , THE THREADS IN THE ENGINE HAD BEEN STRIPPED DUE TO THE BLOW OUT OF THE PLUG. THE PLUG WAS NOT STRIPPED. THE ONLY WAY IT COULD BE FIXED WAS TO HAVE IT RECOILED , NOT CHEAP IT COST ME ABOUT $1800,00 IN REPAIRS AND IN MY CASE IT HAD TO BE DONE BY SOMEONE WHO WORKS ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. I HAVE HEARD THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING IN A NUMBER OF FORD VEHICLES. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AND FORD NEEDS TO PAY FOR MY UNNECESSARY REPAIRS. *NM
MY ENGINE STARTED CLANKING NOISES BEFORE IT EVEN HAD 100,000 KILOMETERS ON IT, NOW THE ENGINE IS TOAST AT ABOUT 105,000 KILOMETERS, I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY FORD THAT I HAVE SPUN THE MAIN BEARING AND WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE,. THIS VEHICLE IS BABIED, REGULAR OIL CHANGES WITH PURE SYNTHETIC OIL, AND PREMIUM GAS. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR WILL NOT START, STARTER SOLENOID CLICKS. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO START CAUSES SMOKE TO RISE FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALS THE SMOKE IS COMMING FROM THE RUBBER BOOT WHERE THE METAL PARKING BREAK CABLE GOES FROM THE INSIDE TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CABLE ACTUALLY GLOWS RED FROM HEAT (APARENT GROUND PATH FOR SOME KIND OF SHORT). THE STARTER CIRCUIT DOES NOT WORK BUT THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL START (MANUAL TRANSMISSION). THIS IS SECOND OCCURANCE OF THIS PROBLEM. FIRST OCCURANCE WAS IN JUNE OF 2000 @ 14,500 MILES. DEALER REPAIR NOTES" WIRING VERIFY COMPL PERFORM NO CRANK DIAG CHECK ALL FUSES OPEN IN CIR 33 TRACE CIR FOUND LOOSE PIN AT CONN 112 REPAIR CHECK OPERATION ROAD TEST REQUEST ACTUAL TIME FOR ELECT REPAIR TECH 551" I NOW HAVE 33,000 MILES ON VEHICLE, NOVEMBER 2004 -- FIRE AND SAFETY HAZARD - DAMAGE TO PARKING BREAK CABLE???*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
FILLER NECK TO TANK GASKET RIPPED AND LEAKING FUEL. CAUSES FUEL TO POUR FROM THE VEHICLE ON LEFT HAND TURNS WITH FULL TANK OF FUEL. HIGH PROBABILITY OF AN AUTO FIRE DUE TO THIS CONDITION. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON AUGUST 07, 2005 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE 85 IN SOUTH CAROLINA AT 65 MPH. MY CAR SUDDENLY MADE AN ABRUPT TURN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THAT THE TIRE SUDDENLY DEFLATED LOOSING IT'S BEAD WITH THE WHEEL. THE TIRE WAS A NITTO NT555 P255/35/18. IT WAS MOUNTED ON A 9.5 INCH GENUINE FORD WHEEL.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .