RoadVitals

1996 Ford Mustang Convertible

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Feb 8, 2018
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Ford Mustang Convertible, most frequently naming the airbags, electrical and engine categories. 8 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags222.2%
  • Electrical111.1%
  • Engine111.1%
  • Interior & seats111.1%
  • Powertrain (other)111.1%
  • Seat belts111.1%
  • Suspension111.1%
  • Tires & wheels111.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Feb 8, 2018

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON IT REALLY SCARY IT'S BEEN GOING SINCE 05/1/2010 AND TODAY 02/08/2018

NHTSA ID
11071781
Incident
May 10, 2010
Mileage
158,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 20, 2014
1 injury reported

FORD MUSTANG GT CONVERTIBLE '96 - WHILE HEADING HOME ME AND MY FAMILY WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING ABOUT 50 MPH. IT WAS A CLEAR SUNNY DAY, 85 DEGREES OUTSIDE WITH NO CHANCE OF RAIN. WE HAD THE WINDOWS AND TOP UP AC GOING. MY FIANCE, THE DRIVER, STARTED SMELLING WATER COMING FROM THE VENTS AND ASKED IF I COULD, BUT I COULDN'T SMELL THE SCENT OF WATER. A FEW SECONDS LATER IT STARTED TO GET SMOKEY INSIDE THE CAR SO HE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN TO PULL OVER AND THE SMOKE GOT THICKER. AS SOON AS WE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE PASSENGER AIR BAG JUST DEPLOYED! WE WERE THE ONLY CAR ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME, WE DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING OR ANYONE... NOT EVEN A POTHOLE! I GO HIT HARD LEAVING BURNS AND BRUISES UNDERNEATH MY CHIN, ON MY ABDOMEN AND ARMS... I WAS 3 WEEKS AWAY FROM GIVING BIRTH! *TR

NHTSA ID
10648713
Incident
Aug 22, 2014
Mileage
125,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 10, 2008

VIBRATION ON MY 1996 MUSTANG GT CONVERTIBLE BETWEEN 60-80 MPH TOOK TO DEALER SAID I NEEDED NEW TIRES BEFORE THEY COULD CHECK COULD NOT AFFORD THE TIRES AT THAT TIME GOT NEW TIRES AND BROUGHT TO DEALER AGAIN AND SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT WAS TOLD EARLIER THAT IT WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL TRIED TO ARGUE BUT THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME FOR A RECALL AND I GOT ANGRY AND LEFT!!!! CAN YOU HELP? *TR

NHTSA ID
10248382
Incident
Jul 15, 2004
Engine
Filed Jun 27, 2006

INLET MANIFOLD COOLANT TRANSFER PASSAGE ON MY 1996 FORD MUSTANG WITH 4.6L 2V FAILED. AS THIS OCCURRED AT SPEED AND RESULTED IN OBSCURED FORWARD VISION, IT CREATED SOME HAZARD - AS WELL AS THE SUBSEQUENT INCONVENIENCE OF AN IMMOBILE VEHICLE. THIS FAULT HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO CLASS ACTION IN THE USA, BUT A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF AFFECTED VEHICLES, INCLUDING MINE, HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED ON BASIS OF AGE. THE FLAMING FORD WEBSITE HAS REQUESTED THESE INCIDENTS BE REPORTED VIA YOURSELVES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10160904
Incident
Apr 4, 2006
Mileage
49,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 27, 2006
Crash reported

DRIVING AND MADE A TURN, CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL AS IF A TIRE BLEW OUT SPUN AND DID 360 TURN JUMPED A CURB, SMASHED INTO A POLE. ATTEMPTED TO STOP CAR AND TURN OFF IGNITION BUT CAR WOULDN'T STOP UNTIL 3RD ATTEMPT! ATTEMPTED TO START CAR BACK UP YET CAR KEPT ACCELERATING AND REVVING EVEN THOUGH CAR WAS IN PARK AND NO ONE WAS PRESSING THE GAS IT KEPT REVVING AS IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK. HAD CAR TOWED AND MECHANIC SAID COMPUTER CHIP IN CAR MALFUNCTIONED ENGAGED IN CRUISE CONTROL WHICH IS WHY MY ATTEMPTS OF GAINING CONTROL OF CAR FAILED. CAR IS TOTALED DUE TO WHEN IT JUMPED CURB IT TORE UP THE SUSPENSION AMONG OTHER THINGS AND CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE UNTIL AT LEAST $ 1500 IS PAID FOR DAMAGES JUST TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF CAR NOT INCLUDING THE DAMAGE TO SIDE OF CAR THAT SMASHED INTO THE POLE.*JB

NHTSA ID
10156355
Incident
Apr 26, 2006
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 7, 2004

THE DRIVER SEAT TRACK IN MY 1996 MUSTANG GT CONVERTIBLE BROKE AT THE WELDS ON THE LEFT SIDE RESULTING IN THE SEAT LEANING AS I GO AROUND TURNS WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL. THE SEAT TRACK PARTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE SEAT IS A POWER SEAT. THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UPTO FAILURE. AS I WAS GOING AROUND A TURN AT 20 MPH THE BOTH SNAPPED. I WEIGH 215 LBS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10090572
Incident
Jul 30, 2004
Mileage
86,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed May 14, 2003

THE PASSENGER AND REAR SEAT BELTS BECAME JAMMED AND WILL NOT STRETCH TO BUCKLE INTO IT'S LATCH. I HAD THE CAR A SHORT TIME BEFORE THE BELTS WERE INOPERABLE. THESE SEAT BELTS WERE ONLY USED OCCASIONALLY BEFORE THEY BECAME INOPERABLE. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10018709
Incident
Feb 20, 1999
Mileage
52,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Dec 19, 2002

1996 FORD MUSTANG GT CONVT. ---REAR SWAY BAR BROKEN AT ATACH POINT ON RIGHT SIDE JUST AHEAD OF REAR AXLE. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN COLLISION, SNOW WHERE SALT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED CORROSION, DOESN'T HAVE ANY NOTICABLE CORROSION, AND SWAY BAR HAS NEVER COLLIDED WITH ANY ROAD HAZZARDS...IT JUST SNAPPED.

NHTSA ID
10000279
Incident
Dec 18, 2002
Mileage
105,060 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

0042

SUSPENSION

VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE VIBRATION/SHAKE AT STEADY SPEED APPROXIMATELY 100 KM/H (62 MPS), VEHICLES WITH 3.8 L ENGINE AND CONVERTIBLE TOP. *MJS

7373

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A RATTLE NOISE FROM THE DOOR WEDGE WHEN DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS. *TT

9912717

SUSPENSION

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VIBRATION / SHAKE WHEN DRIVEN ON SMOOTH ROADS AT SPPED AROUND 62 MPH / 100 KPH. *TT

12717

SUSPENSION

EXPERIENCING VIBRATION / SHAKE WHEN DRIVEN ON SMOOTH ROADS AT SPEED AROUND 62 MPH / 100 KPH. *TT

6227

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT CONCERNS OF VIBRATION / SHAKE. *TT

5132

SUSPENSION

SOME GT CONVERTIBLES MAY EXPERIENCES VIBRATION / SHAKE WHEN DRIVEN ON SMOOTH ROADS AT CONSTANT SPEEDS AROUND 62 MPH / 100 KPH. THE CONDITION MAY BE DUE TO HARMONIC RESONANCE BETWEEN THE ENGINE, BODY AND SUSPENSION. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford Mustang Convertible by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003350236.5
2001170145.4
2000200144.8
1999901—
1998110146.7
1997901—
1996Viewing800—
1995140040.6
1994160032.1

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.