1997 Ford Mustang Convertible 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 1997 Ford Mustang Convertible, 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
- Engine440.0%
- Brakes110.0%
- Electrical110.0%
- Body & structure110.0%
- Fuel system110.0%
- Seat belts110.0%
- Suspension110.0%
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
1997 FORD MUSTANG GT 4.6L 8CL OIL IN RADIATOR, BUT NO WATER IN ENGINE. CAR RUNS GREAT BUT WILL RUN HOT AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF REPLACING THE RADIATOR. COMPRESSION TEST DID NOT SHOW LOSS OF COMPRESSION. MECHANICS ARE BAFFLED BECAUSE THE CAR RUNS SO WELL WITHOUT MISSING OR POWER LOSS. FURTHER TEST CAN NOT PROVE BLOWN HEAD GASKET. CAR DOESN'T EVEN SMOKE. IM CONFUSED, NEED HELP AND HOPING THERE IS A RECALL. *TR
THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 1997 FORD MUSTANG GT IS CRACKED AND LEAKING. THERE IS A RECALL ON OTHER MODELS WITH THIS ENGINE. IS THERE A LAWSUIT RECENTLY SETTLED ON THIS PROBLEM? RIGHT NOW THE CAR IS IN MY MECHANICS GARAGE WAITING FOR PARTS. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR WAS PARKED IN FIRST GEAR WITH PARKING BREAK UP. CAR WAS HIT WITH HARDLY ANY FORCE AND ROLLED BACK INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE... DID NOT KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS UNTIL TODAY MARCH 8, 2003. ALSO NUMEROUS TIMES CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT...NO ONE KNOWS WHAT CAUSES IT COME ON.. SPENT $2000 SO FAR. *NLM
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
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ERUPTED IN FLAMES WHILE PARKED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS OR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS USED EARLIER IN THE DAY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO THE SCENE AND DETERMINED THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD IN THE AREA OF SOME ELECTRICAL WIRING. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALSO RESPONDED AND TOOK A REPORT. THE INSURANCE AGENCY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY 1997 MUSTANG HAS RUSTED THROUGH THE TRUNK FLOOR. THE FRAME BELOW IS ALSO RUSTING. THE FRAME SUPPORTS THE REAR BUMPER,WHICH PROTECTS THE GAS TANK.*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
THE ELECTRICAL POWER WIRES ON THE OEM-INSTALLED FUEL PUMP, LOCATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK, WERE INSTALLED SO THAT THEY CROSSED OVER EACH OTHER ON THEIR WAY FROM THE CONNECTOR OUTSIDE THE TANK TO THE FUEL PUMP INSIDE. ON THREE SIMILAR VEHICLES THAT WE OWN THESE CROSSING SOLID CORE FUEL PUMP WIRES CAME CLOSE ENOUGH TO EACH OTHER SO AS TO TOUCH. ON THIS VEHICLE, HOWEVER, THE WIRES NOT ONLY CROSSED BUT THEY TOUCHED AND THE WIRES WERE RIGID ENOUGH THAT OVER THE YEARS THEY RUBBED AND WORE AWAY THE INSULATION ON BOTH THE RED AND THE BLACK ELECTRICAL WIRES. THIS APPARENTLY ALLOWED THE 12 VOLTS DC POWER TO CROSS FROM ONE WIRE TO THE OTHER, RANDOMLY BYPASSING THE FUEL PUMP AND SERIOUSLY AFFECTING HOW THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE WOULD RUN. WHILE THE OPERATIONAL IMPACT OF THIS PROBLEM WAS A NUISANCE, MORE DISTURBING IS THE POTENTIAL THIS INSTALLATION TECHNIQUE HAS FOR BECOMING A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION SINCE A SPARK IS THUS POSSIBLE AND SINCE THE WIRES ARE INSIDE A FUEL-VAPOR AREA, INSTEAD OF A LIQUID-FILLED AREA, ANYTIME THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN ABOUT HALF A TANK OF GASOLINE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE FRONT SEAT BELTS IN THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT LOCK DURING AND EMERGENCY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY 1997 MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE GT, VIBRATES AT SPEEDS OF ABOUT 60-65 MPH. THOUGH THE PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR SOME TIME, AFTER PLACING NEW TIRES ON THE VEHICLE (LAST WEEK) I DECIDED TO DO MORE RESEARCH AND FOUND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS CONSISTENT WITH MY VEHICLE'S PROBLEM. *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 .