RoadVitals

1998 Ford Mustang Convertible Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
11
Latest Feb 16, 2011
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.
3
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jul 16, 2003

What this page shows

Our database holds 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Ford Mustang Convertible. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–11 of 11

Seat belts
Filed Feb 16, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELTS MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT SECURE ANYONE SITTING IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT HE WOULD NEED TO PURCHASE REPLACEMENT SEAT BELTS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10382999
Incident
Feb 16, 2010
Mileage
115,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jun 2, 2009

WE TOOK OUR 1998 6 CYLINDER MUSTANG IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. IT HAS ABOUT 90,000 MILES ON IT. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT IS LEAKING FUEL AND THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. WE NOW HAVE TO SPEND $1000 TO REPLACE THE FUEL RAIL, BOTH VALVE GASKETS, VALVE COVER GASKETS AND FUEL INJECTOR O RINGS. PLUS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT ON LABOR. WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR CAR/ENGINE WILL CATCH FIRE, IF WE DO NOT REPLACE THESE PARTS. THIS IS MY DAUGHTER WHO IS IN COLLEGE'S CAR. HOW CAN THEY HAVE SUCH A HORRIBLE DESIGN AND IF WE REPLACE THE PARTS IS THIS GOING TO BE REPEATED? THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING FROM AN ENGINE LIGHT OR ANYTHING ELSE. THE TECHNICIAN CHECKED IT BECAUSE WHEN HE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, HE THOUGHT HE SMELLED GAS AND THEN FOUND THE LEAK. WE HADN'T NOTICED A LEAK. MY DAUGHTER COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED DRIVING BACK TO SCHOOL THIS WEEK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10272667
Incident
Jun 1, 2009
Mileage
90,050 mi
Seat belts
Filed Mar 6, 2008

PASSENGER AND REAR SEAT BELTS STOPPED WORKING....CANNOT PULL THEM OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10220303
Incident
Mar 5, 2008
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Nov 7, 2007
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS TRAVELING HOME FROM WORK AND WAS JUST STARTING TO BRAKE TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO MY CRESCENT WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED ACCELERATING UNCONTROLLABLY. I DROVE UP ONTO THE CURB AND TOOK OUT TWO SECTIONS OF FENCE AND TURNED MY WHEEL HARD TO AVOID HITTING A PARKED CAR, THE ACCELERATION FINALLY STOPPED WHEN I CRANKED THE WHEEL, NO EFFECT WHEN I WAS BRAKING AT ALL! I HAVE INJURED MUSCLES IN MY NECK AND BACK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10208208
Incident
Nov 6, 2007
Engine
Filed Jul 6, 2006

I HAVE A 98 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE CAR IS COVERED IN THE CLASS ACTION SUIT, BUT I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT 3 MONTHS AFTER IT EXPIRIED. (FORD VS. CHAMBERLIN). IT'S A MAJOR PROBLEM IN ALL CARS BETWEEN 96-99. I'M SURE YOU HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON IT. *NM

NHTSA ID
10161699
Incident
Jun 27, 2006
EngineTransmission
Filed Jun 28, 2006
Crash reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO CRACKS IN THE HEAD GASKET, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP. THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT ON 6/20/06 DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. IT WAS RAINING AND THE RATE OF SPEED WAS 30MPH. NO INJURIES INCURRED BUT MINOR DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS REPORTED IN THE POLICE REPORT.

NHTSA ID
10160961
Incident
Jun 20, 2006
Mileage
90,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 5, 2005
Crash reported

DT: WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 20-25 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL KEPT TURNING BUT THE WHEELS WERE NOT MOVING. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO HIT A PARKED CAR. THE CAR WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED, BUT HAS NOT BEEN TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. INSURANCE COMPANY INSTRUCTED A MECHANIC TO INSPECT THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WAS NOTED THERE WAS PROBLEM WITH THE SHAFT WHICH BROKE AND THEREFORE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. IT WAS NOTED BY THE MECHANIC, AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY AS A DEFECTIVE STEERING ON THE CAR INVOLVING THE SHAFT. MECHANIC SAID HE MUST REPAIR VEHICLE TO DETERMINE IF THERE WAS OTHER ISSUES WITHIN THE STEERING OR SUSPENSION. AS OF YET NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED HE AND THE OWNER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE DID NOT THINK IT WAS NECESSARY TO FILE A POLICE REPORT SINCE THE DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL. *JB

NHTSA ID
10129373
Incident
Jun 26, 2005
Mileage
104,920 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 1, 2004

1. I WAS DRIVING FROM SAN DIEGO TO FRESNO, ON I-5. ABOUT 70 MPH. I STRETCHED, AND LEANED BACK INTO THE SEAT, WHEN THE SEAT FLIPPED BACKWARDS FAR ENOUGH TO CAUSE ME TO LOOSE SIGHT OF THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY, I WAS HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTLY ENOUGH TO RAISE MYSELF QUICKLY AND REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*AK 2. A METAL BRACKET THAT CONNECTS THE SEAT TO THE FLOOR TRACK BROKE, CAUSING A LOSS OF RIGIDITY OF THE SEAT. 3. I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE PART, OR GET IT WELDED, IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE SAFELY DRIVEN.

NHTSA ID
10074598
Incident
May 27, 2004
Mileage
155,720 mi
Engine
Filed May 31, 2004

I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN I SMELLED COOLANT. WHEN I GOT HOME AND CHECKED FOR LEAKS I FOUND THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING COOLANT IT TO THE ENGINE VALLEY. MY MOMS '96 COUGAR AND FRIENDS '98 MUSTANG DID THE SAME THING. THEY HAD TO HAVE THE MANIFOLD REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10074545
Incident
May 30, 2004
Mileage
62,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Sep 23, 2003

DRIVER-SIDE SEAT BELT IS SEVERLY FRAYED/COMPROMISED. THE PORTION OF THE BELT THAT IS DAMAGED CAN BE SEEN WHEN THE BELT IS EXTENDED OUT AS IN USE (EXTENDED) AND LOOKING DOWN AT THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY. I BELIEVE THIS EXCESSIVE WEAR CONDITION IS PRODUCED BY NORMAL DRIVER MOVEMENTS THAT CAUSE THE BELT TO RUB AGAINST THE GUIDE LOCATED ON THE OUTBOARD BASE OF THE SEAT NEAR THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY. I CAN PROVIDE DIGITAL IMAGES OF THE PROBLEM, IF THAT IS HELPFUL TO YOU. [email protected]

NHTSA ID
10039375
Incident
Sep 23, 2003
Suspension
Filed Jul 16, 2003

THERE HAS BEEN A "CREAKING" SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION AREA FOR OVER A YEAR. I'M VERY GOOD AT GETTING MY CAR SERVICED. AT THE LAST TIRE ROTATION, I HAD THIS CHECKED OUT & THE TECH POINTED TO THE PROBLEM-SAID IT WAS A DRYING OUT OF SEALS, BUT POSED NO DRIVING PROBLEM. STILL, CREAKS LIKE CRAZY. TECH SAID GREEASE WOULDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I AM THE ORIGIAL OWNER; I HAVE LESS THAN 48 K MILES ON THE CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID
10028420
Incident
Jan 1, 2002
Mileage
45,000 mi

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.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .