RoadVitals

1966 Ford Mustang

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.
4
Latest May 12, 2008
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.
1
Latest Feb 9, 2019
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.
2
1 injuries, 1 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1966 Ford Mustang, most frequently naming the tires & wheels and fuel system categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year.

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

  • Tires & wheels375.0%
  • Fuel system125.0%

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

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
19E011000

STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM

Feb 9, 2019
598 units potentially affected
The defect: Drake Automotive Group, LLC (Drake) is recalling certain Scott Drake left and right wheel spindles, part numbers C5ZZ-3106-L, C5ZZ-3105-R, C70Z-3106-L, C70Z-3105-R sold for use on 1965-1966 Ford Mustang V8s and 1967-1969 Ford Mustangs (all vehicles with drums). The spindle may fail resulting in the wheel and tire detaching from the vehicle's steering system.
The risk: Spindle failure can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Drake Automotive Group, LLC will notify owners and will replace all of the recalled units, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2019. Owners may contact Drake automotive at 1-800-999-0289.
Drake Automotive Group LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed May 12, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1966 FORD MUSTANG. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER COBRA RADIAL G/T TIRES, SIZE P215/60R14. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE TREAD SEPARATION WAS DOWN TO THE STEEL BELT. THE TREAD WAS BEATING AGAINST THE FENDER AND DAMAGED AND FLATTENED THE TIRE. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,316.

NHTSA ID
10227429
Incident
May 11, 2008
Mileage
80,316 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 15, 2004

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN STEERING WHEEL BECAME SHAKE BACK AND FORTH HARD TO CONTROL. STOPPED AUTO FOUND THAT BELTS HAD BROKEN IN THE TIRES AND THAT TREAD HAD SHIFTED TO WHERE IT WAS NO LONGER STRAIGHT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10091061
Incident
Aug 21, 2004
Mileage
2,893 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 7, 2000

THE MICHELIN TIRE (P195 75 R14) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, DAMAGING THE FENDER. *SLC

NHTSA ID
557957
Incident
Aug 24, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Aug 12, 1999
Crash reportedFire reported1 injury reported1 death reported

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A REAR IMPACT COLLISION. VEHICLE GAS TANK RUPTURED ON IMPACT, SPEWING FUEL INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. OCCUPANT, MY 16 YEAR OLD SON, DIED OF "EXCESSIVE CHARRING." ON SCENE WITNESS (A FORMER FIREFIGHTER) REPORTED THAT THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. PREVIOUS NHTSA ODI CASE 098 OF DROP-IN-FUEL TANK AND VENT SYSTEM 1960-1970 FALCON, FAIRLANE, COMET, MONTEGO, MUSTANG AND COUGAR PASSENGER CARS APPLICABLE AS CRASH TEST INFORMATION WAS WITH-HELD BY THE MANUFACTURER DURING THE INVESTIGATION (CRASH TEST 301). RECENT 60 MINUTES 2 PROGRAM, TO BE RE-AIRED ON 17 AUGUST, ADDRESSED DETAILS OF THIS AND RELATED INCIDENTS (OVER 70 LAWSUITS FILED AS A RESULT OF POST REAR-IMPACT FIRE RELATED INJURIES/DEATHS IN LATE MODEL FORD MUSTANGS). FORMER HEAD OF NHTSA, MRS. JOAN CLAYBROOK, INTERVIEWED ON PROGRAM CONFIRMING THAT FMC WITH-HELD INFORMATION PERTINENT TO AND REQUESTED FOR THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION ON THE CRASHWORTHINESS OF THE EARLY MODEL FORD MUSTANG DROP IN FUEL TANK SYSTEMS. OVER 2 MILLION MUSTANGS PRODUCED WITH THIS TYPE OF SYSTEM AS WELL AS OTHER MODELS BY THE FMC. THE GREAT POPULARITY OF THE EARLY PRODUCTION FORD MUSTANG MAKES THIS A CONTINUING AND GROWING PROBLEM IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER/HIGHWAY SAFETY. THE CONDUCT OF THE FMC IN THEIR CONTINUEING REFUSAL TO ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THIS DESIGN CONSIDERING THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS, NOT TO MENTION THEIR WILLFULL AND WANTON DISREGARD OF BOTH THE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN THEIR WITH-HOLDING OF INFORMATION ON THEIR OWN CRASH TESTS AFTER HAVING BEEN ASKED FOR THIS INFORMATION BY NHTSA, IS EGGREGIOUS, NOT TO MENTION POSSIBLY CRIMINAL. WHAT IS BEING DONE? APPROXIMATELY 11 MILLION VIEWERS SAW THE 60 MINUTES 2 PROGRAM. WERE NONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA?

NHTSA ID
709917
Incident
Jul 15, 1998

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford Mustang by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026530—
2025145057.1
20247311058.9
2023156062.7
2022499060.2
2021556059.4
20201178170.4
20191426056.1
20181864056.4
20172646163.4
20163715158.4
201543611363.5
20143594054.6
20132716052.2
20124697154.0
20114665153.0
20102606052.5
20091816055.6
20083478462.7
20076159462.7
20064229358.8
20057059358.2
20041166364.9
20031456368.0
20021186161.3
20011738162.6
20003119163.8
199921310163.9
199823614265.3
199717611261.3
199624612361.8
199560216466.0
199435613464.3
19931017168.6
1992695372.1
1991776269.6
1990855372.8
19891095472.0
19881085573.3
1987385673.3
1986302568.0
1985163470.8
1984184467.0
1983513—
1982114—
1981024—
1980422—
1979072—
1978350—
1977030—
1976230—
1975001—
1974010—
1973010—
1972010—
1971010—
1970020—
1969340—
1968120—
1967250—
1966Viewing410—
1965410—

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.