1996 Ford Mustang Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME RESISTANT AND LOSS POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY WHERE IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC MADE REPAIRS TO THE FRONT STRUTS, LOWER BALL JOINTS, STABLE BAR LINK AND THE CONTROL ARM. THE CONTACT STATED A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,886 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 171,702.

NHTSA ID

10327707

Incident

Apr 14, 2010

Mileage

169,886 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE COIL SPRINGS FAILED THREE SEPARATE TIMES ON THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME THE REAR SPRINGS BROKE. THE SECOND TIME THE FRONT SPRINGS BROKE. THIS LAST TIME WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 55 MPH, THE REAR SPRINGS BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE THE SPRINGS ARE ON NATIONAL BACKORDER.

NHTSA ID

10152224

Incident

Mar 3, 2006

Mileage

98,490 mi

WHILE DRIVING UP A SMALL INCLINE AT DRIVE THRU, HEARD LOUD CRACKING SOUND. STOPPED TO INVESTIGATE AND NOTICED REAR SWAY BAR ON DRIVERS SIDE HAD BROKEN OFF. THIS HAS CAUSED A CLANKING SOUND WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN.*AK

NHTSA ID

753225

Incident

Feb 10, 2001

CASTER ADJUSTMENT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING TIRES TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. DEALERHSIP EXAMINED VEHICLE,AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT AN AUTOBODY SHOP WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THE REPAIRS TO VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

892831

Incident

Jul 1, 1997

WHILE TRAVELING 30-35MPH SWAY BAR FOR CONSUMER'S 1996, FORD, COBRA MUSTANG BROKE IN HALF. VEHICLE HAD 43,000 MILES WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

892486

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY SWAY BAR BROKE AWAY FROM VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAD 43,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED FOR PROBLEM, BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR BAR. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

892483

Incident

Jul 8, 2001

REAR SWAY BAR SHEARED OFF AT BOLT HOLE ON LOWER CONTROL ARM ON DRIVERS SIDE. I REMOVED THE PART AND PLACED IN TRUCK OF CAR. SINCE THIS IS A PART THAT SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE I CALLED THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY FOR A REPLACEMENT SWAY BAR. I OFFERED TO BRING THE PART IN SO THEY COULD INSPECT IT TO MAKE SURE THE FAILURE WAS NOT CAUSED BY ABUSE. DEALER WAS UNWILLING TO HELP SO I CONTACTED FORDS CUSTOMER RELATIONS. THEY STATE SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL THEY WILL NOT HELP. THEY HAVE BEEN VERY EVASIVE AND DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH. THE FIRST REPRESENTATIVE REFUSED TO LET ME SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR WHEN I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH HER DECISION. THE FINAL SUPERVISOR ADMITTED SHE DID NOT KNOW WHAT A SWAY BAR WAS. IF SHE DID SHE WOULD KNOW THEY LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THEY HAVE MADE THIS SEEM LIKE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. FROM LOOKING AT THE NTSA WEB SITE I SEE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE THIS DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ID

743154

Incident

Mar 21, 2001

WENT TO DEALER 11/99 ABOUT SHUDDER- CHANGED BELTS, ETC. STILL SHAKING- TEAR DOWN 7/00. *AK

NHTSA ID

738886

Incident

Nov 17, 2000

THE PLASTIC INTAKE? CRACKED FORD RECALL REPAIRED IT. 1ST DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED WAYNE MORRIS FORD IN PERRY, GA WOULD NOT HELP AT ALL. 2ND DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED WARNER ROBINS FORD FOUND THE RECALL AND REPAIRED IT A NO CHARGE. ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING/SHAKING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. I HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS WHICH HAS HELPED A LITTLE. BUT CAN NOT GET ANY ANSWERS OR A RESOLUTION FROM ANY MECHANIC TO DATE.

NHTSA ID

714959

REAR SWAY BAR BROKEN AT LEFT END. THIS IS NOT A MOUNTING FAILURE BUT AN ACTUAL BREAK! THIS PROBLEM IS SO COMMON THAT ALL DEALERS (MORE THAN FIVE) IN THIS AREA ARE OUT OF REPLACEMENT PARTS!! BECAUSE THIS IS PART OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM AND BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THE SWAY BAR IS HANGING LOOSE THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SERIOUS SAFTY HAZARD. *AK

NHTSA ID

705412

Incident

Apr 6, 1999

IGNITION COMPUTER REQUIRED RESETTING. YH

NHTSA ID

606691

Incident

Dec 8, 1997

THIS CAR HAS HAD A SHIMMY IN THE TEERING WHEEL THAT IS FELT BETWEEN 50-55 MPH. THE ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN CHECKED, TIRES INSPECTED AND BALANCED, ROTORS TURNED. ALL HAVE FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SELLING DEALER HAD ALSO REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS IN AN ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, THE PROBLEM HAS AN INTERMITTENT ELEMENT TO IT. SOMETIMES THE CAR DRIVES FINE FOR A SHORT WHILE, AND THEN IT STARTS SHAKING AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

541774

WHILE BACKING VEHICLE INTO DRIVEWAY NOTICED A DRAGGING SOUND IN THE REAR. BELIEVES THIS CONDITION IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR FOR 40,000 MILES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

827946

Incident

Aug 1, 1998

VEHICLE WAS MAKING UNNECESSARY NOISE; THROUGH CONSUMER INVESTIGATION, FOUND SWAY BAR BROKEN. BELIEVED THIS WAS NOT NORMAL WEAR FOR VEHICLE WITH 38000 MILE OF WEAR. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

827543

Incident

Aug 2, 1998

VEHICLE VIBRATES AND PULLS AND PROBLEM CANNOT BE DETERMINED.

NHTSA ID

529572

DRIVING AT APPROX 60 MPH BRAKES WENT TO FLOOR, HAD TO PUMP BRAKES IN ORDER TO TRY TO GAIN CONTROL. STEERING COLUMN VIBRATES/ALL FRONT END VIBRATES AT ABOUT 55 MPH. DEALER REPLACED FRONT ROTATING ARMS ON BOTH SIDES IN 1996, 3 WEEKS LATER DEFECT REOCCURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

819335

Incident

Nov 20, 1997

FRONT END VIBRATES/SHAKES. IN ADDITION, BRAKES FAILED, PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. IN ADDITION, EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED/STEERING ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL IN EITHER DIRECTION. *AK

NHTSA ID

526493

Incident

Aug 25, 1997

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES FRONT END VIBRATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

522670

Incident

Jan 20, 1997

CLUTCH DISC VIBRATION/NOISE.

NHTSA ID

603013

Incident

Dec 30, 1996

VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT/VIBRATES AT 65-75 MPH DUE TO MISALIGNMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

515333

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND; TOOK VEHICLE IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED, MECHANIC CHECKED IT, INFORMED OWNER THAT SWAY BAR WAS BROKEN. *AK

NHTSA ID

803673

Incident

Aug 27, 1996

VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT AND VIBRATES ABOVE 50 MPH, IT IS WORST AROUND 60 MPH. *AK

NHTSA ID

802114