1997 Ford Mustang Owner Complaints

Unknown I lost control of my steering and almost wrecked

NHTSA ID

11528744

Incident

Jun 24, 2023

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS CRACKED IN THE LOCATION OF THE HORN. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO BECOME EXPOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11265433

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

MUSTANGS DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING HEAD ON CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10689543

Incident

Dec 18, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, A FOUL ODOR STARTED TO EMIT INTO THE CABIN. THE CONTACT THEN MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE HE BECAME DISTRAUGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10478613

Incident

Sep 15, 2012

Mileage

128,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A DESIGN FLAW. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD NOT SERVICE ANY VEHICLES OVER TEN YEARS OF AGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED TWICE SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10355543

Incident

Sep 7, 2010

Mileage

150,000 mi

I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY 1997 FORD MUSTANG. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. AT FIRST, WHEN STARTING MY CAR, THE ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER YET THE CAR WOULD IMMEDIATELY DIE. AFTER A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS, THE CAR WOULD EVENTUALLY START AND STAY STARTED. NOW, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START MY CAR, THE ENGINE TURNS OVER YET THE CAR DIES IMMEDIATELY. IN MOST CASES, THE CAR DOES NOT START UNTIL IT HAS BEEN SERVICED. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO 3 SERVICE PROVIDERS (INCLUDING FORD), WHO HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE AND/OR FIX THE PROBLEM. RECENTLY, FORD REPLACED MY AIR FLOW VALVE AND SENSOR AND JUST AFTER PICKING THE CAR UP AND DRIVING IT FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, I WENT INTO A STORE JUST TO COME OUT AND FIND THAT MY CAR WON'T START. ONCE STARTED THE CAR ALWAYS CONTINUES TO RUN WITH NO PROBLEM. PLEASE PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ID

10207339

Incident

Oct 25, 2007

Mileage

82,100 mi

1997 FORD MUSTANG PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT, DRIVERS SIDE RETRACTS ABOUT 98% OF THE TIME, 2% OF THE TIME, ITS RENDERED USELESS LIKE THE PASSENGER SIDE. FORD NOTIFIED, WAS TOLD IT WAS "OWNER ERROR". I DON'T THINK SO. *JB

NHTSA ID

10168103

Incident

May 22, 2006

Mileage

102,220 mi

TIE ROD FAILING 1997 FORD MUSTANG, VIN #[XXX], MILEAGE TO DATE 70,000. *JB UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

10148166

Incident

Jan 1, 2006

Mileage

69,999 mi

SEAT BELTS ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AND WERE REPLACE DWITH ONE FROM JUNK YARD. NOW THE ONE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS LOCKED UP (BELT WON'T EXTEND). THIS IS ON A 1997 FORD MUSTANG V-6. *AK

NHTSA ID

10114369

Incident

Mar 10, 2005

Mileage

98,000 mi

EXCESSIVE RATTLING..ROUGH IDLE..WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING..A SLIGHT "HUMMING" CAN BE HEARD OVER THE DUAL EXHAUST..NOTHING MAJOR HAS HAPPENED AS OF YET.*AK

NHTSA ID

10100554

Incident

Nov 20, 2004

Mileage

105,600 mi

THE PAINT ON TOP AND ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE PASSENGER'S STARTED TO PEEL OFF LIKE AO MONTHS AGO. *AK

NHTSA ID

10086935

Incident

Jul 1, 2003

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A BLOWOUT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10080345

Incident

Jun 26, 2004

1. GAS LEAKED BADLY FROM THE TOP OF GAS TANK WHEN THE TANK IS FULL AT THE GAS STATION. . TANK CAN EXPLODE IF THERE IS ANY SPARK AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE WHOLE CAR. VERY DANGEROUS SUITATION FOR THE DRIVER AND ANY PASSENGER IN THE CAR. MAY CAUSE FIRE AND MAJOR CATASTROPH FOR ALL THE SURROUNDINGS. 3. THE JOUNT BETWEEN THE FILL LINE AND THE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. THE JOUNT WAS RE-WELDED AT THE DEALER SHOP AND THE LEAK STOPPED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10068042

Incident

Apr 25, 2004

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE RUBBER SEAL BETWEEN THE FUEL FILLER PIPE AND THE FUEL TANK SPLIT CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK OUT ONTO THE GROUND. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE OR AN ENVIRONMENTAL SPILL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10063641

Incident

Mar 20, 2004

Mileage

118,000 mi

THE PAINT ON THE REAR TRUNK HATCH IS FALLING OFF. AND IN SOME OTHER AREAS. IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF ANY ACCIDENT OR WEAR AN TEAR. IT ALL SEEMS TO BE CAUSE OF EITHER CHEAP PAINT OR AFTER THE CAR WAS PAINTED IT WAS BAKED TO LONG OR DRIED IN THE SUN TOO LONG OR HOW EVER YOU DRY THEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10062697

Incident

Mar 10, 2004

THE CRUISE CONTROL SELF ACTIVATED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPEED UP AND AS A RESULT THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *PH DURING THIS INCIDENT THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10057805

Incident

Dec 27, 2003

THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO BE INSPECTED, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10053509

Incident

Dec 17, 2003

CONSUMER WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT WAS MADE OF PLASTIC. HE HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED WITH THE RETRO FIT MANIFOLD WHICH WAS ALUMINUM AND PLASTIC. CONSUMER FOUND A RECALL ON THE INTERNET DEALING WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD, AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, BUT FORD WOULD NOT REPAIR IT. CONSUMER SPENT OVER $600.00 FOR REPAIRS. DID NOT THINK THIS WAS FAIR SINCE FORD KNEW THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10040558

HEAD GASKETS BLOWN CAUSING THE UPPER RADIATOR HOSE TO SWELL AND RUB THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR CLUTCH. THE HOLE IN THE HOSE CAUSED ALL THE COOLANT TO LEAK OUT AND CAUSING A MISFIRE IN THE ENGINE. THE HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN ON THREE OF THE SIX CYLINDERS. THE ENGINE IS A 3.8L V6 IN A 1997 MUSTANG.*AK

NHTSA ID

10037553

Incident

Aug 18, 2003

Mileage

112,750 mi

THE COLOR OF THIS MUSTANG IS WHITE. AROUND MAY OR JUNE 2000, THE PAINT BEGAN TO PEEL OFF THE ROOF OF THE CAR. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, THE EXPOSED METAL BEGAN TO RUST. I CONSULTED THE DEALER ABOUT IT, BUT THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME TO PAINT THE CAR, SINCE THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. PRIOR TO THIS, I HAD IT LOOKED AT BY ANOTHER PARTY WHO SAID THAT FORD SHOULD PAINT IT AT NO CHARGE TO ME BECAUSE THE PAINT AND PRIMER WERE BOTH DEFECTIVE, THUS CAUSING THE PAINT TO COME OFF. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY, BUT THEY WOULDN'T HELP. THE OWNER'S MANUAL SAYS THE METAL HAS TO BE "PERFORATED" BEFORE FORD WOULD COVER THE PAINT. I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE PAINTED THE VEHICLE WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST REPORTED. EVEN IF THEY JUST PAINTED THE ROOF AND NOT THE WHOLE VEHICLE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN SATISFIED WITH THAT. (LT). *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023391

Incident

May 20, 2000

Mileage

40,000 mi

BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE JAMMED AND WILL NOT RETRACT. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH BOTH BELTS, BUT HAVE ALWAYS MANAGED TO HAVE THEM RETRACT BACK. NOW BOTH BELTS ARE SITTING IN THE FRONT SEATS AS BOTH BELTS ARE TOO SHORT TO FASTEN WHEN DRIVING. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND IS DANGEROUS TO BOTH FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS. NLM

NHTSA ID

10013561

Incident

Jan 6, 2003

Mileage

48,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED OVER HEATING. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE SERVICED BY A MECHANINC WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN AND LEAKED WATER INTO THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC ALSO INDICATED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA ID

8023484

Incident

Nov 15, 2002

THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE CAB OF VEHICLE STATES' CONSUMER. CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN CHANGED TWICE. PROBLEM WITH SMELL STILL EXIST. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. TS

NHTSA ID

8023291

Incident

Nov 13, 1997

THIS CAR HAS A SALVAGE TITLE, WHICH I LATER FOUND WAS DUE TO A TRUNK FIRE. I BOUGHT THE CAR AND LATER FOLLOWED UP ON RESEARCH ABOUT SALVAGE TITLES FINDING OUT THAT THE GAS TANK IS IN A BAD LOCATION AND THAT MUSTANG'S WHEN HIT ON IMPACT HAVE A TENDENCY TO LEAK GASOLINE CAUSING FIRES. I ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY LOCKS. POWER LOCK DON'T WORK, AND WHEN I OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, I MUST KEEP THE KEY IN THE THE TURNED UNLOCK POSITION WHILE PULLING THE HANDLE UP IN ORER TO OPEN THE DOOR. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR IN THE RAIN. GOING AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, MOST THE TIME, FROM A COMPLETE STOP, I HAVE HYDROPLANED AND HAVE DONE A 360. THE CAR IS VERY SCARY TO DRIVE IN THE RAIN. THE RIDE IS BUMPY MAKING ALL MY CD'S SCRATCH. THE CAR ALSO LETS OFF GAS WHEN THE AC IS ON, CAUSING ME TO BECOME SLEEPY. ALL IN ALL I FIND MUSTANGS TO BE VERY UNSAFE VEHICLES AND WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER.

NHTSA ID

769592

FORD EXPERIMENTED WITH A COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED DUE TO THIS NEW MATERIAL. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS A SECRET RECALL ON IT: 01M02. OTHER DRIVERS HAVE HAD ACCIDENTS FOLLOWING THIS FAILURE BECAUSE THE SMOKE GETS SO THICK THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. THERE WAS SO MUCH SMOKE THAT I THOUGHT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY FORD, AND FORD SHOULD PAY THE TOWING BILLS OF THOSE OF US WHO HAVE NEEDLESSLY SUFFERED THIS FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ID

767281

Incident

Sep 13, 2002