1997 Ford Mustang Engine Problems

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 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

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

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

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

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

ENGINE IS LEAKING RADIATOR FLUID, CAUSED BY A CRACK, HEATER IS TAKING LONGER TO GET WARM. DEALER STATED THAT OIL MAY CAUSE ENGINE TO LOCK UP. VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIIAN AT DEALER. *AK. CONSUMER STATED RADIATOR FLUID IS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT VALVE COVER, WHICH IS ALSO CAUSING LOSS OF HEAT.*JB

NHTSA ID

8006187

Incident

Feb 25, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

758855

Incident

Jun 16, 1999

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CAUGHT ON FIRE AND EXPLODED. CONSUMER PURCHASED A NEW COOLING FAN BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE. THE SERVICE MANAGER EXPLAINED THAT THE BEARINGS HAD SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE. THERE IS A RECALL ON SAID PART BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. *JG

NHTSA ID

8004602

Incident

Oct 1, 2001

TIMING COVER GASKET LEAKING MAY LEAD TO HEAD GASKET PROBLEM.. *AK

NHTSA ID

758386

Incident

Feb 1, 2002

SUBJECT: 1997 FORD MUSTANG GT, VEHICLE ID [XXX]. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

755278

Incident

Sep 12, 2001

THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH NEVER HONORED BY THE DEALER. FORD REPLACED (FIRED) THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THIS DEALERSHIP FOR DISHONEST PRACTICES. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED 5/97 WITH 13001 MILES ON IT WE PICKED UP THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AT TIME OF PURCHASE AS PER STATEMENT OF GENERAL MANAGER AT THE TIME. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID

749224

Incident

Jul 17, 2001

WITH 60,000 MILES ON VEHICLE HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMERS EXPENSE BY DEALERSHIP. THEN 4,000 MILES LATER, TIMING GASKET BLEWOUT WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER SERVICE PROGRAM. THEN, WITH 68,000 MILES ON VEHICLE, IT STARTED VIBRATING WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, AND REVVED TO OVER 6000 RPM. CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE OF ROAD WHERE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING. 3.8 LITER V6 ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF COMPLETE FAILURE. *AK AIR CONDITIONER WOULD LOSE POWER AFTER 45 MINUTES OF OPERATION, DEALER STATED AN ACCUMULATER AND ORIFICE TUBE WAS NEEDED. THE CONNECTOR TO THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM WAS CRACKED ALMOST IN HALF CAUSING THE CABLE TO DISENGAGE FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. *SLC

NHTSA ID

890316

Incident

Jun 1, 1999

ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. PEOPLE WITH 97 MUSTANGS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS ALL OVER THE INTERNET WITH THERE HEAD GASKETS CRACKING AND ENGINE LIGHTS COMING ON DUE TO ENGINE PROBLEMS. MINE ONLY HAS 44,900 MILES! DO SOMETHING. *AK

NHTSA ID

746162

Incident

May 29, 2001

FRONT TIMING GASKET FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT FROM 3.8L V6 ENGINE. DEALER NOTIFED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID

884836

Incident

Mar 30, 2001

ANTIFREEZE DRIPS OUT FROM DEFECTIVE TIMING COVER, AND STARTS CAUSING A BURNING SMELL, AND SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE. CONSUMER FEELS FUMES ARE DANGEROUS. *AK

NHTSA ID

882233

Incident

Mar 5, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

738468

Incident

Jun 15, 2000

RECALL IS FOR MUSTANGS MADE PRIOR TO DEC. 31, 1996 ALTHOUGH LATER MORE RECENT MODELS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID

736313

Incident

Feb 27, 2000

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS, TIMING GASKET CAP, AND ENGINE ITSELF ALL FAILED ON A 1997 FORD MUSTANG LX COUPE

NHTSA ID

728715

Incident

May 1, 1999

1. SPARK PLUG WIRE CLAMPS NOT STAYING CONNECTED TO SPARK PLUGS CAUSING ARCING AND DAMAGE TO 5 SPARK PLUG WIRES. 2. RUPTURE OF COOLANT CROSSOVER TUBE ON FRONT OF INTAKE MANIFOLD RESULTED IN ALMOST TOTAL LOSS OF COOLANT ON ABOUT A ONE BLOCK LENGTH OF ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH. RECALL 97M91 HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY INVESTIGATED (FEB. 1999) WITH NO DAMAGE FOUND. FAILURE OCCURRED IN DEC. 1999.

NHTSA ID

728211

Incident

Dec 6, 1999