RoadVitals

1997 Ford Mustang Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints 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.
14
Latest Jul 16, 2001
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 176 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Ford Mustang submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Suspension
Filed Jul 16, 2001

REAR RIGHT SWAY BAR BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK THE CONSUMER FEELS THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

NHTSA ID
892947
Incident
Feb 15, 2001
Body & structureExterior lightingSuspension
Filed May 21, 2001

THE VEHICLE WANDERS WHEN HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD, CONSUMER ALSO STATES THERE IS A SQUEAKY NOISE ON LEFT SIDE, COULD POSSIBLY BE SUSPENSION RELATED. NLM

NHTSA ID
785011
Incident
Apr 1, 2001
SuspensionTransmission
Filed May 16, 2001

THE TRANSMISSION DEVELOPED A LEAK WHILE DRIVING HOME ONE DAY. I ESTIMATE 1 QUART OF FLUID WAS LOST. I FILLED IT UP BUT MAJOR GEAR WEAR HAD ALREADY HAPPENED (COULD HEAR WHINE FROM THEN ON). THE LEAK COULD NOT BE FOUND AND SEALED ITSELF. MONTHS LATER THE MAIN INPUT SHAFT EXPLODED WHILE CRUISING AT 40 MPH RENDERING THE TRANSMISSION UNDRIVABLE. THE REAR SWAY BAR SNAPPED ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHILE ENTERING MY DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BOTH OF THESE ARE COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR BUT THE CLOSE PROXIMITY AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED DISTURBS ME.*AK

NHTSA ID
745426
Incident
Jul 15, 2000
Suspension
Filed Apr 6, 2001

REAR SWAY BAR SNAPPED AT 32000 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
885257
Incident
Nov 1, 2000
Fuel systemSuspension
Filed May 10, 2000

SUSPENSION-SWAY BAR - THE BOLT FOR THE SWAY BAR HAS SHEARED OFF. I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THIS OCCURRED EXCEPT THAT I WAS STOPPED, TURNED TO MAKE A U-TURN AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. AFTER THAT I BEGAN TO HEAR THIS NOISE HITTING MY CAR I THOUGHT IT WAS A TIRE OR JACK IN THE TRUNK. I HAVE FOUND IT TO BE THE SWAY BAR. GAS LEAKING - WHEN MY CAR IS IDELING I START TO GET GAS FUMES FILLING MY CAR, ESPECIALLY WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON. I TOOK IT TO FORD LAST SUMMER, THEY CHARGED ME $300 TO FIX BUT THAT HAS NOT WORKED. MY CAR FILLS UP WITH GAS FUMES AND NOW THAT I AM USING THE AIR CONDITIONER AGAIN, ITS BACK AT MY ATTENTION BECAUSE THE FUMES ARE VERY STRONG AND I GET SICK, HEADACHES, DIZZY AND LIGHTHEADED. *AK

NHTSA ID
722495
Incident
Jun 1, 1999
Suspension
Filed May 11, 1999

THE SWAY BAR BROKE DUE TO INADEQUATE WELDS, WHICH COULD CAUSE VEHICLE TO DROP AND MAY RESULTIN A VEHICLE CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
837783
Incident
Apr 28, 1999
BrakesEngineSuspension+1 more
Filed May 9, 1999

SUSPENSION PULLS TO THE LEFT. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR GRINDS. ENGINE LOSES POWER WITH ENGINE LIGHT ON. BRAKES PADS ON LEFT SIDE METAL TO METAL. SECOND BRAKE JOB. ALL PROBLEMS STILL EXISTAS.

NHTSA ID
706347
Incident
Oct 14, 1997
BrakesEngineSuspension+1 more
Filed Mar 27, 1999

@ 7000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY WENT OUT & HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT 14000 MILES FRONT END MISALIGNED, NEEDED 2 NEW FRONT TIRES & ALIGNMENT, @ 21000 MILES DRIVERS WINDOW QUIT, @ 21797 BRAKES BEGAN GRINDING NEEDED REPLACEMENT PADS,@ 21000 MILES ENGINE STARTED SPARK KNOCKING & CONTINUES TO DATE. 5 ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT NOT CORRECTED.@27,462 MILES DEALER DECARBONED ENGINE & AGAIN 300 MILES LATER. STILL SPARK KNOCKING. BEGINING LEMON LAW PROCESSES 3/28/99. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ID
704997
Incident
Aug 29, 1998
Suspension
Filed Jul 9, 1998

THE ENTIRE VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN IT IS DRIVEN BETWEEN 57 - 70 MPH.

NHTSA ID
538122
Incident
Mar 31, 1998
Suspension
Filed Jun 20, 1998

I HAVE HAD THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A CHECK, AND THEY SAID THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THE 3.8 CONVERTIBLE MUSTANGS. THAT THEY ALL DID THIS. WHOLE CAR SHAKES AT 55 TO 70MPH.

NHTSA ID
537153
Incident
Apr 1, 1998
Suspension
Filed May 19, 1998

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES VIBRATION AT HIGH SPEEDS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW.

NHTSA ID
535725
Incident
Sep 26, 1997
Suspension
Filed Jul 19, 1997

FRONT LEFT CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT SEPARATED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
604007
Incident
Mar 29, 1997
Suspension
Filed Jun 18, 1997

SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-12MPH WHEN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT BECAME LOOSE, CAUSING THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL TO FALL OFF, AND THE VEHICLE DROPPING TO THE GROUND. *AK

NHTSA ID
813230
Incident
Apr 28, 1997
Fuel systemSuspension
Filed Jun 10, 1997

FRONT LEFT CONTROL ARM/BALL JOINT CAME APART CAUSING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
519001
Incident
Apr 28, 1997

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .