EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
1998 Ford Mustang
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 236 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Ford Mustang, most frequently naming the engine, brakes and fuel system categories. 14 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 173 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2001 | 4 | 130 |
| Feb 2001 | 3 | 133 |
| Mar 2001 | 8 | 141 |
| Apr 2001 | 1 | 142 |
| May 2001 | 6 | 148 |
| Jun 2001 | 2 | 150 |
| Jul 2001 | 2 | 152 |
| Aug 2001 | 1 | 153 |
| Sep 2001 | 6 | 159 |
| Oct 2001 | 1 | 160 |
| Nov 2001 | 3 | 163 |
| Dec 2001 | 2 | 165 |
| Jan 2002 | 3 | 168 |
| Feb 2002 | 2 | 170 |
| Apr 2002 | 1 | 171 |
| May 2002 | 1 | 172 |
| Jun 2002 | 3 | 175 |
| Jul 2002 | 2 | 177 |
| Aug 2002 | 1 | 178 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 179 |
| Oct 2002 | 3 | 182 |
| Nov 2002 | 3 | 185 |
| Dec 2002 | 1 | 186 |
| Jan 2003 | 1 | 187 |
| Mar 2003 | 1 | 188 |
| May 2003 | 1 | 189 |
| Jun 2003 | 3 | 192 |
| Jul 2003 | 1 | 193 |
| Sep 2003 | 2 | 195 |
| Jan 2004 | 2 | 197 |
| Mar 2004 | 1 | 198 |
| May 2004 | 2 | 200 |
| Jul 2004 | 1 | 201 |
| Aug 2004 | 3 | 204 |
| Oct 2004 | 3 | 207 |
| Dec 2004 | 2 | 209 |
| Mar 2005 | 1 | 210 |
| Apr 2005 | 2 | 212 |
| Jun 2005 | 1 | 213 |
| Aug 2005 | 1 | 214 |
| Dec 2005 | 2 | 216 |
| Aug 2006 | 2 | 218 |
| Sep 2007 | 1 | 219 |
| Apr 2009 | 1 | 220 |
| May 2009 | 1 | 221 |
| Aug 2009 | 1 | 222 |
| Sep 2009 | 1 | 223 |
| Jan 2010 | 1 | 224 |
| Apr 2010 | 1 | 225 |
| Oct 2010 | 1 | 226 |
| Apr 2011 | 1 | 227 |
| Mar 2012 | 1 | 228 |
| May 2014 | 1 | 229 |
| Sep 2014 | 1 | 230 |
| May 2015 | 1 | 231 |
| May 2016 | 1 | 232 |
| Oct 2017 | 1 | 233 |
| Oct 2019 | 1 | 234 |
| Feb 2020 | 1 | 235 |
| May 2021 | 1 | 236 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Engine4114.9%
- Brakes3312.0%
- Fuel system3010.9%
- Steering228.0%
- Seat belts196.9%
- Driver assistance186.5%
- Transmission165.8%
- Suspension165.8%
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
14 campaigns 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.govEXTERIOR LIGHTING
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.
FIRES IN THE CENTER CONSOLE
There is no summary currently available
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
Rear right parking brake does not engage and when trying to come to an emergency stop brake is ineffective
- NHTSA ID
- 11418128
- Incident
- Feb 16, 2021
STIRRING-WHEEL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON GETTING HIT HEAD-BUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DID DEPLOY BUT DUE TO THE DEFECT STIRRING WHEEL AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING THE DRIVER TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD
- NHTSA ID
- 11307406
- Incident
- Jan 31, 2020
- Mileage
- 99,000 mi
PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT. WORK , CANNOT PULL OUT TO USE IT... THE REPAIR SHOP IS HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING. A RETRACTOR. MECHANISM....MY FAMILY CANNOT SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. RIGHT NOW
- NHTSA ID
- 11265842
- Incident
- Aug 30, 2019
- Mileage
- 16,146 mi
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, NEITHER FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED
- NHTSA ID
- 11035789
- Incident
- Oct 21, 2017
- Mileage
- 147,000 mi
ON MAY 5, 2016, I WAS DRIVING ON HWY 395 (NEVADA). DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH DUE TO RAIN/HAIL. I FELT MY CAR BEGIN TO HYDROPLANE, AND THEN BEGAN TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL ACROSS THE HWY. AT LEAST 5 COMPLETE CIRCLES UNTIL I SLAMMED INTO A CONCRETE WALL WHERE THE CAR CAME TO A STOP. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVERS SEAT BOLTS BROKE UPON IMPACT AS WELL. NO OTHER CARS WERE INVOLVED, BUT I SUFFERED MULTIPLE BRUISES ON MY RT. ARM, AS WELL AS SEVERE WHIPLASH AND INTERNAL BRUISING FROM SEAT BREAKING FREE UPON IMPACT. MY BACK/SPINE ARE IN SERIOUS PAIN DUE TO BEING KNOCKED OUT OF ALIGNMENT WHEN THE SEAT BROKE, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I DID NOT FILE A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AS I ONLY HAVE LIABILITY INSURANCE, HOWEVER I DO HAVE AN ACCIDENT CASE NUMBER FROM THE NEVADA HIGHWAY PATROL: # 160500374 DATE: 05/05/2016 TIME: 9:56 AM
- NHTSA ID
- 10864389
- Incident
- May 5, 2016
- Mileage
- 124,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD MUSTANG. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, IT WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION WIRES AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE PROPERLY ALIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10721986
- Incident
- May 23, 2015
- Mileage
- 112,000 mi
THE FUEL FILLER NECK GROMMET IS LEAKING. ACCORDING TO FORD, IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT...IT CAUSES A GASOLINE LEAK IF I TRY TO FILL IT OVER ABOUT 3/8 TANK, AND THROWS GAS OUT, WHEN I MAKE A LEFT TURN. *TR THIS IS A FIRE/EXPLOSION WAITING TO HAPPEN. FORD SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THESE WITH GROMMETS THAT DO NOT BREAK DOWN.
- NHTSA ID
- 10633815
- Incident
- Jun 3, 2014
- Mileage
- 274,067 mi
I WAS BRAKING AT A RED LIGHT BEHIND A TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN I HAD ALMOST COMPLETELY STOPPED, MY CAR LURCHED FORWARD, WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE. I LIFTED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE FOR AN INSTANT, THEN SLAMMED THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN, STOPPING MY CAR JUST A COUPLE INCHES FROM SLAMMING INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10586767
- Incident
- Apr 30, 2014
- Mileage
- 78,840 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SOME 1997-2008 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6L 2V, 5.4L 2V, OR 6.8L 2V ENGINE--SPARK PLUG THREAD REPAIR PROCEDURE--NOT COVERED UNDER NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY. *NJ THIS INCLUDES F-53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS. UPDATED 2/23/10. *PE
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
EXTENDED COVERAGE PROGRAM 05N04 - EXTENDED COVERAGE FOR COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS PROGRAM IS BEING PROVIDED AS A SETTLEMENT TO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT EXTEND THE COVERAGE OF THE ALL-COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLD TO 7 YEARS FROM THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY START DATE OF THE VEHICLE, WITH NO LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF MILES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN. *TT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING. *TT
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE MISFIRE OR RUNNING - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIPS. TO INCLUDE VARIOUS 2005 MODELS. * AR THIS ARTICLE 04161 SUPERSEDES TSB 03-14-04.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER OR CRANK NO START - POSSIBLE PATS LAMP FLASHING AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) U1147 AND/OR U1262. *TT
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 57.1 |
| 2024 | 73 | 11 | 0 | 58.9 |
| 2023 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 62.7 |
| 2022 | 49 | 9 | 0 | 60.2 |
| 2021 | 55 | 6 | 0 | 59.4 |
| 2020 | 117 | 8 | 1 | 70.4 |
| 2019 | 142 | 6 | 0 | 56.1 |
| 2018 | 186 | 4 | 0 | 56.4 |
| 2017 | 264 | 6 | 1 | 63.4 |
| 2016 | 371 | 5 | 1 | 58.4 |
| 2015 | 436 | 11 | 3 | 63.5 |
| 2014 | 359 | 4 | 0 | 54.6 |
| 2013 | 271 | 6 | 0 | 52.2 |
| 2012 | 469 | 7 | 1 | 54.0 |
| 2011 | 466 | 5 | 1 | 53.0 |
| 2010 | 260 | 6 | 0 | 52.5 |
| 2009 | 181 | 6 | 0 | 55.6 |
| 2008 | 347 | 8 | 4 | 62.7 |
| 2007 | 615 | 9 | 4 | 62.7 |
| 2006 | 422 | 9 | 3 | 58.8 |
| 2005 | 705 | 9 | 3 | 58.2 |
| 2004 | 116 | 6 | 3 | 64.9 |
| 2003 | 145 | 6 | 3 | 68.0 |
| 2002 | 118 | 6 | 1 | 61.3 |
| 2001 | 173 | 8 | 1 | 62.6 |
| 2000 | 311 | 9 | 1 | 63.8 |
| 1999 | 213 | 10 | 1 | 63.9 |
| 1998Viewing | 236 | 14 | 2 | 65.3 |
| 1997 | 176 | 11 | 2 | 61.3 |
| 1996 | 246 | 12 | 3 | 61.8 |
| 1995 | 602 | 16 | 4 | 66.0 |
| 1994 | 356 | 13 | 4 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 101 | 7 | 1 | 68.6 |
| 1992 | 69 | 5 | 3 | 72.1 |
| 1991 | 77 | 6 | 2 | 69.6 |
| 1990 | 85 | 5 | 3 | 72.8 |
| 1989 | 109 | 5 | 4 | 72.0 |
| 1988 | 108 | 5 | 5 | 73.3 |
| 1987 | 38 | 5 | 6 | 73.3 |
| 1986 | 30 | 2 | 5 | 68.0 |
| 1985 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 70.8 |
| 1984 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 67.0 |
| 1983 | 5 | 1 | 3 | — |
| 1982 | 1 | 1 | 4 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | 2 | 4 | — |
| 1980 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | 7 | 2 | — |
| 1978 | 3 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1974 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1971 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1970 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1969 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1968 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 1966 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1965 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — |
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.