RoadVitals

1998 Ford Mustang Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance 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.
18
Latest May 6, 2014
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 236 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.
7
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
10

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Ford Mustang submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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 driver-assistance

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

BrakesDriver assistance
Filed May 6, 2014

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
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 13, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 FORD MUSTANG . THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE STARTED TO REV AND THE RPMS INCREASED DRASTICALLY AS THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WHILE DOING SO, THE CONTACT HAD TO DRIVE WEDGING THE TIRE AGAINST THE CURB IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO LOSE SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS FRAYED AND COMING APART. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH A NEW CABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID
10451473
Incident
Jun 18, 2008
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 12, 2010
Crash reportedFire reported5 injuries reported1 death reported

TL-THE DRIVER OWNED A 1998 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS UNKNOWN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND LIQUID SPLASHED ONTO THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER ENDED UP ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TRAFFIC AND CRASHED INTO A VAN. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS WERE INJURED IN THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILES WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. AA

NHTSA ID
10325179
Incident
May 16, 2008
Driver assistance
Filed May 13, 2004

CONSUMER HEARS A NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS GOING 60 MPH OR GREATER. ALSO, IT CAN BE HEARD WHEN ACCELERATING UP A HILL. *AK

NHTSA ID
10073617
Mileage
88,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 4, 2002

FAILURE TO IDLE RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES, NO RESERVE ON POWER BRAKES. DT

NHTSA ID
770449
Incident
Nov 28, 2002
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 27, 2002
1 injury reported

NO SUMMARY. DT

NHTSA ID
768953
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 22, 2001
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHILE DRIVING 28 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES,BUT DID NOT SLOW DOWN VEHICLE. CONSUMER THEN APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKE, THIS ALSO DID NOT SLOW DOWN VEHICLE. VEHICLE WENT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION/ WENT ABOUT 6 BLOCKS/HIT CURB ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD/CROSSED ROAD TO AVOID A ONCOMING VEHICLE, AND HIT A DUMP TRUCK. VEHICLE HAD ACCELERATED TO A SPEED OF 45 MPH. A POLICE WITNESS ESTIMATED SPEED TO BE HIGHER. CONSUMER WAS SEVERELY INJURED. CONSTRUCTION WORKER NEAR DUMP TRUCK WAS ALSO SEVERLY INJURED. BOTH IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT THIS TIME. AIRBAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE IMPOUNDED BY POLICE TO INVESTIGATE. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY PHILIP C. JOHNSON, ATTORNEY. *AK

NHTSA ID
891043
Incident
Jun 19, 2001
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 1, 2001

WHILE HAVING CRUISE CONTROL ON AND TRYING TO SLOW DOWN CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. CONSUMER WAS WAS TRAVLING AT ABOUT 70 MPH BEFORE TRYING TO TURN CRUISE CONTROL OFF. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WILL TRY TO FIX PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
881849
Incident
Jan 15, 2001
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 27, 2000

WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND COMING UP ON TRAFFIC, CONSUMER HAD TO STEP ON THE BRAKES TO GET CRUISE CONTROL TO RELEASE. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS UNSAFE.*AK

NHTSA ID
866140
Incident
Jan 20, 2000
Body & structureDriver assistanceTransmission
Filed Jul 13, 2000
Crash reported

REMOTE DOOR DOES NOT WORK ALL OF THE TIME. DEALER REPLACED LATCH BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CUSTOMER PLACED A SMALL ROUND MAGNET ON THE QUARTER PANEL ON EACH SIDE WHERE THE LID CONTACTS THE QUARTER PANEL TEMPORARILY CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. CUSTOMER WOULD LIKE THE DEALER TO PROPERLY CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CAR IDLES ROUGH WHEN ACCESSORORIES ARE TURNED ON. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARSHLY UNDER VARIOUS CONDITIONS. TRANSMISSION DOES NOT IMMEDIATELT ENGAGE IN GEAR WHEN GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN CAR SITS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME BUT DOES NOT ALWAYS OCCUR. CUSTOMER HAS NOTICED AT TIMES AN UNUSAL LARGE LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT DOES NOT SEE A LEAK OR SMELL. RIGHT FRONT DOOR SPEAKER CUTS IN AND OUT.*AK

NHTSA ID
725396
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 7, 2000
Crash reported

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN GEAR AND THE BRAKES WERE ON, VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, HITTING A BUSH AND A HOME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

NHTSA ID
856381
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 28, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE WAITING FOR THE GARAGE DOOR TO OPEN ALL OF A SUDDEN BACK WHEELS STARTED TO SKID, CAR TOOK OFF RIGHT THROUGH THE GARAGE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS INCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
854490
Incident
Dec 26, 1999
BrakesDriver assistanceFuel system+1 more
Filed Aug 25, 1999

ROTORS WARPED CAUSING VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AT 50-60 MPH. MJS

NHTSA ID
548178
Incident
Jul 7, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 19, 1999

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON TWO OCCASIONS, ONE INCIDENT RESULTED IN VEHILCE RUNNING INTO DITCH WHEN ACCELERATION EXPERIENCED WITH REAR WHEEL LOCK UP. MJS

NHTSA ID
547355
Incident
Jun 1, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 14, 1999

REAR END OF VEHICLE LOCKED-UP, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. VEHICLE STARTED TO SPIN AND WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL IT SLID INTO A DITCH OFF THE ROAD. *YC

NHTSA ID
547151
Incident
Jun 1, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 12, 1999

VEHICLE RECALL REPAIR (99V-062) CAN NOT BE COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. *YC

NHTSA ID
546556
Incident
Mar 1, 1999
Driver assistanceSuspensionVisibility
Filed Feb 1, 1999

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID
606182
Incident
Oct 1, 1998
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 21, 1998
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING INTO THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE ACCLERATED IN A FAST SPEED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE WALL. CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE WENT AT A HIGH SPEED IN REVERSE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
825639
Incident
Jul 15, 1998

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 .