RoadVitals

1999 Ford Mustang Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
32
Latest Jul 29, 2013
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.
15%
of 213 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 the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Ford Mustang submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 32 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 engine

The 25 most recent of 32, in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Jul 29, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, SHE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND NOTICED A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD AND COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS, WHO STATED THAT THE MANIFOLD WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10532387
Incident
Jul 1, 2013
Mileage
75,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 19, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A CRACKED MANIFOLD AND IT WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA ID
10396750
Incident
Apr 4, 2011
Mileage
67,000 mi
EngineVisibility
Filed Sep 16, 2006

ON JANUARY 3, 2005, THE HEATER CORE ON MY 1999 MUSTANG HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED, INCLUDING THE THERMOSTAT. THE WINDOWS HAD FOGGED UP BEFORE AND THE CAR SMELLED LIKE SYRUP BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST VENTS. THE HEATING CORE HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE COOLANT HAD TO BE RECHARGED AND REPLACED ALSO THIS CAME UP TO $700 DOLLARS. ON AUGUST 16 2005, 2 WEEKS AFTER CHANGING THE COOLANT THE WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED, ONCE AGAIN THE SYSTEM HAD TO BE FLUSHED THE COST WAS$400. ON JULY 2006 I HAD THE COOLANT SYSTEM FLUSHED AND CHANGED, 1 MONTH AFTER THE COOLANT WAS CHANGED THE WINDOWS STARTING FOGGING UP, I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET A CLEAR VIEW OF THE ROAD DUE TO THE FOGGY WINDOWS, THE HEATING CORE ONCE AGAIN HAS TO BE REPLACED, IS GOING TO COST ME ANOTHER $600 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS, I HAVE ALL OF THE PAPERWORK FROM FIRESTONE, I HAVE KEPT UP WITH ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE REQUIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *JB

NHTSA ID
10168452
Incident
Jan 3, 2005
Mileage
53,396 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 6, 2005

DT: CALLER'S SAYS VEHICLE HAD A CRACKED MANIFOLD INTAKE. CALLER BELIEVED THIS PART SHOULD NOT BREAK DOWN. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DID OFFER HIM ANY HELP. CALLER HAD TO REPLACE THE GASKET TWO YEARS AGO, AND IT WAS GETTING WORSE ALL THE TIME. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID
10130034
Incident
Jul 25, 2003
Mileage
65,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 17, 2004

I HAVE A 1999 MUSTANG 3.8L-V6. RECENTLY, THE CAR BEGAN TO EXPEL A WHITE VAPOR FROM THE TAILPIPE WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT, ALONG WITH A VIBRATION NOISE. THIS HAS HAPPENED AS MANY AS 2-3 TIMES PER DAY. I TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER FOR SERVICE AND REPLACED AN AIR PUMP. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. I DISCUSSED THAT ISSUE WITH THE DEALER REPRESENTATIVE AND THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NO RECORD OF THAT KIND OF PROBLEM WITH A 1999 MUSTANG. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS NOT TRUE.

NHTSA ID
10062466
Incident
Mar 11, 2004
Mileage
59,000 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed May 20, 2003

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND MADE A LOUD NOISE AS IF THE MUFFLER HAD FALLEN OFF. ALSO, THERE WAS A RUST SPOT ON THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10020223
Incident
May 20, 2003
Engine
Filed May 7, 2003

WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED HIS VEHILE IN VEHICLE IN THE MORNING IT WAS VERY LOUD FOR ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES. HE ALSO STATED THAT WHEN HE MADE A RIGHT TURN THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS THE MANIFOLD HEATER VALVE. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10019397
Incident
May 7, 2003
Engine
Filed Apr 30, 2003

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY. ENGINES IDLES ROUGH AND STALES AT ABOUT 1500 RPM'S. IF YOU TURN ON THE HEATER OR AC. THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE. I SCANNED THE CAR AND GOT A MISFIRE CODE AND AN EGR CODE. REPLACED ALL IGNITION PARTS AND ALL EMISSION PARTS AND THE CODE AND PROBLEM WON'T GO AWAY. HELP PLEASE. ANY INFO CAN BE SENT TO [email protected] THANKS

NHTSA ID
10016740
Incident
May 20, 2002
Mileage
50,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 8, 2002

CAR STALLS WHEN STARTING ON A COLD ENGINE REGARDLESS OF OUTSIDE TEMP. SOMETHING STICKS UNDER HOOD. IF YOU HOLD YOUR FOOT ON ACCELERATOR, IT WILL STAY RUNNING BUT WILL ABRUPTLY DIE WHEN LET OFF PEDAL. EVEN IF YOU START DRIVING, IT CAN STILL STICK, CAUSING ENGINE SHUTOFF WHILE MOVING RESULTING IN LOSS OF P. STEERING, BRAKES, ETC., HAS BEEN IN UNDER WARRANTY ONCE, WAS NOT FIXED. DOES THIS ON ABOUT 1 OUT OF 10 COLD STARTS RANDOMLY. HAVE HEARD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FROM OTHER MUSTANG OWNERS. NEEDS TO BE A RECALL !*AK

NHTSA ID
765380
Incident
Feb 1, 2001
EngineSuspensionTransmission+1 more
Filed Aug 5, 2002

VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE SEVERELY WHEN DRIVING. INTERMITTENTLY TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK THE DEALER COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE TRANSMISSION HAD NO LEAKS BUT WAS OUT OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD 2 BLOWN HEAD GASKETS, THE REAR SEAL IN THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED, THE HEATER CORE, THE TRANSMISSION, AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED. *JG

NHTSA ID
8015512
Incident
Jul 20, 2002
Engine
Filed Aug 3, 2002

CAR WILL KILL AT 10 MPH ALL OF A SUDDEN AND LEAVE ME WIT NO BRAKES OR STEERING. *AK

NHTSA ID
765153
Engine
Filed Aug 3, 2002

APPLYING BRAKES THE ENGINE WILL STALL AND KILL SUDDENLY AND THE POWER STEARING AND BREAKING WILL NOT WORK. *AK

NHTSA ID
765152
Engine
Filed Jul 23, 2002

VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING, DEALER DETERMINED HEADGASKET WAS BLOWN AND REAR SEAL OF ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8014530
Incident
Mar 1, 2001
Engine
Filed Jul 15, 2001

EGR SYSTEM CAUSED BUCK OR SKIP FEELING. HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF VERIOUS DEALERS SINCE PURCHASE DATE. OTHER DEALERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM WITH NO RESOLUTIONS. WILL PROVIDE MORE DETAILS IF NEEDED.*AK

NHTSA ID
748495
Incident
Jul 11, 2001
Engine
Filed Jun 20, 2001

THE PULLEY SLIDES ON TO AN ALUMINUM SLEEVE THAT IS PART OF THE FRONT PLATE ON THE ENGINE. I WAS DOING A ROUTINE INSPECTION WHEN I NOTICED THE PULLEY SLIGHTLY TILTED. I APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BELT AND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE PULLEY, BOLT THAT GOES INTO THE PLATE TO HOLD THE PULLEY ON, AND THE METAL SLEEVE THAT WAS BROKEN OFF OF THE FRONT ENGINE PLATE. IF THIS PULLEY WOULD HAVE CAME OFF, THE BELT WOULD HAVE BEEN INSTANTLY FRAYED BY AN ADJACENT ENGINE COMPONENT RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY POWER STEERING. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WERE NO REPORTS, RECALLS, OR FACTORY DEFECTS. I APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE IN LETTING ME KNOW IF THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT OR JUST SHODDY WORKMANSHIP IN MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE. MY HOME NUMBER IS 011-49-6333-980903. I LIVE IN GERMANY. THANK YOU FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU PROVIDE. *AK

NHTSA ID
747131
Incident
May 10, 1999
Engine
Filed Jun 19, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN WITHOUT WARNING, NEARLY CAUSING SEVERAL COLLISIONS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY CAUSE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
890639
Body & structureDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Mar 22, 2001

FORD MUSTANG CONV. 1999 3.8 LITER ENGINE. REPORTED ENGINE PROBLEMS/ACCELERATION PROBS 3 TIMES TO DEALERSHIPS ( ONE TIME TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP OUTSIDE FORD JURISDICTION THAT NOTICED EXCESSIVE GASKET LEAKAGE) BEFORE 12,000 MILES. FINALLY, AFTER NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND PROBLEM ALL DEALERSHIP VISITS, FINALLY REPLACED W/ REFURBISHED ENGINE DEMONSTRATING SAME PROBLEM AT 31207 MILES APPROXIMATELY. (PLEASE NOTE- IT APPEARS AS THOUGH DEALERSHIP ON TWO OCCASIONS TRIED TO CHANGE THE PROBLEMS I NOTATED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I TOLD THE REPRESENTATIVE MY COMPLAINTS. GAVE ME BACK INVOICE TWO TIMES WITH MODIFICATIONS THAT WERE NOT ORIGINAL COMPLAINT! ON THE SECOND TIME- TRACKED DOWN THE MANAGER AND COMPLAINED DIRECTLY AND ASKED WHY THE DEALERSHIP HAD DONE THIS. HE HAD NO ANSWER FOR THIS EMPLOYEES ACTION.) THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WITH THE NEW REFURBISHED ENGINE IS THAT THERE IS NO BURNING SMELL AND THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY VIBRATES SO VIOLENTLY THAT THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES AND GEARSHIFT VIBRATES TO AND FRO VIOLENTLY- THE INITIAL ACCELERATION COMPLAINT REMAINS. THE VIOLENT ENGINE SHAKING DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. THIS NEW ENGINE HAS BEEN INSTALLED ONLY 3 DAYS. TRANSMISSION/ CLUTCH ASSEMBLY- GASKET REPLACEMENT (EXCESSIVE BURNING SMELL IN VEHICLE). NO COATING UNDER VEHICLE TO PROTECT INTERIOR COMPONENTS- DEALERSHIP FIXED. INSIDE OF WINDSHIELD CRACKED/ CHIPPED INTERNALLY- NO APPARENT REASON. VEHICLE IS GARAGE KEPT. BRAKE ASSEMBLY REPLACED PER RECALL. INTERIOR DASHBOARD LOSES COLOR- REPLACED TWO TIMES. CONVERTIBLE TOP APPARATUS-EXCESSIVE RUST- NEEDS REPLACEMENT. CD PLAYER STOPPED WORKING SINCE 20,000 MILES BUT HAD REPLACED DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS AT 30,000 MILES. CONVERTIBLE ROOF GASKET- REPLACED DUE TO DEFECT. THERE ARE OTHER PROBLEMS BUT I AM SICK OF TYPING. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE WORST FORD PRODUCT I HAVE EVER PURCHASED. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE DELRAY LINCOLN/MERCURY REPAIR DEPARTMENT APPEARS CORRUPT. I WONDER IF THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND WHAT THEIR INCENTIVES ARE FOR LY

NHTSA ID
742893
Incident
Mar 21, 2001
Body & structureEngine
Filed Feb 1, 2001

I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 DAYS AFTER PURCHASED AND ASKED FOR ANOTHER CAR THE CAR'S DOORS WERE OUT OF LINE THERE WAS PAINT MISSING THE WINDSHELD HAD A CRACK ON IT FROM THE FACTORY. I ALWAYS CHANGED MY OIL EVERY 3000 MILES AND THE GUY WOULD ASK WHY IT WAS LOW BUT, SAID IT WASN'T DANGLEOUS LOW SO I THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL. COME TO REALIZE IT WAS USING OIL. NOW THE TOP IS LEAKING. ALL I WANTED WAS FOR THEM TO GET ME ANOTHER CAR FROM DAY 2 AND THEY SAID IT WAS MINE IT HAD ALREADY BEEN TITLED TO ME AND WOULD COST ME TO GET INTO ANOTHER CAR. THE DEALERSHIP WOULDN'T CALL ME BACK AFTER I INFORMED THEM OF THE PROBLEM AFTER A MONTH I CALLED THEM BACK AND ASKED WHEN THEY WAS GOING TO FIX MY CAR, I FELT LIKE THEY HAD SOLD IT TO ME NOW IT WAS MY PROBLEM AND IT HAS BEEN A BIG PROBLEM SINCE I GOT IT. THIS WAS THE 3RD CAR I HAD PURCHASED FROM THIS COMPANY AND THAT DIDN'T MATTER. THE HECK WITH YOU ITS YOURS IS HOW I FELT THEY WERE TELLING ME. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THEM TO DO SOMETHING FOR A YEAR AND A HALF TELLING EVERYONE I KNOW BUT, I CAN'T SEEM TO GET ANYWHERE. IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM PLEASE CALL ME. I DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ONE ELSE. I WOULDN'T WISH THIS PAIN ON ANYONE!!! THE CAR WAS SOLD TO ME NEW BUT, IT HAD ALMOST 200 MILES ON IT . THERE TWO SLIPS IN MY CAR WHERE A GIRL HAD DRIVEN IT ON 2 SEPERATE TIMES. IF ANYONE CAN HELP PLEASE CALL ME 336-681-0224. I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN.

NHTSA ID
740283
Engine
Filed Dec 11, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
737683
Incident
Sep 1, 1999
Engine
Filed Jun 28, 2000

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS AND DIES WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.*AK

NHTSA ID
864371
Incident
Jun 23, 2000
Engine
Filed Jun 20, 2000

3.8L ENGINE REPLACED BY DEALER, REPLACEMENT ENGINE SAME PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID
724249
Incident
Sep 14, 1999
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance+2 more
Filed Mar 27, 2000

CRUISE CONTROL RECALL REPAIR 99V-062001 COMPLETED HOWEVER FAILS AND DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY CAUSING UNWANTED ACCELERATION ON OCCASSIONS. *MJS

NHTSA ID
551546
BrakesEngine
Filed Mar 8, 2000

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL, AND POWER BRAKES WOULD GO OUT COMPLETLY. DRIVER COULD NOT STOP AT ALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
858207
Incident
Feb 2, 2000
BrakesEngine
Filed Nov 9, 1999

3 PROBLEMS, BRAKES SHUDDER AND CAR JUMPS FORWARD UPON BRAKING, UPON ACCELERATION WHEN FOOT REMOVE FROM GAS PEDAL CAR CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE, LIGHTS ON DASH BOARD RANDOMLY GO OFF AND ON IE. O/D LIGHT AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT.

NHTSA ID
714527
Incident
Aug 7, 1999
Engine
Filed Oct 8, 1999

ENGINE HAS CONSTANT PROBLEM OF STALLING MISSFIRING,HESITATES,LOSS OF POWER,ALWAYS IN AND OUT OF DEALERSHIP THEY CANNOT FIX PROBLEM. STALLED ONE TIME IN MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTION.

NHTSA ID
713035
Incident
Jul 7, 1999

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 .