Total Complaints
297 filings
FORD MUSTANG · model year
297 NHTSA complaints, 52 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998FORDMUSTANG carries 297 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 52 crashes, 12 fires, 41 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 MUSTANG is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 17 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (15) and parking brake:conventional (10). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 1998 MUSTANG, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
297 filings
Crashes Reported
52 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume, review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 17 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 15 |
| PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL | 10 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 10 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 8 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 8 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 7 |
| PARKING BRAKE | 7 |
| AIR BAGS | 7 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 7 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 6 |
| TIRES | 6 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 5 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 5 |
Rear right parking brake does not engage and when trying to come to an emergency stop brake is ineffective
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
Mileage: 99,000
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
Mileage: 16,146
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, NEITHER FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED
Mileage: 147,000
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
Mileage: 124,000
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
Mileage: 124,000
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.
Mileage: 112,000
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.
Mileage: 112,000
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.
Mileage: 112,000
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.
Mileage: 274,067
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
Mileage: 78,840
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
Mileage: 78,840
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.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE CAR SEAT OR THE CAR MODEL BUT WHEN I INSTALL THE BASE OF THE CAR SEAT ON THE CAR I TIGHTEN IT AS MUCH AS I CAN AND THE CAR SEAT SNAPS FIRM ON IT BUT THE BASE IS NOT FIRM ON THE CAR AND ONE TIME THE WHOLE THING FLIPPED OVER WHEN I MADE A SLOW TURN. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=1998, MAKE=FORD, MODEL=MUSTANG). *TR
INTAKE MANIFOLD DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE HOUSING UNDER THE THERMOSTAT. THIS WAS REPORTED AS TSB 97M91. *TR
Mileage: 118,695
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD MUSTANG WHICH WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 1998. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF HIS HOME WHEN HE NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. HE IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE TO NO AVAIL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND WERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE MARSHALL STATED THAT THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL AND ALSO INCLUDED THAT IN THE POLICE/FIRE REPORT FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE IF THERE WERE ANY OPEN RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.
Mileage: 150,000
CAR IS HARD TO START OR LONG START CYCLE, FUEL PUMP CHECK VALVE LEAKING REQUIRING FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT. *TR
Mileage: 100,000
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1999 FORD MUSTANG WITH A 1998 USED ENGINE INSTALLED INTO IT. I ONLY HAD 1 REAL PROBLEM WITH IT AND IT WAS MY EXHAUST. I HAD THAT FIXED AND RAN GREAT FOR THE NEXT DAY. LESS THEN 36 HRS AFTER THE EXHAUST WAS FIXED AND AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT 15 HRS OR SO, WHICH WAS FROM AROUND 9:45 PM FRIDAY THE 21ST TO AROUND 12:30 TO 1:00 PM ON THE 22ND OF AUGUST. A NEIGHBOR CAME POUNDING ON OUR DOOR TELLING US OUR CAR WAS ON FIRE!!!! HE ALSO STATED THAT HE HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE SOMEONE WAS TRYING TO START IT FROM A DISTANCE. WELL WE DON'T HAVE A REMOTE STARTER FOR THIS CAR, IT ONLY UNLOCKS THE CAR AND TRUNK, DOES NOT START IT. WE BELIEVE IT WAS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE AND NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED AS I ONLY HAD LIABILITY INS. AND NOW I HAVE LOST MY CAR AND HAVE NOTHING...... I HAVE PICTURES OF MY CAR JUST MELTING AWAY, THE ENTIRE FRONT OF IT. I LOVED THIS CAR, I WASN'T EVEN FINISHED PAYING FOR IT. I STILL OWE $1395 ON IT AND I ONLY HAD IT FOR ABOUT 7 MONTHS. FIRE MARSHAL
THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT LOSS IN STEERING STABILITY. EVERYTHING FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO THE RACK AND PINION SHOW NO SIGNS OF LEAKING. I'VE HAD THE PS LINES REPLACED AS WELL AS THE PS PUMP, BECAUSE IF THE LACK OF STABILITY AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. PS FLUID HAS BEEN REPLACED AND BLED. AND THE PUMP IS STILL VERY LOUD (IT WAS ALWAYS LOUD, THE NEW PUMP IS THE SAME WAY. BUT THAT'S MORE ANNOYING THAN A SAFELY CONCERN). I'LL BE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY VEER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. CAR HAS NEW TIRES AND HAS BEEN ALIGNED RECENTLY. *TR
Mileage: 150,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.