FORD MUSTANG · model year

1999 FORD MUSTANG

281 NHTSA complaints, 63 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999FORDMUSTANG carries 281 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 63 crashes, 2 fires, 26 injuries, and 3 fatalities. 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 1999 MUSTANG is air bags:frontal with 22 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (18) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (18). 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 1999 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.

281
Complaints
63
Crashes
2
Fires
26
Injuries
3
Deaths

Total Complaints

281 filings

Crashes Reported

63 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume, review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL22
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL18
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE18
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP16
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL14
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION10
AIR BAGS8
PARKING BRAKE7
TIRES6
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION6
SEAT BELTS6
SEATS5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE5
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE5
SUSPENSION5

Recent Complaints

20210411AIR BAGS

II WAS PUTTING MY CAR IN PARK AND THE AIR BAGS INFLATED AND TO GAS LIKE SMELL CAME FROM THE BAGS.

Mileage: 110,000

20180205ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE HAVING ISSUES WITH WIRING. WIDE SHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK, MULTIPLE HEAD LIGHTS ARE OUT AND DOME LIGHT STAYS ON SOMETIMES

20180205VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I HAVE HAVING ISSUES WITH WIRING. WIDE SHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK, MULTIPLE HEAD LIGHTS ARE OUT AND DOME LIGHT STAYS ON SOMETIMES

20180205EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I HAVE HAVING ISSUES WITH WIRING. WIDE SHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK, MULTIPLE HEAD LIGHTS ARE OUT AND DOME LIGHT STAYS ON SOMETIMES

20180129SERVICE BRAKES

MY VEHICLE STARTED MOVING WHEN I PARKED IN A 30 DEGREE INCLINE.

Mileage: 177,000

20180125AIR BAGS

IT WAS LATE SUMMER, CLOSE TO EARLY FALL 2017. MY TWO SONS, AGES 17 AND 15, HAD JUST GOTTEN OUT OF FOOTBALL PRACTICE AND WERE GETTING INTO THE 1999 MUSTANG TO COME HOME. (MY 17 YEAR OLD SON, MATTHEW, HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR QUITE AWHILE, AND HAD NO TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS OR VIOLATIONS YET EITHER, NOR DOES HE NOW. HE HAS BEEM A CAREFUL DRIVER.) THEY WERE DRIVING VERY SLOWLY, AS THEY HAD JUST EXITED THEIR PARKING SPOT, AND THEN PROCEEDED AHEAD, AND WHILE DRIVING IN VERY SLOW MOTION WENT OVER A SMALL BUMP OR NODE, OR BARELY ANYTHING, IN THE ENUMCLAW HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT. THE AIRBAGS BOTH BLEW OUT SUDDENLY, SLIGHTLY INJURING MY 15 YEAR OLD SON'S HAND, AND BLINDING AND PUSHING THEM BOTH BACKWARD IN THEIR SEATS. BOTH OF THEM JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR IMMEDIATELY, VERY SCARED. THEY HAD BEEN DRIVING VERY SLOWLY, SO WERE ABLE TO STOP SUDDENLY DO THIS AND STILL SAFELY ENOUGH TO IMMEDIATELY GET OUT. MANY OF THE FOOTBALL BOYS WERE WATCHING, AS THEY WERE DRIVING RIGHT BY THEM, AND EVERYONE BROKE OUT IN EM

Mileage: 107,000

20151123SEAT BELTS

MY SEAT BELTS DO NOT FUNCTION WELL. SOMETIMES, THEY RETRACT VERY SLOW, LOSE AND SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT EVEN RETRACT. ALSO, SOMETIME THEY GET STUCK. WHEN I BRAKE HARD, THEY STUCK AND TOO TIGHT....ON THE OTHER HAND SOMETIMES THEY ARE VERY LOSE AND DOESN'T STAY TIGHT TO MY CHEST, SAME IS THE CASE WITH THE NAVIGATOR SEAT BELTS AND ALSO THE REAR SEAT SEAT BELTS. IT BEEN HAPPENING FOR COUPLE OF WEEKS.

20141216VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECREASE IN SPEED WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DEACTIVATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT SHUT THE ENGINE OFF WHILE DRIVING IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V062001 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

Mileage: 165,000

20141211CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND IMPACTED THE CONTACT IN THE FACE WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE, CAUSING UNKNOWN INJURIES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 95,000

20130729ENGINE

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.

Mileage: 75,000

20110428SEAT BELTS

MUSTANG REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT STUCK. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

20110419ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

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.

Mileage: 67,000

20110419SEAT BELTS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACT SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V250000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE ENTIRE MECHANISM FOR BOTH SIDES REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 92,658 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

20110311SEAT BELTS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. THE SEAT BELTS HAVE FAILED BY NOT RETRACTING ENOUGH NOR DOES IT SECURE THE PERSON PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HIM THAT HE HAD TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000.

Mileage: 36,000

20110215CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO HIGHER SPEEDS. WHEN HE TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND HE CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED DUE TO HIM IMMEDIATELY EJECTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PENDING AN INVESTIGATION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILES WERE APPROXIMATELY 134,000.

Mileage: 134,000

20100416EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

1999 FORD MUSTANG A/C STOP WORKING REBUILD COMPRESSION*CW THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING. THE DEALER REPLACED IT WITH A RE-BUILT COMPRESSOR AND CHARGED THE CONSUMER $529.17. ONE YEAR LATER, THE AC STOPPED WORKING AGAIN AND THE DEALER REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER RE-BUILT COMPRESSOR, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS NOT CHARGED. THREE MONTHS LATER, THE AC COMPRESSOR FAILED AGAIN AND THEY INSTALLED ANOTHER RE-BUILT AC COMPRESSOR AND THE CONSUMER WAS CHARGED $ 454.77. *JB

Mileage: 31,689

20090213FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN GARAGE FOR ABOUT 8 HOURS SINCE DRIVEN. CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND DESTROYED GARAGE AND CAR. FIRE INVESTIGATOR SAID THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY BRAKE SWITCH IN MASTER CYLINDER. *TR

20080627EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WAS LIMITED DUE TO THE FOGGY LIGHT COVERS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

20080130TIRES:SIDEWALL

MY WIFE AND GRANDDAUGHTER WHERE DRIVING HOME WHEN THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE TIRE SIDE WALL FAILED AT 50MPH AND THE TIRE DEPARTED THE CARS RIM. LUCKILY MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR AND WAS TRAVELING AT A SAFE SPEED AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR ON THE RIM ONLY SAFELY. I CHECK TIRE PRESSURE AND MAINTAIN IT TO CAR AND TIRE MANUFACTURES SPECIFICATIONS ON OUR FORD MUSTANG SINCE IT IS A HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRE AND CAR. I 'AM EXTREMELY UPSET AT BRIDGESTONE AS THIS TIRE SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AND COMPROMISED THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND GRANDCHILD. *TR

20071224SEAT BELTS:FRONT

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT AND LOCKS UP. IT APPEARS THAT THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT WORK IN AN EMERGENCY AS REQUIRED. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. *TR

Mileage: 33,000

Compare 1999FORDMUSTANG to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 FORD MUSTANG have?
The 1999 FORD MUSTANG has 281 NHTSA complaints, 63 crashes, 2 fires, 26 injuries, and 3 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 FORD MUSTANG?
The most-complained component for the 1999 FORD MUSTANG is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 22 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1999 FORD MUSTANG safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.