FORD MUSTANG COBRA · model year

1999 FORD MUSTANG COBRA

16 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999FORDMUSTANG COBRA carries 16 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 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 COBRA is suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint with 3 filings, followed by seat belts:front:retractor (3) and engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe (2). 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 2 investigation files overlapping the 1999 MUSTANG COBRA. 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.

16
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

16 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE2
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
SUSPENSION:REAR1

Recent Complaints

20090828SUSPENSION:REAR

WHILE DRIVING THE METAL PIECE HOLDING THE DRIVER SIDE SHOCK ABSORBER TORE AWAY FROM THE WALL IT WAS MOUNTED TO. THE PIECE THEN TORE INTO THE INNER WHEEL WELL CUTTING IT LIKE RIBBON. THE DAMAGE WAS APPARENTLY CAUSED BY HITTING A BUMP IN ROUGH ROAD BUT THERE WAS NO SINGLE HIT OF A LARGE POT HOLE. JUST NORMAL DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 74,000

20080523VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

HIGH IDLE SPEED AFTER USING THE CRUISE CONTROL ON 5.11.2008. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON-GOING WITHOUT THE USE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS SOON DETACHED AND THE CONDITION DISAPPEARED. THE IDLE IS NOW FINE,BUT CANNOT USE THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAUSE THE CONDITION WILL RETURN. THE PROBLEM IS QUITE SIMILAR TO THE FORD RECALL NUMBER 99V-062.001, BUT AFTER CONTACTING FORD SERVICE LINE ON 5.25.2008, I WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE (1999 FORD MUSTANG COBRA 4.6 4VDOHC) WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 116,800

20071001SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD MUSTANG COBRA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED ONTO THE FRONT TIRE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LOCK NUT THAT HELD THE FRONT WHEEL SPINDLE ASSEMBLY DETACHED BECAUSE IT WAS IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED AND FELL OFF . THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,165 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,170. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF

Mileage: 4,165

20060313SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WILL NOT PULL OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH DETERMINED THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED, NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

Mileage: 42,000

20050807ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

A SPARK PLUG BLEW IN MY 99 MUSTANG COBRA. IT ONLY HAS 41,800 MILES. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE LAST CHANGED 3 YEARS AGO. I HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED YET. THE THREADS ARE STRIPPED AND THE IGNITION COIL WAS DESTROYED. I BOUGHT A NEW IGNITION COIL AT AN AUTO PARTS STORE. *NM

Mileage: 41,800

20050724VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

ACCELERATOR STICKING WOT ON CARPET ON 1999 MUSTANG COBRA COUPE. DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC DATE. CAR WAS TRADED. I THOUGHT IT WAS SPECIFIC TO MY CAR. I BROKE 3 ACCELERATOR PEDALS DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I THOUGHT THE PEDAL WAS JUST CHEAP. NOW REALIZE THE CARPET BEING TORN WAS DUE TO PEDAL AND NOT ME BASED ON SOME OF THE INFORMATION I HAVE SEEN ON THE NET.

Mileage: 12,000

20050516SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

THE SEAT BELT FRONT RETRACTOR ON OUR 1999 FORD MUSTANG COBRA IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. IT HAD HAPPEND ABOUT 1 YEAR AND 3 MONTHS AGO AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP HAD FIXED IT AT NO COST THAT TIME. NOW IT IS NOT FUNCTIONING AGAIN. I HAVE CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP BOTH WHICH ARE TELLING US THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WILL BE AT OUR COST. THIS IS A PROBLEM DUE TO BEING PART OF THE SAFETY RESTRAINT OF THE VEHICLE, AND SHOULD BE FIXED AT NO CHARGE. IT WAS NOT FIXED PROPERLY THE FIRST TIME AND FORD SHOULD TAKE CARE THE ISSUE.

Mileage: 49,000

20040502ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

PURCHASED A USED 1999 FORD MUSTANG COBRA SVT WITH 29,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. SINCE OWNING THE CAR, I HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS FAULTY CHASIS WIRING SYSTEM, CAR SHUTDOWN WHEN HOT AND WOULD NOT RESTART, FAULTY IAC VALVE AND THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, NO BACK-UP LIGHTS DUE TO MANUAL TRANSMISSION REVERSE SWITCH FAILURE, AND BRAKE LIGHTS SWITCH FAILURE. AT APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES I HAD NOTICED THE CAR HAD RAN LOW ON COOLANT AND EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION BETWEEN OIL CHANGE INTERVALS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE AT 58,000 MILES ALONG WITH BLUE SMOKE EMANATING FROM THE DUAL EXHAUST. MY MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH THE IAC VALVE AND THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR CITING THE BLUE SMOKE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A RICH IDLE CONDITION. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RETURNED. AN EXHAUST LEAK WAS DETECTED AND CORRECTED AT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND HEADER CONNECTION POINT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT AWAY, HOWEVER, THE RICH IDLE CONDITION REMAINED. AT A LITTLE OVER 6

Mileage: 64,300

20040210SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

FRONT END SHOOK DUE TO DEFECTIV EBALL JOINTS, AND BLUE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. *AK

Mileage: 28,000

20040210SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

FRONT END SHOOK DUE TO DEFECTIV EBALL JOINTS, AND BLUE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. *AK

Mileage: 28,000

20040210ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

FRONT END SHOOK DUE TO DEFECTIV EBALL JOINTS, AND BLUE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. *AK

Mileage: 28,000

20030606SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

HELLO, TSB 99S26 STATES THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SAFTEY BELT RETRACTOR ON THE 1999 FORD MUSTANG COBRA. I HAVE HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE REPAIRED AT MY COST THEN FOUND THIS RECALL NOTE. HOWEVER THE DEALER AND FORD BOTH CLAIN THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL FOR MY PARTICULAR VIN#. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE AS NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS NOT WORKING. IS THERE A WAY TO FIND OUT IF MY CAR IS COVERED BY THIS SAFETY ISSUE? FORD AND THE DEALER STATE THAT THEY DO NOT SHOW ANYTHING AND THAT THIS IS THE DEPARTMENT THAT CAN HELP OUT.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. JOHN MILLER. *AK

Mileage: 40,000

20030328POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

96 COBRA, I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION EITHER WORKED ON OR REPLACED 6 TIMES. IT WENT IN THE SHOP FOR IT'S SECOND NEW TRANSMISSION AND IT TOOK TWO TRANSMISSIONS BEFORE I GOT IT BACK. FROM TALKING WITH OTHER OWNERS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE COBRA'S WITH THE T-45 TRANSMISSION. *JB

Mileage: 45,000

20010829SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

CONSUMER PICKED VEHICLE UP AFTER NHTSA RECALL 01V121000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL #01S15 REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. DRIVING VEHICLE HOME CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER LETTING UP ON THE CLUTCH VEHICLE SWAYED LEFT AND RIGHT. DEALER WAS REFUSING TO FIX VEHICLE BECAUSE IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH RECALL WORK. *AK

20010614SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

THE CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE NUMBER OF RECALLS THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PLAGUED WITH. NLM

20010206PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V349, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR RECALL REPAIRS, THE CONSUMER DROPPED IT OFF, WHEN PICKING THE VEHICLE UP, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY RAN OUT OF PARTS AND IT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL DELAY. *SLC

Compare 1999FORDMUSTANG COBRA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 FORD MUSTANG COBRA have?
The 1999 FORD MUSTANG COBRA has 16 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 FORD MUSTANG COBRA?
The most-complained component for the 1999 FORD MUSTANG COBRA is SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE.
Is the 1999 FORD MUSTANG COBRA 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.