FORD MUSTANG GT · model year

1998 FORD MUSTANG GT

58 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998FORDMUSTANG GT carries 58 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 4 fires, 3 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 1998 MUSTANG GT is engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe with 14 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (12) and engine and engine cooling:cooling system (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 177 investigation files overlapping the 1998 MUSTANG GT, and 8 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.

58
Complaints
2
Crashes
4
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

58 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE12
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING8
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR1
SUSPENSION1
STRUCTURE1
TIRES:SIDEWALL1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP1
INTERIOR LIGHTING1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD1

Recent Complaints

20130909SEAT BELTS

PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILING EXTENDED AND LOCKED. UNUSABLE *TR

Mileage: 150,000

20120202ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND LEAKED COOLANT ONTO THE ENGINE AND OTHER RELATED COMPONENTS. CAR DIED ON FREEWAY. THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKS. THE COOLANT WILL LEAK ONTO THE TOP OF THE BLOCK AND THEN DOWN THE BACK OF THE ENGINE. THIS INTAKE DESIGN IS A KNOWN DEFECT BY FORD. BELOW IS AN "OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER" FROM FORD: 97M91 APRIL, 1999 FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS PROVIDING A NO-CHARGE SERVICE PROGRAM NUMBER 97M91, TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN 1996 THROUGH 1998 CROWN VICTORIA TAXI, TOWN CAR LIMO PREP & DELIVERY PACKAGE, 1996 AND 1997 THUNDERBIRD, COUGAR AND MUSTANG VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.6L SOHC ENGINES. THIS SERVICE PROGRAM PROVIDES ADDITIONAL COVERAGE FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. REASON FOR THIS PROGRAM FATIGUE CRACKS MAY DEVELOP IN SOME OF THE COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLDS USED ON THE 4.6L SOHC ENGINES INSTALLED IN THE AFFECTED CARS. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN ENGINE COOLANT LEAKAGE WHICH, IF NOT DETECTED OR IGNORED, WILL CAUSE ENGINE OVERHEATING. COMPLETE LOS

20100903ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65MPH, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, SPRAYING COOLANT AND STEAM FROM THE HOT ENGINE OUT THE BACK OF THE HOOD. THIS COVERED THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING ME TO LOSE ALL VISIBILITY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, HAD THERE BEEN SOMETHING IN FRONT OF ME, I WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I SEE THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS RECALLS FOR THE SAME PART/ENGINE ON OTHER YEARS AND VEHICLES. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACES IT, WITH AN UPDATED VERSION TO AVOID FAILURE, AT A COST OF $900.00. IF IT IS RECALLED ON ONE CAR, WHY NOT THE REST. IT IS THE SAME PART NUMBER AND THE SAME ENGINE, IT SHOULDN'T MATTER WHAT MODEL VEHICLE IT IS IN. SOMEDAY THERE WILL BE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS. *TR

Mileage: 138,000

20100903VISIBILITY

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65MPH, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, SPRAYING COOLANT AND STEAM FROM THE HOT ENGINE OUT THE BACK OF THE HOOD. THIS COVERED THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING ME TO LOSE ALL VISIBILITY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, HAD THERE BEEN SOMETHING IN FRONT OF ME, I WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I SEE THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS RECALLS FOR THE SAME PART/ENGINE ON OTHER YEARS AND VEHICLES. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACES IT, WITH AN UPDATED VERSION TO AVOID FAILURE, AT A COST OF $900.00. IF IT IS RECALLED ON ONE CAR, WHY NOT THE REST. IT IS THE SAME PART NUMBER AND THE SAME ENGINE, IT SHOULDN'T MATTER WHAT MODEL VEHICLE IT IS IN. SOMEDAY THERE WILL BE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS. *TR

Mileage: 138,000

20100903ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65MPH, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, SPRAYING COOLANT AND STEAM FROM THE HOT ENGINE OUT THE BACK OF THE HOOD. THIS COVERED THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING ME TO LOSE ALL VISIBILITY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, HAD THERE BEEN SOMETHING IN FRONT OF ME, I WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I SEE THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS RECALLS FOR THE SAME PART/ENGINE ON OTHER YEARS AND VEHICLES. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACES IT, WITH AN UPDATED VERSION TO AVOID FAILURE, AT A COST OF $900.00. IF IT IS RECALLED ON ONE CAR, WHY NOT THE REST. IT IS THE SAME PART NUMBER AND THE SAME ENGINE, IT SHOULDN'T MATTER WHAT MODEL VEHICLE IT IS IN. SOMEDAY THERE WILL BE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS. *TR

Mileage: 138,000

20071129ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE ON 1998 FORD MUSTANG GT / 4.6L / 2V PER CLASS ACTION SUIT US DISTRICT COURT / NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA. *TR

Mileage: 68,700

20071127FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD MUSTANG GT. APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER PARKING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND TO A NEIGHBORING HOME; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF UPDATED 03/04/08 *TR

Mileage: 140,000

20071009FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

MY COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO THE 05N04 RECALL ON MY MOTHERS 1998 FORD MUSTANG. LAST FRIDAY MY 80 YEAR MOTHER GOT LOST AND I SENT MY NIECE TO PICK HER UP, AND ON THEIR WAY HOME THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND DIED, MY NIECE THINKING QUICKLY TURNED THE CAR INTO FIRE STATION AND WAS ABLE TO GET HELP FAST. I THANK GOD MY MOTHER WAS NOT DRIVING WHEN THE HOOD FIRE STARTED, SHE WOULD HAVE WRECKED FOR SURE. I THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED TO WALT'S AUTO CARE THE NEXT DAY, WHICH WAS ON SATURDAY AND TESTS WERE RUN TO FIND THE REASON WHY THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF PRIOR WARNING FROM THE CAR OBC. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THEN WE WERE INFORMED OF THE RECALL NOTICE AND TOLD THAT IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL NOTICE. HOWEVER, WE RECEIVED A CALL MONDAY FROM WALT'S STATING THAT THEY COULD NOT DO THE WORK AND THAT THEY HAD THE CAR TOWED TO ANOTHER SERVICE STATION NAMED RENTON AUTO REPAIR. I WAS CONTACTED BY THEM TO FIND OUT WHO WOULD BE PAYING FOR THE SERVICE REPAIRS AND IT WAS THEN I INFORMED

Mileage: 47,000

20071009FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

MY COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO THE 05N04 RECALL ON MY MOTHERS 1998 FORD MUSTANG. LAST FRIDAY MY 80 YEAR MOTHER GOT LOST AND I SENT MY NIECE TO PICK HER UP, AND ON THEIR WAY HOME THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND DIED, MY NIECE THINKING QUICKLY TURNED THE CAR INTO FIRE STATION AND WAS ABLE TO GET HELP FAST. I THANK GOD MY MOTHER WAS NOT DRIVING WHEN THE HOOD FIRE STARTED, SHE WOULD HAVE WRECKED FOR SURE. I THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED TO WALT'S AUTO CARE THE NEXT DAY, WHICH WAS ON SATURDAY AND TESTS WERE RUN TO FIND THE REASON WHY THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF PRIOR WARNING FROM THE CAR OBC. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THEN WE WERE INFORMED OF THE RECALL NOTICE AND TOLD THAT IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL NOTICE. HOWEVER, WE RECEIVED A CALL MONDAY FROM WALT'S STATING THAT THEY COULD NOT DO THE WORK AND THAT THEY HAD THE CAR TOWED TO ANOTHER SERVICE STATION NAMED RENTON AUTO REPAIR. I WAS CONTACTED BY THEM TO FIND OUT WHO WOULD BE PAYING FOR THE SERVICE REPAIRS AND IT WAS THEN I INFORMED

Mileage: 47,000

20070929ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

SPARK PLUG SHOT OUT OF MY MUSTANG ENGINE THE DEALER SAID THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I PAID FOR THE REPAIRS TWICE AND THEN AGAIN FOR A 3RD TIME. IT SHOT OUT ON THE ROAD AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *JB

Mileage: 20

20070423ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE CONTACT SMELLED ANTI- FREEZE. THE CONTACT DID NOT REMEMBER IF THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON OR NOT. AFTER REMOVING THE THERMOSTAT SHE NOTICED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,427. *AK

Mileage: 94,000

20070419ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

OWNED CAR FOR OVER 5 YRS. ALMOST PAID OFF. DISCOVERED COOLANT LEAK. PUT IN NEW WATER PUMP, NEW PULLEYS, NEW THERMOSTAT, NEW THERMOSTAT HOUSING, NEW HOSES. ONLY TO DISCOVER THE JUNK PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD IS CRACKED. NOW I FOUND OUT BY SEARCHING THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON MY YEAR OF CAR. FORD IS AWARE OF SAID PROBLEM DUE TO CRAPPY ENGINEERING AND REFUSES TO MAKE IT RIGHT WITH CONSUMERS. THEY MADE IT RIGHT WITH THE FLEET CARS THAT ARE 1998'S AND CARS OTHER THAN MY YEAR. *TR

20070128ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

1) PLASTIC MANIFOLD STARTED LEAKING. NO WARNING. 2) DUMPED ALL COOLANT ON MOTOR AND LEFT ME STRANDED. 3) WILL HAVE TO REPLACE AT A COST OF OVER $900. *NM

Mileage: 100,000

20061109ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CRACKED COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLD COOLANT CROSSOVER RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAK. MANIFOLD BEING REPLACED WITH NEW ALUMINUM MANIFOLD. I SUBSEQUENTLY BECAME AWARE OF SETTLEMENT IN CHAMBERLAN V. FORD. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF SETTLEMENT AND MY VEHICLE WAS PAST THE 7 YEAR LIMIT AT THE TIME OF THE SETTLEMENT. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD EXTEND COVERAGE. *JB

Mileage: 61,250

20061019ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

LAST YEAR I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT. I HEARD NOTHING ELSE AFTERWARD, AND HAVE ONLY JUST REALIZED THAT I MISSED THE MARCH 16, 2006 DEADLINE. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF CAN DO IN THIS INSTANCE? *NM

20061017ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

1998 FORD MUSTANG GT INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. MISSED THE SILENT RECALL BY 6 MONTHS. *NM

Mileage: 60,000

20061015ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

FORD RECALL PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS.I HAVE PURCHASED A 1998 MUSTANG FROM A NON FORD DEALER THERE IS A DEFINITE LEAKING INTAKE ON THIS MOTOR,I HAVE CONTACTED A FORD DEALER IN MY AREA THEY SAID THE RECALL TIME HAS EXPIRED.THE PLACE OF PURCHASE AND MY SELF NEW OF NO RECALL UNTILL I STARTED LOOKING ON THE INTERNET,AND STARTED TO KEEP ADDING ANTIFREEZE TO THE SYSTEM,YOU CAN SEE THE LEAKING INTAKE,

Mileage: 82,000

20060822ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MY 98 GT MUSTANG PLASTIC RADIATOR INTAKE HAS RUPTURED AT 89,000 MILES. IT SEEMS ALL OF FORD'S EQUIPPED WITH FORD'S 4.6L V-8 CONTAIN AN INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT IS PRONE TO FAILURE. DUE TO ORIGINAL DESIGN, THIS PART HAS A TENDENCY TO CRACK RESULTING IN SOMETIMES OVER HEATING, ENGINE FAILURE AND WORSE CASE DAMAGE TO OTHER PARTS OF THE CAR'S ENGINE. FORD RECOGNIZES THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT RECALL MOST CARS OTHER THAN FLEET VEHICLES AND THOSE LISTED IN THE TSB #97M91. 1. 1998 MUSTANG WAS OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. 2. WHEN CAR WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP THE MECHANIC NOTICED A CRACK IN THE MANIFOLD AND ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER. IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT IF THIS PART WAS NOT CORRECTED ENGINE FAILURE COULD OCCUR DUE TO COOLANT LOSS RESULTING IN SEVERE DAMAGE. 3. CAR WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND I GAVE THEM THE TSB #97M91 AND TOLD THEM TO REPLACE THE PART. 1998 MUSTANG WAS NOT LISTED AND THE CAR AND CAN'T BE FIXED AT DEALER'S COST ONLY CONSUME

Mileage: 89,500

20060512ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

FORD MOTOR COMPANY SETTLED THE LAWSUIT WITH THE DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT WAS TO CRACKING BUT DID NOT INCLUDE ALL VEHICLES AND I HAPPEN TO BE ONE OF THEM. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PARTS. THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTIES OR SEVEN YEARS BUT ONLY AFTER A CERTAIN DATE AND MANY FORD OWNERS WERE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD. THEY SHOULD REPLACE ALL OF THEM NO MATTER WHAT!! *NM

Mileage: 94,000

20050922ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

AFTER SERVICE OF MY 4.6 MUSTANG GT, MY CAR BEGAN MISSING AND I HAD THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPLETE IT REPORTED A MISFIRE ON PLUG 7 & 8, SO I HAD THE PLUGS REPLACED. DURING THE REPLACEMENT, I SAW COOLANT UNDER BOTH THE 7 & 8 PLUG. THE MISFIRE CONTINUES, AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD FAILED AND THAT THERE IS NO REMEDY FOR THE CONSUMER EVEN THOUGH FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS A KIT TO SELL TO THE CONSUMER FOR 900+ DOLLARS. FLEET CARS TAXI, CROWN VIC'S USED BY SHERIFF DEPARTMENTS WERE CLEARED FOR REPLACEMENT, BUT NO THE CONSUMER CIVILIAN. WHAT SENSE DOES THAT MAKE? IF THE ENGINEERING IS BAD, AND IT IS, THE REPLACEMENT SHOULD BE FOR ALL OWNERS OF THE 4.6 LITER ENGINE. HOW IS THE SEGREGATION OF FLEET CARS FROM PERSONAL USE VEHICLES LEGAL IN THIS COUNTRY? EVERYONE WHO OWNS THESE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE A REPLACEMENT MADE AVAILABLE REGARDLESS OF WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, AND WHAT OTHER DAMAGE CAN I EXPECT TO FIND? WILL THIS HAVE A DAISY CHAIN

Mileage: 96,203

Compare 1998FORDMUSTANG GT to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 FORD MUSTANG GT have?
The 1998 FORD MUSTANG GT has 58 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 4 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 FORD MUSTANG GT?
The most-complained component for the 1998 FORD MUSTANG GT is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE with 14 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM.
Is the 1998 FORD MUSTANG GT 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.