Ford MUSTANG GT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
694 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 to 2006 model years. Data snapshot: . 507 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 116 of 694 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 105 | 15.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 45 | 6.5% |
| Steering behavior | 44 | 6.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 38 | 5.5% |
| Engine operation | 33 | 4.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 23 | 3.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 116 |
| Electrical System | 70 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 60 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 49 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 43 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 35 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 26 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 25 |
Air Bags: 116; Electrical System: 70; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 60; Engine And Engine Cooling: 49; Vehicle Speed Control: 43; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 35; Fuel System, Gasoline: 26; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 25
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 138 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 108 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 101 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 88 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 61 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 138; 25,000 to 49,999: 108; 50,000 to 74,999: 101; 75,000 to 99,999: 88; 100,000 to 149,999: 61; 150,000 and above: 11
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (138). 187 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 74 |
| 2004 | 68 |
| 2005 | 52 |
| 2006 | 55 |
| 2007 | 50 |
| 2008 | 47 |
| 2009 | 28 |
| 2010 | 49 |
| 2011 | 36 |
| 2012 | 24 |
| 2013 | 21 |
| 2014 | 29 |
| 2015 | 22 |
| 2016 | 24 |
| 2017 | 63 |
| 2018 | 33 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2000: 3; 2001: 4; 2002: 9; 2003: 74; 2004: 68; 2005: 52; 2006: 55; 2007: 50; 2008: 47; 2009: 28; 2010: 49; 2011: 36; 2012: 24; 2013: 21; 2014: 29; 2015: 22; 2016: 24; 2017: 63; 2018: 33; 2019: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 105 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 45 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 44 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10161467 · 2006-07-05 (July 5, 2006)
ON 4/12/06 I WAS GOING WESTBOUND TOWARD TACOMA, I MADE A LEFT TURN INTO A HIGHWAY DIVIDE TO CROSS TRAFFIC TO GO TO THE DOCTORS OFFICE. TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY BECAUSE OF THE TIME OF DAY. SO I DECIDED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND GO ANOTHER DIRECTION. I WAITED FOR TRAFFIC SO I COULD PROCEED. I MADE A LEFT HAND TURN INTO TRAFFIC AND IT FELT LIKE MY CAR 1996 MUSTANG, FISHTAILED (SUNNY DAY DRY PAVEMENT) SO I TRIED TO CORRECT IT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND THE CAR TOOK OFF, SO I PROCEEDED TO STEP ON THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD BUT IT MADE NO DI…
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161467 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081941 · 2004-07-14 (July 14, 2004)
VEHICLE'S ENGINE STARTED RACING AND BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND TO STOP VEHICLE.*MR THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC WHO DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE CONSUMER HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANYMORE PROBLEMS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10081941 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131024 · 2005-08-02 (August 2, 2005)
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM I BOUGHT A LOT OF NEW PARTS FOR THIS CAR TO TRY AND KEEP IT COOLED DOWN EVERYTHING THERE IS TO BUY I WAS FINELY TOLD BY THE SHOP THAT WORKS ON THE CAR I SHOULD CHECK WITH FORD BECAUSE IF THEY DID ANYMORE WORK ON MY CAR IT COULD BECOME UP IN THE THOUSANDS AND THAT FORD SHOULD BE PAYING THE BILL OR RECALL THE WHOLE CAR THERE IS A LOT OF MILES ON MY CAR BUT I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT AND AS MANY PARTS I BUY AND AS MANY TIMES THAT IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP ALMOST EVERYTHING ON THE CAR IS NEW I HAVE TRIED EVERY…
Owner-reported narrative. 122,441 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023115 · 2003-06-16 (June 16, 2003)
1999 FORD MUSTANG GT- AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ENGINE STALLS INSTEAD OF IDLING WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED, COMES TO REST OR DURING LOW SPEED MANEUVERS. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023115 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10433866 · 2011-11-01 (November 1, 2011)
AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROX. 15MPH, I HEARD A LOUD POP/CRACK COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AT THIS TIME THE CAR STARTED TO DRIFT OFF TO THE RIGHT AND ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT TO COMPENSATE FOR THE CHANGE AND THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO TURN IN A 360 DEGREE ROTATION WITH NO CONTROL OF THE TIRES. AT THIS TIME I FELT SOMETHING HIT MY SHOE FROM ABOVE THE GAS PEDAL AND I REALIZED THAT SOMETHING HAD BROKE CAUSING ME TO HAVE ABSOLUTE NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. AFTE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10433866 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10097074 · 2004-10-18 (October 18, 2004)
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE DRIVER OPENED THE HOOD AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10097074 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 873958 · 2000-10-26 (October 26, 2000)
BATTERY WAS CHARGING BECAUSE AMP WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY. VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE JUMPED. DEALER REPLACED AMP, AND THEY SAID IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. VEHICLE WOULD GET STUCK IN REVERSE. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. MANAGEMENT A DEALERSHIP SAID IT WILL HAPPEN TIME TO TIME.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 873958 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037023 · 2003-09-02 (September 2, 2003)
99 FORD MUSTANG GT OTH FRONT SEATBELTS DO NOT RETRACT BACK INTO REEL. NEED TO BE FED BACK INTO REEL.AR STALLS SOMETIMES FOR NO REASON ON HIGHWAY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 38,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037023 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061989 · 2004-03-12 (March 12, 2004)
ON 2/3/04 I FILLED UP THE GAS TANK ON MY 1997 FORD MUSTANG GT. I THEN DROVE 2-3 MILES TO WORK. ON THE WAY TO WORK I SMELLED A GASOLINE ODOR. WHEN I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT OF MY OFFICE THE SMELL WAS VERY STRONG. UPON EXITING MY CAR I SAW GASOLINE STREAMING OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO GWINNETT PLACE FORD. THEY CALLED BACK AND TOLD ME THAT THE GROMMET WHERE THE FILLER NECK ENTERS THE GAS TANK HAD DRY ROTTED AND FAILED. THIS REPAIR COST OVER $300 EXCLUDING TOWING. HAD SOMEONE BEHIND MY CAR TOSSED OUT A CIGARETT…
Owner-reported narrative. 97,397 miles reported. Look up ODI 10061989 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165611 · 2006-08-16 (August 16, 2006)
FILLED GAS TANK ON A 2000 FORD MUSTANG GT, FUEL WAS LEAKING NECK FILLER INLET SIDE, WAS NOT AWARE LEAKING FUEL TILL MY NEIGHBORS NOTIFIED ME. CALLED FORD DEALERSHIP TO ASK IF A THERE WAS A RECALL, NO RECALL AT ALL. TOOK VEHICLE FOR SERVICE AND NECK FILLER WAS REPLACED. THEY HAD NO CLUE WHAT CAUSED A NECK FILLER TO GO BAD. FORD SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS FOR SAFETY REASONS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10165611 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 |
1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 1; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0; 2004: 0; 2005: 0; 2006: 0