1998 Ford MUSTANG problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
142 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
88,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 31 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 142 complaints (6.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 28 | 19.7% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 8.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 4.9% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 4.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 4.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 3.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 9 |
| Parking Brake:Conventional | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 7 |
| Parking Brake | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System | 5 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 9; Parking Brake:Conventional: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 7; Parking Brake: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System: 5; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 5; Air Bags: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 3
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 111 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 | 32 |
| 2001 | 39 |
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2000: 32; 2001: 39; 2002: 21; 2003: 9; 2004: 14; 2005: 7; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2009: 4; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 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 10064665 · 2004-03-23 (March 23, 2004)
THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVE WAY WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND IN GEAR. IT HIT A HOUSE AND TOTALED THE VEHICLE. *PH RECALL#434000 *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064665 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10451473 · 2012-03-13 (March 13, 2012)
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 FR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10451473 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093440 · 2004-10-01 (October 1, 2004)
I WAS INVOLVED IN A VERY BIZARRE ACCIDENT. ON AUGUST 10, 2004 AT 8:30 AM, I WAS GOING TO WORK USING THE HIGHWAY I REGULARLY USE EVERYDAY, HIGHWAY ONE IN PACIFICA, CALIFORNIA, LOCATED FOUR BLOCKS FROM MY HOME. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL. AS I WAS GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY ENTRANCE, GOING NO MORE THAN TWENTY MILES PER HOUR, AND AS I MADE MY WAY DOWN THE RAMP A FEW INCHES, MY CAR STARTED SWAYING BACK AND FORTH. PULLING ME RIGHT, AND THEN TO THE LEFT. I WAS NOT DISTRACTED, PREOCCUPIED, NOR ON A CELL PHONE. I WAS LOOKING AT THE ROAD STRAIGHT AHE…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093440 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10102873 · 2004-12-13 (December 13, 2004)
I HIT A TREE AFTER DRIVING OFF THE ROAD AND THE CAR BECAME INGULFED IN FLAMES AND SOON BURNED THE CAR TO NUTHING BUT STRAIGHT METAL LOSS OF EVERYTHING EVEN RIMS WERE MELTED AND WINDOWS TOO ALL THAT WAS LEFT WAS HARD METAL SURFACES I WAS ALMOST BURNED ALIVE PLUS THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED TO LATE AND MY HEAD ACTUALLY IMPACTED THE STEERING WHEEL BREAKING MY NOSE AND SPLITTING MY FOREHEAD OPEN AND ALMOST LOST MY LEFT EYE DUE TO THE IMPACT THE SEATBELT WORKED TOO GOOD IT SPERATED MY LEFT SHOULDER AND BROKE MY COLLAR BONE STRETCHING ALL MY TENDONS IN MY L…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10102873 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038574 · 2003-09-10 (September 10, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038574 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055397 · 2004-01-20 (January 20, 2004)
CONSUMER NOTICED WHEN PARKING ON A HILL OR FLAT LAND VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF REVERSE AND ROLLED FORWARD. DEALERSHIP SERVICED VEHICLE, AND NOTICED SHIFTER FORK WAS WORN OUT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10055397 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055721 · 2004-01-23 (January 23, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLED, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC. PLEASE ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10055721 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090056 · 2004-08-30 (August 30, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE ACCELERATING, THEN STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED BY VIN OR UNDER WARRANTY. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT PART NUMBER F8A2-9424-BC, NOTIFICATION #97M91 FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS RECALLED. MECHANIC INSISTED THAT RECALL WAS NOT FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020966 · 2003-06-03 (June 3, 2003)
THE FIRST TIME THE CAR JUST QUITE ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHILE WE WERE ON VACATION. THE SECOND TIME IT LOST POWER AND WAS STARTING VERY HARD (10 TO 15 SEC. TO START). BOTH TIMES IT WAS LOSS OF FUEL PRESSURE AND NEEDED A FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY. THE FUEL PUMP ITS SELF WAS FINE, BUT A SMALL CLEAR FLEXIBLE HOSE THAT ATTACHES FROM THE FUEL PUMP/BASKET ASSEMBLY IN THE GAS TANK TO THE LID THAT BOLTS ON THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK RUBS AGAINST VARIOUS PARTS INSIDE THE GAS TANK AND WEARS A HOLE IN IT. SINCE THIS ESTIMATED $2 ITEM CANN…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020966 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022874 · 2003-06-11 (June 11, 2003)
VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO START. TOOK IT TO DEALER, AND THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP 5 TIMES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022874 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10281739 · 2009-08-25 (August 25, 2009)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10281739 at NHTSA ↗