1999 Ford MUSTANG COBRA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
42,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 14 complaints (21.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 14.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 7.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 7.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 3 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Parking Brake:Conventional | 1 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 1 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm | 1 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint | 1 |
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 3; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 2; Electrical System: 1; Parking Brake:Conventional: 1; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 1; Suspension:Front:Control Arm: 1; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
2001: 3; 2003: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10013585 · 2003-03-28 (March 28, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013585 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021168 · 2003-06-06 (June 6, 2003)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021168 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057842 · 2004-02-10 (February 10, 2004)
FRONT END SHOOK DUE TO DEFECTIV EBALL JOINTS, AND BLUE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057842 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068169 · 2004-05-02 (May 2, 2004)
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 ILLUMINA…
Owner-reported narrative. 64,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068169 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121054 · 2005-05-16 (May 16, 2005)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129857 · 2005-07-24 (July 24, 2005)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129857 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131851 · 2005-08-07 (August 7, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 41,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131851 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152589 · 2006-03-13 (March 13, 2006)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152589 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
01V121000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
Reported: 2001-04-11 (April 11, 2001)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY IN THE REAR KNUCKLE, WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHES, IS DISPLACED LONGITUDINALLY FROM ITS INSTALLED POSITION, IT CAN CAUSE HIGHER STRESS LEVELS IN THE KNUCKLE CASTING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CASTING COULD FRACTURE, ALLOWING THE CORNER OF THE VEHICLE TO DROP, AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM COULD CONTACT THE INSIDE OF THE REAR WHEEL.
Consequence: IN SOME CASES, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE REDUCED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 19, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA campaign record ↗