1997 Ford MUSTANG GT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
23 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
85,101 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 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 6 of 23 complaints (26.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 17.4% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly | 1 |
| Parking Brake:Conventional | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly: 1; Parking Brake:Conventional: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 5 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 | 1 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2003: 6; 2004: 6; 2005: 5; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns 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 10036925 · 2003-08-31 (August 31, 2003)
CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038854 · 2003-09-14 (September 14, 2003)
CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. PART ON THIS HIGH PERFORMANCE CAR IS MADE OF PLASTIC. THERE ARE NUMEROUS WEB SITES THAT STATE FORD IS AWARE AND HAS MADE REPAIRS FOR THIS IN THE PAST. THERE IS NO RECALL NOT 'PROGRAM' THAT FORD HAS FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT. ALL WILL FAIL AT SOME TIME. A MECHANIC RECOMMENDED TO CONTACT FORD RATHER THAN PAY HIM TO REPAIR AS FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS PAID FOR REPAIRS IN THE PAST. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038854 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039526 · 2003-09-25 (September 25, 2003)
MANUAL TANSMISSION. NO 5TH OR REVERSE. CLUTCH/TRANMISSION MESSED UP WHILE ON INTERSTATE.
Owner-reported narrative. 59,138 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039526 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049375 · 2003-12-07 (December 7, 2003)
I WAS DRIVING MY 1997 FORD MUSTANG GT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE COOLANT LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE WHOLE COCKPIT FILLED UP WITH SMOKE. UPON NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE AND THE COOLANT LIGHT TURNING ON I IMMEDIATELY HAD TO PULL OVER. AFTER TOWING THE CAR HOME I NOTICED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD DEVELOPED A CRACK AND ANTI-FREEZE WAS SPRAYED EVERYWHERE. AN INTAKE MANIFOLD IS A PART THAT SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF A CAR WITH PROPER MANUFACTURING. I DID SOME FURTHER RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT FOOD CHANGED THE MANIFOLD STYLE IN 1999 AND CHANGED TO A ALUMINUM FRONT…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,971 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049375 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051184 · 2003-12-27 (December 27, 2003)
INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING COOLANT TO BE SPRAYED ON ENGINE. A $245 EXPENSE JUST FOR THE PLASTIC PART THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN PUT INTO PRODUCTION, NOT TO MENTION THE SAFETY CONCERNS SHOULD THE CRACK HAD HAPPENED RAPIDLY AND STEAMED UP THE WINDSHIELD. HOWEVER, AFTER TRYING MULITPLE TIMES TO GET THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING TO QUIT LEAKING (USING RTV ON THE POORLY DESIGNED O-RING SEAL), MY SON NOTICED THE CRACK IN THE INTAKE NEXT TO ONE OF THE BOLT HOLES USED TO SECURE THE THERMOSTAT ELBOW. IT'S UNBELIEVABLE HOW SUCH A MATURE CAR COMPANY CAN P…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052227 · 2003-12-31 (December 31, 2003)
THE VEHICLE'S INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS CRACKED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THE PART CRACKED IN THE WRONG PLACE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052227 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056810 · 2004-02-09 (February 9, 2004)
I HAVE A 1997 FORD MUTANG GT WITH 106,000 MILES, AND FORD MADE IT CLEAR ABOUT A RECALL ON CRACKED PLASTIC MANIFOLDS. MY MANIFOLD IS CURRENTLY LEAKING AROUND THE PLASTIC INTAKE WHICH WAS CLEARLY ADDRESSED IN THE RECALL. I RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION FROM FORD. I THINK FORD SHOULD REPLACE THIS AT NO COST.
Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056810 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 ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.