1998 Ford MUSTANG: complaints, problems and recalls

BOTH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS HAVE BEGUN TO FAIL TO OPERATE. IT TAKES AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF COAXING TO CAUSE THE SEALT BELTS TO RETRACT, IF AT ALL. THE PASSENGER SIDE RETRACTOR IS THE WORSE OF THE TWO AND IS USED FAR, FAR LESS. THIS LEADS ME TO BELEIVE IT IS NOT A SIMPLE WEAR AND TEAR FROM USE ISSUE.

Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000842 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 1998 FORD MUSTANG COUPE, EVER SINCE, I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE MY SEAT BELTS CONTINUED TO LOCK UP. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT FINALLY GAVE UP AND IS NO LONGER USEFUL. ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2001 FORD MUSTANG COUPE, AND DEALING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010459 at NHTSA ↗

PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM DISABLES MY IGNITION (IT SEEMS) SOMETIMES WHEN I PUT MY KEY IN TO START THE CAR. THE ALARM LIGHT BLINKS RAPIDLY AND IF I TAKE OUT MY KEY AND RE INSERT IT, I WILL HEAR A SMALL NOISE LIKE A MECHANISM RESETTING AND THEN MY CAR WILL START. 3 ATTEMPTS TO PUT ON DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE..FAILED TO DIAGNOSE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019060 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

CONSUMER STATES WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ON HIGH THEY FAIL. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024942 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLES MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL, HAZARD LIGHTS AND THE RIGHT FRONT PARKING LAMP TO FAIL. *CB *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10027062 at NHTSA ↗

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038574 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-10-30 (October 30, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. IF A VEHICLE IS PARKED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE NOT FULLY APPLIED AND NOT IN FIRST GEAR, AS DIRECTED IN THE OWNER GUIDE, AND THE SELF ADJUSTMENT PAWL SUBSEQUENTLY SKIPS ONE OR TWO TEETH, THE VEHICLE COULD MOVE ON SOME GRADES.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL AND INSTALL A PLATE OR OVER-BRACKET TO THE CONTROL TO LOCK THE SELF ADJUST MECHANISM IN POSITION FOLLOWING ADJUSTMENT.

Reported: 1997-09-30 (September 30, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI-VANS. THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEARS MAY HAVE DAMAGED INPUT SHAFT BEARINGS.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN INCREASE STEERING EFFORTS, AFFECTING STEERING CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE ON THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR, AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THOSE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLIES THAT FALL WITHIN THE SUSPECT DATE CODE RANGE. THE DATE CODES FOR WINDSTAR MODEL VEHICLES ARE 97JB09 OR 97JC08; THE DATE CODES FOR MUSTANG MODEL VEHICLES ARE 97J09B OR 97J08B.

Reported: 1997-11-24 (November 24, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.6L ENGINES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAS MISSING OR INADEQUATE BRAZE JOINTS BETWEEN THE FUEL RAIL BODY AND THE FUEL RAIL MOUNTING BRACKET(S).

Consequence: IF THE BRACKET SEPARATES FROM THE RAIL, THE RAIL CAN LIFT ONE OR MORE OF THE INJECTORS, AND FUEL LEAKAGE WILL RESULT. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL RAIL ON THESE VEHICLES.

Reported: 1999-03-30 (March 30, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1997-1999 RHD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MAY 29, 1996 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEERS EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC OR 5.0L ENGINES OR 1998-1999 RANGERS EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L, 3.0L FFV/EFI OR 4.0L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM JANUARY 5, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 MUSTANGS EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L, 4.6L 2-VALVE OR 4-VALVE ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1999 F250/F350/F450/F550 (OVER 8,500 LBS.) TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; AND 1999 F-53 STRIPPED CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999. A CRUISE CONTROL CABLE CAN INTERFERE WITH THE SPEED CONTROL SERVO PULLEY AND NOT ALLOW THE THROTTLE TO RETURN TO IDLE WHEN DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL.

Consequence: IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS USED AND THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT, A STUCK THROTTLE COULD RESULT, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLES. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE REPLACEMENT CABLES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. CUSTOMERS ARE BEING ADVISED NOT TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM UNTIL A REPLACEMENT CAN BE MADE.