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1998 Ford MustangProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 236 owner complaints about the 1998 Ford Mustang, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 4 safety recalls.

44
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.3× the Mustang median · #13 of 41 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Free fix at dealersOwner complaints23678 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage99kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 22, 2021. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1998 Ford Mustang has problems

236 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling405
Fuel system, gasoline293
Steering226
Power train211
Vehicle speed control187
Seat belts186
Parking brake175
Suspension164
Air bags1511
16 other systems7818

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

4 recalls

1998 Ford Mustang recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Parking brake: conventional

Recall 00V-349 · Oct 30, 2000 · 434,000 vehicles

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

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Vehicle speed control

Recall 99V-062 · Mar 30, 1999 · 898,739 vehicles

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

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system

Recall 97V-216 · Nov 24, 1997 · 8,000 vehicles

Risk. IF THE BRACKET SEPARATES FROM THE RAIL, THE RAIL CAN LIFT ONE OR MORE OF THE INJECTORS, AND FUEL LEAKAGE WILL RESULT.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.

Best & worst years

1998 vs. every other Mustang year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Mustang median. How we score

'67'68'69'70'71'72'73'74'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1998 Ford Mustang safety ratings

1998 Ford Mustang 2-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

1998 Ford Mustang frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
1998 Ford Mustang side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1998 Ford Mustang, and the recalls they led to.

  1. SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEADDP05005 · closed Jan 4, 2006
    No recall
  2. FIRES IN THE CENTER CONSOLEPE99029 · closed Jul 27, 1999
    No recall
In owners' words

What Mustang owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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…
Complaint 10281739 · Aug 25, 2009
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED, ANTIFREEZE LEAKED HEAVILY FROM THE VEHICLE. A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE HEARD, AND THE HOOD RAISED SLIGHTLY AS IF IT WAS NOT…
Complaint 10166842 · Aug 29, 2006 · 85,000 miles
DT: 1998 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONSUMER STATES THE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS CRACKED. THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING AND THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING HOT. THE ENGINE COOLANT WOULD RUN OUT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THE CONSUMER CALLED FORD. THERE WAS A CLASS…
Complaint 10134205 · Aug 25, 2005

Own a 1998 Mustang?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.