1997 Ford Mustang: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 231 complaints
231
Total Complaints
100,110mi
Median Mileage
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
Top Issue
20
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

67,499 25th Percentile
100,110 Median Mileage
114,062 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
15
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
13
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
12
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
12
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
11
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
9
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
9
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
8
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
6

Severity Assessment

20
Crashes
3
Fires
13
Injuries
2
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND ACCELERATED TO SPEEDS OF 35 TO 40MPH 0WITHOUT ANY REASON, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *AK"
"SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-12MPH WHEN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT BECAME LOOSE, CAUSING THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL TO FALL OFF, AND THE VEHICLE DROPPING TO THE GROUND. *AK"
"SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-12MPH WHEN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT BECAME LOOSE, CAUSING THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL TO FALL OFF, AND THE VEHICLE DROPPING TO THE GROUND. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28