1998 Ford Mustang: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 297 complaints
297
Total Complaints
90,000mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
Top Issue
52
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

78,840 25th Percentile
90,000 Median Mileage
113,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
17
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
15
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
10
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
8
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
8
PARKING BRAKE
7
AIR BAGS
7
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
7
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
7

Severity Assessment

52
Crashes
12
Fires
41
Injuries
1
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER CONTACTED DEALER FOR APPOINTMENT IN DECEMBER, NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO REMEDY RECALL PROBLEM. RECALL 97V216000. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK"
"TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF GEAR/STICKS IN GEAR."
"UPON IMPACT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AFTER THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE AIR BAG FINALLY DEPLOYED, IT CAUSED THE DRIVER'S HEAD TO GO INTO THE WINDSHIELD . THE DRIVE SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES TO THE HEAD. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *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