1996 Ford Mustang

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/1997· STEERING

  STEERING FAILURE.

• 12/30/1997· SEAT BELTS

  DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED.

• 12/29/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  MY 1996 FORD MUSTANG HEAD GASTKETS HAVE GONE OUT. MY CAR HAS 87000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE HEARD THAT MANY 95 MUSTANGS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I BOUGHT MY CAR A YEAR AGO AND I BELEIVE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT COMPLETLY FIXED IN THE NEWER MODELS. I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE MY CAR IS A 96 IT WAS NOT COVERED BY FORD, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE NEW MODELS HAVE BEEN FIXED AND THAT THE HEAD GASTKET FAILURE WAS DUE TO MY "EXCESIVE WEAR" ON MY CAR.*AK

• 12/25/2001· SEAT BELTS

  SEAT BELT HAS BECOME FRAYED WHILE PASSING THROUGH RETRACTOR GUIDE. SEAT BELT TANGLES AND WILL NOT RETRACT DUE TO POOR GUIDE DESIGN. NUMEROUS DEALERS CONTACTED AND ADVISED ABOUT POSSIBLE SEAT BELT FAILURE AND LACK OF CRASH WORTHINESS. ALL HAVE SAID BELT IS OUT OF WARRANTY (PROBLEM FIRST NOTICED AT AROUND 60K MILES) AND THAT FORD WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACEMENT. WEAR ON BELT CAUSED BY RETRACTOR GUIDE, NOT USE OR ABUSE.

• 12/19/2002· SUSPENSION

  1996 FORD MUSTANG GT CONVT. ---REAR SWAY BAR BROKEN AT ATACH POINT ON RIGHT SIDE JUST AHEAD OF REAR AXLE. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN COLLISION, SNOW WHERE SALT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED CORROSION, DOESN'T HAVE ANY NOTICABLE CORROSION, AND SWAY BAR HAS NEVER COLLIDED WITH ANY ROAD HAZZARDS...IT JUST SNAPPED.

• 12/17/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I OWN A 96 MUSTANG GT THAT HAS A CRACKED INTAKE. WHY IS THE 96 EXCLUDED FROM BEING REPLACED UNDER THE LAWSUIT, WHENEVER THE INTAKES ARE THE SAME? THERE SHOULD NOT BE SO MANY CARS EXCLUDED FROM THIS,THAT HAVE THE SAME INTAKE AS THE ONES INCLUDED, IF FORD REALLY CARES ABOUT ITS BUYERS! *JB

• 12/17/1997· POWER TRAIN

  AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT WAS STUCK IN FIRST GEAR. *AK

• 12/14/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2005 WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY I EXPIRED A SUDDEN SPIKE IN TEMPERATURE ON MY 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP I WAS INFORMED THAT MY "PLASTIC" INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION AND HAD NEVER RECEIVED ANY SORT OF CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION FROM FORD. I HEARD ABOUT THE MANIFOLD ISSUE FROM A FELLOW EMPLOYEE. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS FOR THIS FAULTY MANIFOLD WAS $978.00. I FEEL IF THEY KNEW THEY NEEDED TO UPDATE IT WITH AN ALUMINUM MANIFOLD THAN THEY KNEW THE PLASTIC ONES WERE FAULTY.*JB

• 12/11/2000· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND VEHICLE VIBRATES DURING SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR (OVERDRIVE). THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS SLOWLY ACCELERATED TO HIGHWAY SPEED. *AK

• 12/11/2000· SUSPENSION

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HEARD METAL CLANKING SOUND, STOPPED AND NOTICED REAR SWAYBAR WAS BROKEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE. *AK

• 12/11/2000· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE ENGINE BRAKING, ENGINE STALLS WHEN DOWNSHIFTING. FIRST HAD THIS PROBLEM AT 1000 MILES. DEALER HAS ALWAYS CLAIMED THE ENGINE IS IN FINE OPERATING CONDITION.

• 12/11/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE VIBRATION WHEN USED AND NOISE WHEN NOT IN USE. BRAKE PEDAL IS SOMETIMES STIFF AND SOMETIMES VERY SOFT. DEALER HAS HAD IN TO FIX NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAS NEVER FIXED PROBLEM. *AK

• 12/07/2007· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  MY 1996 MERCURY VILLAGER DEVELOPED A FAILURE IN THE AIR FLOW SENSOR (PART $330) THAT RESULTED IN VEHICLE STALLS, INCLUDING STOPS ON THE HIGHWAY, THAT NEARLY RESULTED IN CRASHES. THE REQUIRED REPAIRS EXCEEDED $500. I KNOW FORD HAS A SIMILAR RECALL OUT NOW FOR THE 1997-2003 (/) MODELS). *TR

• 12/07/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. ANTIFREEZE STARTED TO POUR OUT OF THE MUFFLER. *AK

• 12/05/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGCrash

  ENGINE UNCONTROLLABLY REVVED UP. YOUR SOFTWARE REJECTS MY MAIL IF I DON'T FILL FALSE DATA INTO THE COLUMNS OF

• 12/05/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  NOISY TRANSMISSION; ALSO VEHICLE SVERVES WHEN ABS BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT HIGH SPEED/ SMALL OIL LEAK. *AK

• 12/05/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  POOR ABS PERFORMANCE DURING A PANIC STOP, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID. *AK

• 12/04/2012· ENGINE

  CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSED VAR TO OVERHEAT. *TR

• 12/04/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER STATES HER AUTO IS RUNNING HOT, AND SHE HAS TAKEN THE AUTO TO 4 MECHANICS AND EACH HAS SAID THAT THIS PART HAS BEEN ON RECALL. SHE ALSO STATES THAT HER AIR CONDITION AND DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK. SHE ALSO SAID SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE 95 AND 96 HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. TS

• 12/04/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE HEAD BROKE, CAUSING A LEAK. *AK

• 11/28/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE FIRST HEAD GASKETS BLEW AT 40,000 MILES AND WERE REPLACED AT MY COST, AND NOW, AGAIN, AT 80,000 MILES HEAD GASKETS ARE GOING BAD. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT'S PURCHASE, ALTHOUGH THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST FRUSTRATING AND COSTLY. THERE IS DEFINATELY A PROBLEM HERE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY FORD. THEY HAVE, THUS FAR, TURNED A DEAF EAR TO THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *AK

• 11/28/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE HAS BEEN MANY OTHER LISTINGS REGUARDING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK

• 11/27/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE INTAKE MANIFOLD STARTED LEAKING COOLANT, RESULTING IN THE WINDSHIELD TO INSTANTLY BECOME FOGGED AND UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY FORD TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF MY VEHICLE. *AK

• 11/26/1997· STEERING,SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,PARKING BRAKE

  FRONT END VIBRATES/SHAKES. IN ADDITION, BRAKES FAILED, PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. IN ADDITION, EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED/STEERING ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL IN EITHER DIRECTION. *AK

• 11/23/1998· EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SEAT BELTS

  BRAKE LIGHTS: THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THERE HAVE BEEN NO AFTERMARKET MODIFICATIONS TO ANY PART OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK ONLY WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS LIGHTLY PRESSED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THIS PROBLEM IS CURRENTLY BEING ADDRESSED BY THE DEALER, BUT SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. SEAT BELTS: THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DOESN'T RETRACT. THE BELT "HANGS LOOSELY" AFTER IT IS THE DRIVER TAKES IT OFF AND REQUIRES "EXCESSIVE" MANUAL ADJUSTMENT FOR A PROPER AND SAFE FIT. MILEAGE ODOMETER: THE MILEAGE ODOMETER DOESN'T WORK. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN BROKEN, BUT I NOTICED RECENTLY THAT IT STOPS OCCASIONALLY. AFTER REVIEWING MY DRIVING PATERNS I BELIEVE THAT THE ODOMETER MAY BE REPORTING MORE MILEAGE THAN I HAVE ACTUALLY PUT ON THE CAR (BUT I HAVE NO ABSOLUTE WAY TO PROVE THIS).

• 11/21/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID ABS UNIT WAS NOT WORKING.*AK

• 11/20/2000· TIRES

  I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 OF THESE TIRES AT A COST OF 685 DOLLARS TO MYSELF. THE TIRES ARE COMING APART AT WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL MUCH THE SAME AS THE FIRESTONE TIRES THAT ARE BEING RECALLED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO PAULS TIRES IN MARION INDIANA AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THEM BECAUSE FINCANNON FORD DID NOT BUY THE WARRANTY. I THEN TOOK THEM TO ANOTHER KELLY DEALER HERE IN MUNCIE. THEY CALLED KELLY AND KELLY DENIED ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS AND I WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPLACEMNET OF THE TIRES. THE FIRST ONES TO GO BAD WERE THE FRONT TIRES. NOW THE PASSENGER REAR IS DOING THE SAME THING. I WOULD THINK THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE AWARE THAT FIRESTONE IS NOT THE ONLY MANUFACTURER HAVING THIS SEPARATION PROBLEM. HAD I NOT HAVE BEEN PUTTING BRAKES ON THIS CAR I WOULD NOT HAVE EVEN NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WERE SEPARATING. MOST PEOPLE DO NOT LOOK AT THE TIRES ON THEIR CAR. (TIRESIZE: P255/40R17)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/40R17 )

• 11/19/1998· AIR BAGS

  DID YOU KNOW THAT AIR BAGS CONTAINED SODUIM AZIDE AND WHEN DETONATED WILL GIVE OFF THA TOXIC AND VERY HARMFUL SODIUM HYDROXIDE (CAUSTIC SODA) IM SURE THE PUBLIC WOULD NOT WANT TO INHALE THESE TOXIC VAPORS WITCH HAVE VERY HARMFUL OR FATIL RESULTS WHEN INHALED I WOULD APPRICATE YOUR IMEDIATE ATTION TO MY CONCERNS. CONCERN ABOUT AIR BAG SAFETY (OTHER THAN SHORT PERSON). ADDED ON 09-07-1999. *AK

• 11/18/1999· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE PLASTIC INTAKE? CRACKED FORD RECALL REPAIRED IT. 1ST DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED WAYNE MORRIS FORD IN PERRY, GA WOULD NOT HELP AT ALL. 2ND DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED WARNER ROBINS FORD FOUND THE RECALL AND REPAIRED IT A NO CHARGE. ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING/SHAKING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. I HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS WHICH HAS HELPED A LITTLE. BUT CAN NOT GET ANY ANSWERS OR A RESOLUTION FROM ANY MECHANIC TO DATE.

• 11/13/1998· AIR BAGS

  DURING VEHICLE COLLISION NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG.

• 11/13/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES TO A SPEED OF 40MPH AND APPLYING FOOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGINS TO VIBRATE. THIS HAPPENS ONLY WHEN DRIVING 40MPH. *AK

• 11/10/2008· POWER TRAIN,TIRES

  VIBRATION ON MY 1996 MUSTANG GT CONVERTIBLE BETWEEN 60-80 MPH TOOK TO DEALER SAID I NEEDED NEW TIRES BEFORE THEY COULD CHECK COULD NOT AFFORD THE TIRES AT THAT TIME GOT NEW TIRES AND BROUGHT TO DEALER AGAIN AND SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT WAS TOLD EARLIER THAT IT WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL TRIED TO ARGUE BUT THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME FOR A RECALL AND I GOT ANGRY AND LEFT!!!! CAN YOU HELP? *TR

• 11/10/1997· POWER TRAINCrash

  CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND UPON ACCELERATION THE REAR AXLE SEPARATED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN THE AXLE SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT THE DEALER. *AK

• 11/08/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  RE: SELECTIVE RECALL 97M91 FOR CRACKS IN INTAKE MANIFOLDS FOR: 1996-98 FORD CROWN VICTORIA THUNDERBIRD, COUGAR, AND MUSTANG.ITS SO UNFAIR THAT MANIFOLDS CRACKED AFTER DATE OF OWNER NOTIFICATION (MARCH, 1999) I AM A SUBSEQUENT OWNER; HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING UNTIL TODAY. *AK

• 11/07/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  APPEARS THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SUFFERED A COOLANT LEAK. IS THERE A RECALL AND WHAT ARE THE DETAILS. *AK

• 11/07/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  PLASTIC GASKET NOT ABLE TO HANDLE TO WITH STAND THE PRESSURE FROM THE COOLANT SYSTEM. MOST CARS DO NOT HAVE PLASTIC CYLINDER HEAD.

• 11/06/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN THE ABS BRAKES ARE APPLIED, VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND AROUND 55 MPH; ALSO REPLACED ROTORS. *AK

• 11/06/1996· SUSPENSION

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND; TOOK VEHICLE IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED, MECHANIC CHECKED IT, INFORMED OWNER THAT SWAY BAR WAS BROKEN. *AK

• 11/04/1997· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  BATTERY FAILED.

• 11/04/1997· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION FAILED.

• 10/29/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE OVERHEATS WITH AIR CONDITIONER ON IN CITY TYPE DRIVING ON WARM DAYS. *AK

• 10/29/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY OVERHEATS. *AK

• 10/29/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  RADIATOR FAILED, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. *AK

• 10/28/2007· PARKING BRAKE

  I READ ABOUT A RECALL FOR PARKING BRAKES FOR 1996 FORD MUSTANGS WITH MANUAL. I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC I BOUGHT ONLINE IN JANUARY 2007 THAT HAS PARKING BREAK ISSUES IT WONT KEEP THE CAR FORM MOVING. I HAD IT TOWED ONE TIME AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID IT WAS FAULTY. IS THE RECALL STILL AVAILABLE FOR AN AUTOMATIC? *TR

• 10/27/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER 1996 FORD MUSTANG INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. *TS THE CONSUMER FELT THAT FORD SHOULD COVER THE ENTIRE COST OF REPAIR PLUS THE MONIES SPENT ON BORROWING VEHICLES TO GET TO WORK. *SC

• 10/27/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  DEALER FIXED "HIDDEN RECALL" GASKET AFTER HEAD GASKET REPAIR - FRONT COVER GASKET - NO CHARGE FOR "HIDDEN RECALL" GASKET REPLACEMENT. I WONDER IF THE HEAD GASKET WAS REALLY THE PROBLEM OR IF THEY MADE A MISTAKE, FIXED THE WRONG THING AND THEN FIXED THE RIGHT THING FOR FREE. )AK

• 10/27/1999· STRUCTURE

  I HAVE HAD THE TOP REPLACED AND IT WAS NEVER ALLIGNED CORRECTLY, SO WHEN IT WENT DOWN IT WOULD GO DOWN AT AN ANGEL

• 10/27/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE MENTIONED GASKETS FAILED ON MY CAR ON 10-25-99 AND ON MY HUSBAND'S FORMER 1996 MUSTANG ON 2-2-99. I ALSO FOUND A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT IN YOUR FILES ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM (ODI ID# 544839 DATED 2-15-99). I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHEN I REALIZED I WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT MY HUSBAND'S CAR HAD, AND WAS TOLD FORD WOULD NOT OFFER ME ASSISTANCE WITH THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I AM 12,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY AND DO NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I TOLD THEM THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE AND ASKED TO SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR. I AM STILL WAITING FOR THEIR RETURN CALL. EVEN THE DEALER I TOOK IT TO (HOLLY FORD-HOLLY,MICHIGAN) SAID THAT THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO MY CAR W/THAT MILEAGE. I DON'T BELIEVE FORD IS GOING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITHOUT ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FROM ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS YOURSELF. I HAD TO PAY $489.00 TO REPAIR THESE DEFECTS, AND I WANT A FULL REFUND. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. YOU HAVE DOCUMENTATION FROM ONE CUSTOMER WITH THIS PROBLEM, AND I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH DOCUMENTATION THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH MY MUSTANG AND MY HUSBAND'S MUSTANG. HOPEFULLY YOU WILL BE ABLE TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER TO PROVE THIS DEFECT.

• 10/27/1997· INTERIOR LIGHTING

  OIL LIGHT STAYED ON AFTER PARKING ON AN INCLINE, DEALER HAS CLEANED SENSOR BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.

• 10/27/1997· STEERING

  STEERING COLUMN FAILED.