Ford Mustang / 1997
1997 Ford Mustang problems
Owners have filed 231 complaints about the 1997 Ford Mustang with NHTSA. Engine and engine cooling accounts for 17.3% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of power train at 13.9%.
Complaints231
Crashes20
Fires3
Injuries13
Deaths2
What owners report breaking
Engine and engine cooling 17.3% · 40
Power train 13.9% · 32
Service brakes, hydraulic 9.1% · 21
Seat belts 8.2% · 19
Parking brake 7.4% · 17
Suspension 6.5% · 15
Fuel system, gasoline 5.2% · 12
Unknown or other 4.8% · 11
Severity
Of those complaints, 20 describe a crash, 3 describe a fire, 13 report an injury and 2 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 30 model years of the Ford Mustang in this data, 1997 sits 20th by complaint volume. 2005 draws the most.
Filings are rising — 6 in the last three years against 3 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 100,110 miles.
In owners' own words
1. Spark plug wire clamps not staying connected to spark plugs causing arcing and damage to 5 spark plug wires. 2. Rupture of coolant crossover tube on front of intake manifold resulted in almost total loss of coolant on about a one block length of road at approximately 35mph. Recall 97m91 had been previously investigated (feb. 1999) With no damage found. Failure occurred in dec. 1999. Engine and engine cooling
This car was bought with an extended warranty which never honored by the dealer. Ford replaced (FIRED) the general manager of this dealership for dishonest practices. The car was purchased 5/97 with 13001 miles on it we picked up the extended warranty at time of purchase as per statement of general manager at the time. No safety defect listed in summary. Engine and engine cooling
While driving, vehicle began to overheat, the engine cooling fan caught on fire and exploded. Consumer purchased a new cooling fan but the vehicle continues to overheat and smoke. The service manager explained that the bearings had seized and the vehicle was in need of a new engine. There is a recall on said part but this vehicle is not included. Engine and engine cooling
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…
Other Ford Mustang years
1994 496 complaints · 38.7% engine and engine cooling 1995 829 complaints · 49.3% engine and engine cooling 1996 329 complaints · 28.3% engine and engine cooling 1998 297 complaints · 15.8% engine and engine cooling 1999 281 complaints · 12.1% engine and engine cooling 2000 427 complaints · 11.5% power train