1997 Ford Mustang Fuel system Problems
- Complaints
- 15about this part
- Share
- 9%of 176 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 89,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 15 complaints about the fuel system of the 1997 Ford Mustang, 9% of the 176 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 89,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“1. Gas leaked badly from the top of gas tank when the tank is full at the gas station. . Tank can explode if there is any spark and subsequently the whole car. Very dangerous suitation for the driver and any passenger in the car. May cause fire and major catastroph for all the surroundings. 3. The jount between the fill line and the gas tank was leaking due to manufacturing defects. The jount was re-welded at the dealer shop and the leak stopped.”
NHTSA complaint #10068042, filed 2004-04, 60,000 miles“The rubber seal between the fuel filler pipe and the fuel tank split causing fuel to leak out onto the ground. This could cause a fire or an environmental spill.”
NHTSA complaint #10063641, filed 2004-03, 118,000 miles“Ford experimented with a composite intake manifold. The intake manifold cracked and catastrophically failed due to this new material. Ford knows about this problem and has a secret recall on it: 01m02. Other drivers have had accidents following this failure because the smoke gets so thick that it is impossible to see. There was so much smoke that I thought my car was on fire. This problem needs to be recalled by Ford, and Ford should pay the towing bills of those of us who have needlessly suffered this failure.”
NHTSA complaint #767281, filed 2002-09“This car has a salvage title, which I later found was due to a trunk fire. I bought the car and later followed up on research about salvage titles finding out that the gas tank is in a bad location and that Mustang's when hit on impact have a tendency to leak gasoline causing fires. I also have problems with my locks. Power lock don't work, and when I open the driver side door, I must keep the key in the the turned unlock position while pulling the handle up in orer to open the door. I have also had problems with the car in the rain. …”
NHTSA complaint #769592, filed 2002-11“Suspension-sway bar - the bolt for the sway bar has sheared off. I have no idea when this occurred except that I was stopped, turned to make a u-turn and heard a loud bang. After that I began to hear this noise hitting my car I thought it was a tire or jack in the trunk. I have found it to be the sway bar. Gas leaking - when my car is ideling I start to get gas fumes filling my car, especially with the air conditioner on. I took it to Ford last summer, they charged me $300 to fix but that has not worked. …”
NHTSA complaint #722495, filed 2000-05Fuel system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 5% |
| 2024 | 1 | 1% |
| 2023 | 2 | 13% |
| 2022 | 14 | 28% |
| 2021 | 15 | 27% |
| 2020 | 8 | 7% |
| 2018 | 8 | 4% |
| 2017 | 6 | 2% |
| 2016 | 21 | 6% |
| 2015 | 32 | 7% |
| 2014 | 11 | 3% |
| 2013 | 11 | 4% |
| 2012 | 22 | 5% |
| 2011 | 26 | 6% |
| 2010 | 7 | 3% |
| 2009 | 2 | 1% |
| 2008 | 5 | 1% |
| 2007 | 30 | 5% |
| 2006 | 44 | 10% |
| 2005 | 100 | 14% |
| 2004 | 6 | 5% |
| 2003 | 6 | 4% |
| 2002 | 9 | 8% |
| 2001 | 21 | 12% |
| 2000 | 21 | 7% |
| 1999 | 8 | 4% |
| 1998 | 30 | 13% |
| 1997 | 15 | 9% |
| 1996 | 17 | 7% |
| 1995 | 19 | 3% |
| 1994 | 9 | 3% |
| 1993 | 6 | 6% |
| 1992 | 2 | 3% |
| 1991 | 4 | 5% |
| 1990 | 5 | 6% |
| 1989 | 4 | 4% |
| 1988 | 7 | 6% |
| 1987 | 3 | 8% |
| 1985 | 3 | 19% |
Other parts of the 1997 Ford Mustang
38 complaintsBrakes
35 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
29 complaintsSeat belts
19 complaintsSuspension
14 complaintsOther or unknown
11 complaintsElectrical system
8 complaintsSteering
8 complaintsAir bags
6 complaintsTires
6 complaintsEquipment
5 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Ford Mustang
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology