1998 Ford Mustang Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe coolant loss and cracks in the plastic intake manifold, followed by fuel smell or leaks, seat belts that will not retract, and vague steering or wandering. Many complaints come in on cars with well over 80,000 miles, but the manifold and fuel-smell reports appear on lower-mileage cars too, often shortly after refueling or in hot weather.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Cracked plastic intake manifold / coolant loss

   • 15 complaints (6%)
   • median 98,500 mi at 7.4 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2010

   Owners describe smelling antifreeze and finding coolant leaking from a crack in the plastic intake manifold, sometimes with the engine overheating, hesitating or stalling. Several say the vehicle had to be towed or was not driveable afterward, and that a dealer or independent shop diagnosed a cracked manifold. Some complainants note that an intake manifold extended-coverage program or a similar recall did not apply to their vehicle by VIN. Reports cluster from roughly 85,000 to 113,000 miles, though some occur earlier; often noticed as a sweet smell while driving.

   Recall 97V2160001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for seepage or hairline cracks along the plastic manifold, and ask whether the manifold has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving the vehicle at 60 MPH started to smell anti-freeze. When I checked the engine compartment. I found that the left side of the plastic, intake manifold had cracked an was leaking anti-freeze. Contacted dealer, they wanted $580 for a new manifold plus labor to put it on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10086925, filed 2004-08, 88,900 miles

   “While driving vehicle overheated on its own. Vehicle hesitated while accelerating, then stalled. Consumer was unable to restart vehicle, and had the vehicle towed to dealer. Mechanic determined that the intake manifold needed to be replaced. This vehicle was not recalled by VIN or under warranty. Consumer informed the mechanic that part number f8a2-9424-bc, notification #97m91 for intake manifold was recalled. Mechanic insisted that recall was not for this vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10090056, filed 2004-08, 107,000 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Steering wander, loose rack bushings, sudden veer

   • 24 complaints (10%)
   • median 54,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2009

   Owners describe the car wandering or suddenly veering left or right at highway speed, erratic handling, and a jumping feel when turning the wheel fully in a parking lot. Some report loose steering rack bushings or internal wear in the rack with no visible leaks, and note that a steering gear recall did not match their VIN. A few mention the wheel becoming very hard to turn during a panic stop, which a dealer described as normal for the model. Reported from about 54,000 to 150,000 miles, sometimes following replacement of the pump or lines without curing the symptom.

   Recall 97V165000

   What to check: Drive at highway speed and check for wander or a dead spot in the wheel; inspect rack bushings, tie rods and power steering lines for play or leaks, and ask whether the rack has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “<page 2 > my life, as well as another human beings life could have been at stake due to someone wanting to make some money. Thank god the party involved and myself came out of this ordeal with just minor bruising. I am a twenty-one year old well-educated woman with a responsible job profile, and a clean record. I have never violated the law, therefore all that has happened is hard to take. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10093441, filed 2004-10, 54,000 miles

   “My vehicle has loss of steering control. Found recall for this issue on line, however, my VIN number does not correspond. I called NHTSA and they suggested I file a complaint. My vehicle has no external leaks or worn or torn suspension parts, it must have internal damage to steering gear. Ford does not show a recall. I will be repairing my vehicle in the meantime, ones vehicle is very necessary to get by our day to day business, however, I need this issue resolved.”

   NHTSA complaint #10266242, filed 2009-04, 71,951 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell in cabin and fuel leaks

   • 28 complaints (12%)
   • median 91,445 mi at 7.7 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2014

   Owners report raw fuel smell entering the cabin, especially after filling the tank or in hot weather, and in some cases fuel seen on the ground under the driver's side. A few describe the car losing power on the highway from a fuel delivery problem and being towed, with a dealer pointing to fuel lines or the fuel pump. One owner reports the filler neck grommet breaking down and fuel spilling out when the tank is filled past partway. Reported at a wide range of mileages, from low-mileage cars under warranty to over 270,000 miles; often tied to refueling or ambient heat.

   Recall 97V216000

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel rail recall work was completed, sniff for fuel odor around the filler neck and under the hood after a fill-up, and check for stains or damp spots under the tank.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The fuel filler neck grommet is leaking. According to Ford, it's a common problem, but...it causes a gasoline leak if I try to fill it over about 3/8 tank, and throws gas out, when I make a left turn. This is a fire/explosion waiting to happen. Ford should have to replace these with grommets that do not break down.”

   NHTSA complaint #10633815, filed 2014-09, 274,067 miles

   “While traveling at 70 MPH the vehicle lost power, forcing an emergency exit from the highway. The vehicle was towed to the nearest Ford dearlership and we were advised that a technical service bulletin had been issued advising dealers that there was a problem with a wax ring in the fuel system that was breaking apart and the wax pieces were lodging in the fuel pump casing the car to lose power. No recalls had been issued because we were told the cars were all still under warranty.”

   NHTSA complaint #537622, filed 1998-06
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Rough idle, misfire and stalling

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the engine stalling while driving or when braking, hard starting, a check engine light and rough running, with ignition coil and plug faults and a head gasket diagnosis in some cases. Complaints also describe misfires traced to the coil-on-plug ignition system, and one notes coolant loss with no visible leak pointing to the head gasket. Reported across a broad mileage range, from cars still under warranty to over 100,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for records of coil, plug and ignition wire replacement, and watch for a rough idle or check engine light on a test drive; check coolant level for unexplained loss.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Check engine light remains on. Was told faulty head gasket. Losing coolant with no visable leaks. Estimated $1200.00 repair at least. With the number of complaints regarding the Ford 3.8 c.I. Engine why have there been no recalls for the Mustang unlike the tauris? (same engine)”

   NHTSA complaint #10124190, filed 2005-06

   “While driving at an undetermined speed the vehicle stalled, which caused the consumer to pull off the road. The consumer took the vehicle to a mechanic. Please add any additional information.”

   NHTSA complaint #10055721, filed 2004-01
5. 5
   Seat belts

   Front seat belts slow to retract or stuck

   • 13 complaints (6%)
   • median 83,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2019

   Owners say the front seat belt retractors stop pulling the belt back, leaving the belt hanging loose or hard to pull out, and in one case the passenger belt could not be extended at all. Several report that dealers or shops were reluctant to take on the repair, and some had trouble sourcing a replacement retractor. One complaint describes a belt that did not lock up during a collision. Mostly reported between about 16,000 and 150,000 miles, with several around 83,000 to 98,000 miles.

   What to check: Pull each front belt out fully and let it go; it should retract smoothly and lock when tugged sharply. Confirm replacement retractors are available before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The seat belts in the front do not operate properly because they hang down and do not retract, making it dangerous if the vehicle were to be involved in an accident. Manufacturer will contacted by consumer. The consumer stated that the seat belts were hard to pull out and will not retract all the way back. The seat belts fit loose on the body of the person using it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10111230, filed 2005-03, 83,000 miles

   “Both seat belt retractors have begun to fail to operate. It takes an extreme amount of coaxing to cause the sealt belts to retract, if at all. The passenger side retractor is the worse of the two and is used far, far less. This leads me to beleive it is not a simple wear and tear from use issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #10000842, filed 2003-01, 87,000 miles

Buying note. These are older cars, so condition and service history matter more than the model itself: have a shop check the plastic intake manifold, fuel lines and filler neck, front seat belt retractors, and steering rack before buying. Ask for receipts showing whether the fuel rail and steering gear recall work was done on that specific vehicle.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.