1998 Ford Mustang Seat belts Problems
- Complaints
- 18about this part
- Share
- 8%of 236 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 83,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 18 complaints about the seat belts of the 1998 Ford Mustang, 8% of the 236 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 83,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Passenger side seatbelt will not. Work , cannot pull out to use it... The repair shop is having a hard time finding. A retractor. Mechanism....my family cannot sit in the front passenger seat. Right now”
NHTSA complaint #11265842, filed 2019-10, 16,146 miles“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“I own a 1998 Ford Mustang coupe, ever since, I purchased this vehicle my seat belts continued to lock up. The passenger seat belt finally gave up and is no longer useful. One of my best friends recently purchased a 2001 Ford Mustang coupe, and dealing with the same problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10010459, filed 2003-03“While stopped a traffic light another vehicle hit the rear of the consumer car at 30-40 MPH, the drivers seat back broke and the seat belt released from the buckle causing the driver to slip under the steering wheel, the driver sustained severe strain to the neck and bruised right ankle and leg, the passenger also received a strained neck. Nlm”
NHTSA complaint #560547, filed 2001-03Seat belts: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 1% |
| 2021 | 1 | 2% |
| 2020 | 3 | 2% |
| 2019 | 2 | 1% |
| 2018 | 2 | 1% |
| 2017 | 16 | 6% |
| 2016 | 10 | 3% |
| 2015 | 10 | 2% |
| 2014 | 2 | 1% |
| 2013 | 4 | 1% |
| 2012 | 2 | 0% |
| 2011 | 3 | 1% |
| 2010 | 2 | 1% |
| 2008 | 6 | 2% |
| 2007 | 6 | 1% |
| 2006 | 5 | 1% |
| 2005 | 2 | 0% |
| 2004 | 2 | 2% |
| 2003 | 16 | 11% |
| 2002 | 13 | 11% |
| 2001 | 22 | 13% |
| 2000 | 36 | 12% |
| 1999 | 19 | 9% |
| 1998 | 18 | 8% |
| 1997 | 19 | 11% |
| 1996 | 12 | 5% |
| 1995 | 6 | 1% |
| 1994 | 13 | 4% |
| 1993 | 1 | 1% |
| 1992 | 1 | 1% |
| 1991 | 3 | 4% |
| 1990 | 3 | 4% |
| 1989 | 20 | 18% |
| 1988 | 10 | 9% |
| 1987 | 2 | 5% |
| 1986 | 6 | 20% |
| 1985 | 4 | 25% |
| 1984 | 2 | 11% |
Other parts of the 1998 Ford Mustang
40 complaintsBrakes
33 complaintsFuel system
30 complaintsSteering
22 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
21 complaintsVehicle speed control
18 complaintsSuspension
16 complaintsAir bags
15 complaintsElectrical system
12 complaintsSeats
9 complaintsTires
9 complaintsBody and structure
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 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