Owners have filed 11 complaints
about the 1997 Ford Mustang Convertible with NHTSA between 2003 and 2014.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 6 of 8 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 27
Against the median year of the Ford Mustang Convertible. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
27.3% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 15
9% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 1997 compares with every other Ford Mustang Convertible
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1997 Ford Mustang Convertible
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Engine & Cooling
436.4%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 90,000 mi
Body & Structure
218.2%
Median failure at 97,000 miles
Seat Belts
19.1%
Median failure at 57,000 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
19.1%
Median failure at 125,000 miles
Suspension
19.1%
Median failure at 36,000 miles
Brakes
19.1%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 81,000 mi
Electrical System
19.1%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 74,814 mi
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
25,000 – 49,999 miles
218.2%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
218.2%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
545.5%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
218.2%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Mar 2003peak 2Aug 2014
NHTSA investigations into the 1997 Ford Mustang Convertible
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
DP05005Opened 22 Sep 2005Closed 4 Jan 2006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN A...
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 74,814 milesSouderton, PAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ERUPTED IN FLAMES WHILE PARKED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS OR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS USED EARLIER IN THE DAY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO THE SCENE AND DETERMINED THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD IN THE AREA OF SOME ELECTRICAL WIRING. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALSO RESPONDED AND TOOK A REPORT. THE INSURANCE AGENCY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #10156964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 81,000 milesDanville, ILCrash
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAR WAS PARKED IN FIRST GEAR WITH PARKING BREAK UP. CAR WAS HIT WITH HARDLY ANY FORCE AND ROLLED BACK INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE... DID NOT KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS UNTIL TODAY MARCH 8, 2003. ALSO NUMEROUS TIMES CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT...NO ONE KNOWS WHAT CAUSES IT COME ON.. SPENT $2000 SO FAR. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10010172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 81,000 milesDanville, ILCrash
PARKING BRAKE
CAR WAS PARKED IN FIRST GEAR WITH PARKING BREAK UP. CAR WAS HIT WITH HARDLY ANY FORCE AND ROLLED BACK INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE... DID NOT KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS UNTIL TODAY MARCH 8, 2003. ALSO NUMEROUS TIMES CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT...NO ONE KNOWS WHAT CAUSES IT COME ON.. SPENT $2000 SO FAR. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10010172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 125,000 milesHouston, TX
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE ELECTRICAL POWER WIRES ON THE OEM-INSTALLED FUEL PUMP, LOCATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK, WERE INSTALLED SO THAT THEY CROSSED OVER EACH OTHER ON THEIR WAY FROM THE CONNECTOR OUTSIDE THE TANK TO THE FUEL PUMP INSIDE. ON THREE SIMILAR VEHICLES THAT WE OWN THESE CROSSING SOLID CORE FUEL PUMP WIRES CAME CLOSE ENOUGH TO EACH OTHER SO AS TO TOUCH. ON THIS VEHICLE, HOWEVER, THE WIRES NOT ONLY CROSSED BUT THEY TOUCHED AND THE WIRES WERE RIGID ENOUGH THAT OVER THE YEARS THEY RUBBED AND WORE AWAY THE INSULATION ON BOTH THE RED AND THE BLACK ELECTRICAL WIRES. THIS APPARENTLY ALLOWED THE 12 VOLTS DC POWER TO CROSS FROM ONE WIRE TO THE OTHER, RANDOMLY BYPASSING THE FUEL PUMP AND SERIOUSLY AFFECTING HOW THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE WOULD RUN. WHILE THE OPERATIONAL IMPACT OF THIS PROBLEM WAS A NUISANCE, MORE DISTURBING IS THE POTENTIAL THIS INSTALLATION TECHNIQUE HAS FOR BECOMING A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION SINCE A SPARK IS THUS POSSIBLE AND SINCE THE WIRES ARE INSIDE A FUEL-VAPOR AREA, INSTEAD OF A LIQUID-FILLED AREA, ANYTIME THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN ABOUT HALF A TANK OF GASOLINE.
NHTSA complaint #10628014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 139,000 milesSilverdale, WA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1997 FORD MUSTANG GT 4.6L 8CL OIL IN RADIATOR, BUT NO WATER IN ENGINE. CAR RUNS GREAT BUT WILL RUN HOT AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF REPLACING THE RADIATOR. COMPRESSION TEST DID NOT SHOW LOSS OF COMPRESSION. MECHANICS ARE BAFFLED BECAUSE THE CAR RUNS SO WELL WITHOUT MISSING OR POWER LOSS. FURTHER TEST CAN NOT PROVE BLOWN HEAD GASKET. CAR DOESN'T EVEN SMOKE. IM CONFUSED, NEED HELP AND HOPING THERE IS A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10352010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 74,814 milesSouderton, PAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ERUPTED IN FLAMES WHILE PARKED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS OR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS USED EARLIER IN THE DAY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO THE SCENE AND DETERMINED THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD IN THE AREA OF SOME ELECTRICAL WIRING. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALSO RESPONDED AND TOOK A REPORT. THE INSURANCE AGENCY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #10156964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 99,000 milesBath, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 1997 FORD MUSTANG GT IS CRACKED AND LEAKING. THERE IS A RECALL ON OTHER MODELS WITH THIS ENGINE. IS THERE A LAWSUIT RECENTLY SETTLED ON THIS PROBLEM? RIGHT NOW THE CAR IS IN MY MECHANICS GARAGE WAITING FOR PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10130525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 36,000 milesRoyal Palm Beach, FL
SUSPENSION:FRONT
MY 1997 MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE GT, VIBRATES AT SPEEDS OF ABOUT 60-65 MPH. THOUGH THE PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR SOME TIME, AFTER PLACING NEW TIRES ON THE VEHICLE (LAST WEEK) I DECIDED TO DO MORE RESEARCH AND FOUND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS CONSISTENT WITH MY VEHICLE'S PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10110375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 57,000 milesSilvis, IL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE FRONT SEAT BELTS IN THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT LOCK DURING AND EMERGENCY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10074399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 32,100 milesCulver City, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD RESULTED IN COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT. COOLANT WASHING OVER HOT ENGINE CAUSE HUGE CLOULD OF STEAM WHICH OBSCURED VISION FOR MORE THAN 30 SECONDS WHILE AT 65MPH. ACCIDENT AVERTED, BUT ONLY LUCKY CONSIDERING EXTREMELY HEAVY RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC. PLASTIC MANIFOLD IS MUSHY AND FRIABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10045803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 97,000 milesHampton, NH
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
MY 1997 MUSTANG HAS RUSTED THROUGH THE TRUNK FLOOR. THE FRAME BELOW IS ALSO RUSTING. THE FRAME SUPPORTS THE REAR BUMPER,WHICH PROTECTS THE GAS TANK.
NHTSA complaint #10033053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 97,000 milesHampton, NH
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
MY 1997 MUSTANG HAS RUSTED THROUGH THE TRUNK FLOOR. THE FRAME BELOW IS ALSO RUSTING. THE FRAME SUPPORTS THE REAR BUMPER,WHICH PROTECTS THE GAS TANK.
NHTSA complaint #10033053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 81,000 milesDanville, ILCrash
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAR WAS PARKED IN FIRST GEAR WITH PARKING BREAK UP. CAR WAS HIT WITH HARDLY ANY FORCE AND ROLLED BACK INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE... DID NOT KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS UNTIL TODAY MARCH 8, 2003. ALSO NUMEROUS TIMES CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT...NO ONE KNOWS WHAT CAUSES IT COME ON.. SPENT $2000 SO FAR. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10010172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 81,000 milesDanville, ILCrash
PARKING BRAKE
CAR WAS PARKED IN FIRST GEAR WITH PARKING BREAK UP. CAR WAS HIT WITH HARDLY ANY FORCE AND ROLLED BACK INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE... DID NOT KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS UNTIL TODAY MARCH 8, 2003. ALSO NUMEROUS TIMES CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT...NO ONE KNOWS WHAT CAUSES IT COME ON.. SPENT $2000 SO FAR. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10010172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.