Owners have filed 11 complaints
about the 1999 Ford Mustang Convertible with NHTSA between 2003 and 2015.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 8 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 — 47
9.1% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 19
11% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 1999 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 1999 Ford Mustang Convertible
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Transmission & Drivetrain
327.3%
Median failure at 54,000 miles
Engine & Cooling
327.3%
Median failure at 106,500 miles
Lights
218.2%
Median failure at 84,000 miles
Seat Belts
19.1%
Median failure at 108,000 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
19.1%
Median failure at 100,000 miles
Brakes
19.1%
1 crashes, 0 fires
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
25,000 – 49,999 miles
111.1%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
111.1%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
111.1%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
666.7%
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.
Nov 2003peak 3Oct 2015
NHTSA investigations into the 1999 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.
LOS Angeles, CACrash
PARKING BRAKE
I AM THE OWNER OF A 1999 FORD MUSTANG, WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, PURCHASED IN 2004. LAST WEEK, I PARKED MY CAR ON A LOCAL STREET, AT A METER AND WENT INTO CHURCH. WHILE IN CHURCH, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON MY CAR FAILED, AND MY CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS, A BLOCK AND A HALF THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND WAS HIT BY A CITY BUS, BEFORE LANDING AGAINST A TREE. THE POLICE TOWED MY CAR AWAY. SINCE THEN I HAVE PAID TO GET MY CAR FROM THE TOW YARD, TAKEN IT IN FOR AUTO BODY REPAIR AND HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE BACK END REPLACED FROM DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS FAILURE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10169689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 100,000 milesFPO, AE
POWER TRAIN
INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACK DESTROYING ENGINE. CYLINDER HEAD SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT. HEATER CORE FAILURE. CONVERTIBLE TOP DETERIORATING. FUEL PUMP FAILURE ALL LESS THAN 1200000
NHTSA complaint #10780084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesFPO, AE
ENGINE
INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACK DESTROYING ENGINE. CYLINDER HEAD SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT. HEATER CORE FAILURE. CONVERTIBLE TOP DETERIORATING. FUEL PUMP FAILURE ALL LESS THAN 1200000
NHTSA complaint #10780084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesFPO, AE
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACK DESTROYING ENGINE. CYLINDER HEAD SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT. HEATER CORE FAILURE. CONVERTIBLE TOP DETERIORATING. FUEL PUMP FAILURE ALL LESS THAN 1200000
NHTSA complaint #10780084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,000 milesRedmond, WA
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
SWE PURCHASED OUR 1999 FORD MUSTANG GT NEW AND A 25K MILES YHE REAR END DIFFERENTIAL WAS MAKING A LOT OF NOISE. FORD REPLACED THE ENTIRE THIRD MEMBER UNIT AND ALL CARRIER BEARINGS. AT 35K MILES THE ISSUE REOCCUED AND THIS TIME WE TOOK THE CAR TO A DIIFERENTIAL SPECIALIST WHO SAID THE CARRIER BEARINGS ON ONE SIDE WERE COMPLETELY GONE AND REPLACED THEM. THEN AT 45K MILES THE SEME ISSUE DEVELOPED AND WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DIFFERENTIAL EXPERT. HE COULD NOT UBDERSTAND THE FAILUER AND UPON FURTHER ANALYSIS DETERMINED THE THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING WAS BENT AND HIS VIEW WAS THAT IST WAS MANUFACTURED THAT WAY OR IT BENT I=ON THE DELIVERY RIDE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DIFF HOUSING WAS PROFESSIONALLY STRAIGTENED AND NOW THE CAR HAS 95K MILES ON IT AND NO FURTHER PROBLEM. WE WROTE FORD ABOUT THIS AND NEVER RECEIEVED A REPLY.
NHTSA complaint #10279091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 106,500 milesMonroe, NC
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT. THERE WAS REALLY NOTHING THAT LED UP TO THIS THAT I KNOW OF. APPARENTLY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS A LOT TO FORD VEHICLES (I HAVE A 99 MUSTANG V8). FORD RECOMMENDED A NEW HEAD ($2000). AN ALTERNATIVE WAS TO RETAPE THE HEAD ($800).
NHTSA complaint #10225907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CACrash
PARKING BRAKE
I AM THE OWNER OF A 1999 FORD MUSTANG, WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, PURCHASED IN 2004. LAST WEEK, I PARKED MY CAR ON A LOCAL STREET, AT A METER AND WENT INTO CHURCH. WHILE IN CHURCH, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON MY CAR FAILED, AND MY CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS, A BLOCK AND A HALF THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND WAS HIT BY A CITY BUS, BEFORE LANDING AGAINST A TREE. THE POLICE TOWED MY CAR AWAY. SINCE THEN I HAVE PAID TO GET MY CAR FROM THE TOW YARD, TAKEN IT IN FOR AUTO BODY REPAIR AND HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE BACK END REPLACED FROM DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS FAILURE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10169689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 107,000 milesEaston, MD
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND AFTER INITIAL INSPECTION DETERMINED COOLANT HAD LEAKED FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
NHTSA complaint #10166210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 54,000 milesHighland, CA
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE IS 1999 FORD MUSTANG, 3.8 LITER ENGINE WITH 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH,THROWOUT BEARING AND PRESSURE PLATE AT APPROX. 2000 MILES FOR ORIGINAL OWNER. DEALER DID SAME WORK FOR MYSELF (2ND OWNER) AT APPROX. 20,000 MILES. CAR NOW HAS 54000 MILES AND CLUTCH WORK IS AGAIN NEEDED. I HAVE OWNED MANY FORDS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND NEVER HAD A CLUTCH LAST LESS THAN 100,000 MILES, SO MY DRIVING STYLE CAN'T BE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10115970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 108,000 milesFontana, CA
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELTS DO NOT EXTRACT. THIS INCLUDES ALL OF THE REAR SEAT BELTS. THE REAR PASSENGERS ARE UNABLE TO USE THE SEAT BELTS.
NHTSA complaint #10108601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 84,000 milesMatthews, NC
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL HEADLAMP LENSES ON MY 1999 MUSTANG V-6 HAVE BECOME SO ETCHED THAT THEY FAIL TO PROPERLY ILLUMINATE FOR NIGHT OPERATION. I HAVE 84,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE BUT HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE HEADLAMP LENSES THAT DEGRADED IN THIS WAY.
NHTSA complaint #10099652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Thibodaux, LA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE HEADLAMP LENSES ON MY 1999 MUSTANG V-6 HAVE BECOME SO ETCHED THAT THEY FAIL TO PROPERLY ILLUMINATE FOR NIGHT OPERATION. I HAVE 84,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, BUT HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE HAVE HEADLAMP LENSES THAT DEGRADED IN THIS WAY.
NHTSA complaint #10045448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.