FaultScore

1997 Ford Mustang brake problems

40 of the 231 complaints about the 1997 Ford Mustang are about the braking system — 17% of everything reported for this model year.

F

40

Complaints

7

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Conventional 15 37.5%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 9 22.5%
Hoses, Lines/Piping, AND Fittings 3 7.5%
Pads 2 5.0%
Parking Brake 2 5.0%
Antilock 2 5.0%
Foundation Components 1 2.5%
Disc 1 2.5%
Rotor 1 2.5%
Caliper 1 2.5%

Brakes across every Ford Mustang year

1994 32 5.3%
1995 50 8.3%
1996 47 7.8%
1997 40 6.6%
1998 35 5.8%
1999 47 7.8%
2000 72 11.9%
2001 28 4.6%
2002 11 1.8%
2005 40 6.6%
2006 23 3.8%
2007 25 4.1%
2008 13 2.2%
2010 10 1.7%
2011 15 2.5%
2012 11 1.8%
2014 15 2.5%
2015 52 8.6%
2016 17 2.8%
2020 20 3.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Hiram, GA

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

CONSUMER RECEIVED 00V34900, REGARDING THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR RECALL REPAIRS AND DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN CORRECTED. WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE DRIVEWAY, WHICH HAS A SLIGHT INCLINE, WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND IN THE PROPER GEAR, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO THE HOUSE CAUSING SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS IN DAMAGE. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE DEALER SAID, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ACTUAL FAULTY EMERGENCY BRAKE. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #566306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hiram, GA

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

VEHICLE ROLLED BACK WHILE PARKED, EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED. PARK BRAKE RECALL 00V349000 REPAIRS WERE DONE IN DECEMBER OF 2000.

NHTSA complaint #8009796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Studio City, CA

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

VEHICLE ROLLED AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHILE PARKED IN FIRST GEAR WITH PARKING BRAKE UP AS PER OWNERS MANUAL, POSSIBLY PARKING BRAKE FAILURE OR TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #562959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sugar Hill, GA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

CAR WILL PULL FROM SIDE TO SIDE UNDER LIGHT BRAKING IF THE ROAD IS ROUGH. MUST FIGHT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP CAR STRAIGHT UNDER BRAKING. ALSO, THE CAR WILL ALSO WANDER THE ROAD IF IT IS UNEVEN OR ROUGH. AGAIN THE DRIVER MUST FIGHT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO REGAIN CONTROL. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #755956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Studio City, CA

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

VEHICLE ROLLED AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHILE PARKED IN FIRST GEAR WITH PARKING BRAKE UP AS PER OWNERS MANUAL, POSSIBLY PARKING BRAKE FAILURE OR TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #562959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Studio City, CA

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

VEHICLE ROLLED AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHILE PARKED IN FIRST GEAR WITH PARKING BRAKE UP AS PER OWNERS MANUAL, POSSIBLY PARKING BRAKE FAILURE OR TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #562959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Studio City, CA Crash

PARKING BRAKE

WITH PARKING BRAKE IN 1ST AND EMERGENCY BRAKE UP, CAR ROLLED INTO ANOTHER CAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR CHECKED BEFORE AT A FORD SERVICE DEALERSHIP CENTER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE.

NHTSA complaint #9004171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ringgold, GA

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT ALWAYS ENGAGE- MANUAL CARS WERE RECALLED BUT NOT AUTOMATICS.

NHTSA complaint #751524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Biffard, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ABS WILL TAKE LONGER TO ACTIVATE, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC, AND THERE IS NO FIX.

NHTSA complaint #889360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Macon, GA Crash

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

PAINT PEELS OFF DOWN TO BARE METAL AND WILL RUST IF NOT REPLACED. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED.

NHTSA complaint #742067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Manassas, VA

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

1/11/98 PARKING BRAKE FAILED WHILE PARKED ON INCLINE AND IN FIRST GEAR. CAR ROLLED DOWN DRIVEWAY INTO LAWN AND HIT MAILBOX. WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND DEALER COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR DAMAGES TO BUMPER AND TO MAILBOX. 12/1/2000 RECIEVED SAFETY RECALL 00S37 WHICH DESCRIBES THIS SITUATION EXACTLY. CONTACTED FORD REP KATHY ALLEN, " WILL NOT SEND A INVESTIGATOR, THE INCIDENT IS TOO OLD" THUS DENIED THE CLAIM THAT THE CAR ROLLING IS RELATED TO THE RECALL. I AM NOW LOOKING FOR OTHERS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES TO FORM OR JOIN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD.

NHTSA complaint #741134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kailua, HI

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

PARKING BRAKE FAILED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR PANEL, SPOILER, AND BUMPER, CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE OF RECALL 00V349, AND PAID FOR THE REPAIRS HIMSELF, CAUSING THE TRADE IN VALUE OF THE VEHICLE TO GO DOWN. *SLC THE VEHICLES TIRE TREAD APPEARED TO BE SEPARATING. NLM

NHTSA complaint #559052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wilmington, MA

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR A FAULTY EMERGENCY BRAKE ACCORDING TO YOUR RECORDS, BUT THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO CONTACT ME TO INFORM ME OF THIS FACT.

NHTSA complaint #738847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EL Mirage, AZ

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS NOT HELD SINCE FIRST BOUGHT CAR AUG 99, I THOUGHT IT WAS MY FAULT NOT GETTING INTO PLACE. TWO WEEKS AGO IT DID IT AGAIN HERE AT WORK. I HAVE NOW IN SHOP, BUT WAS TOLD TODAY FORD DOESN'T HAVE PARTS MANUFACTURED TO FIX IT SO I CAN COME GET IT TILL THE DEALER HEARS FROM FORD.

NHTSA complaint #735936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cincinnati, OH Crash

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

I FEEL THAT THE MOUNTING BRACKET WHERE THE TEETH ON THE HAND/PARKING BRAKE MESH IS TOO THIN. THUS THE AMOUNT OF FRICTION CAUSED BY THE WEIGHT OF THE FUEL IN THE FUEL TANK SWAYS ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE PARKING BRAKE TO DISLODGE AND BECOME DISENGAGED.

NHTSA complaint #736091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NO. Andover, MA

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

EMERGENCY BRAKE SLIPS REGULARLY. HAD IT ADJUSTED ONCE, BUT STILL SLIPS. MUST KEEP CAR IN GEAR TO ENSURE IT DOESN'T ROLL AWAY.

NHTSA complaint #735867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dunnellon, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR VIBRATION WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE DEALER THAT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. THEY ADVISED THAT WOULD ON TURN THE ROTORS INSTEAD OF REPLACING. APROX. 7000 MILES LATER THE VIBRATION RETURNED.IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 7 DAYS AND THAT FORD WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE REPAIR. VEHICLE HAD APPROX. 32000 MILES AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA complaint #729963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Charleston, WV Crash 1 injured 1 killed

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WE ARE AWARE OF YOU PREVIOUS RELEASE REGARDING THE FORD SVT BRAKE LINES AND WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR INVESTIGATION AND IF IT WAS A THIRD PARTY EVALUATING

NHTSA complaint #729516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pell City, AL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN RAINING AND/OR ROAD IS WET. DEALERSHIP WHERE SERVICED SAYS "THIS IS NORMAL".

NHTSA complaint #726313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Silver SPR, MD

PARKING BRAKE

EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. YH

NHTSA complaint #551874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Panama City, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

REPORTED ABS LIGHT CONTINUALLY ON; ABS CONTROL MODULE ORDERED 09/04/1999 (COST TO OWNER FOR PART: $600+). PART WAS RECEIVED AND TO BE INSTALLED 11/11/1999, HOWEVER, NEW PART WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE AND PART WAS RE-ORDERED. IN CHECKING, THE TECHNICIAN FOUND ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH ABS--PART ESTIMATED AT $800. RECEIVED BOTH PARTS AND INSTALLED ON 11/30/1999. $500 WAS APPLIED UNDER "WARRANTY." OWNER STILL HAD TO PAY TOTAL OF $900+ FOR PARTS AND LABOR FOR A SYSTEM (ABS CONTROL MODULE AND ABS HCU UNIT) THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED IN A CAR THIS NEW! ALSO, IF THE PART ORDERED THE FIRST TIME WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE, IT WOULD SEEM THAT THERE COULD BE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THESE PARTS AT MANUFACTURER'S LEVEL.

NHTSA complaint #715483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Hills, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

NO SUMMARY.

NHTSA complaint #712711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Hills, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

NO SUMMARY.

NHTSA complaint #712711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greensboro, NC Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

CAR PURCHASED 9/97 FACTORY DELIVERY BRAKE PROBLEMS CONSTANTLY SQUEEKING METAL CLINGING, BOOT COVER NEVER LOCKS, TRANSMISSON FAILURE TWICE, LEAKS AROUND WINDOW SEALS

NHTSA complaint #712646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Julian, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ANTI-BRAKE SYSTEM COMPUTER FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #607301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Skokie, IL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

POWER STEERING/BRAKE BOOSTER HOSE REPLACED, NOW STRONG VIBRATION IN BRAKE PEDAL AND AT BRAKE BOOSTER, AND LOUD AUDIBLE HUM, NO NOISE/VIBRATION PRIOR TO REPLACEMENT, DEALER SAYS NEW LINE DIFFERENT THAN ORIGINAL BUT IS ONLY REPLACMENT AND CAN DO NOTHING FURTHER - I'M CONCERNED THAT VIBRATION MAY CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE SINCE POWER STEERING SHARES PUMP WITH BRAKE BOOSTER.

NHTSA complaint #706848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Terrytown, LA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

SUSPENSION PULLS TO THE LEFT. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR GRINDS. ENGINE LOSES POWER WITH ENGINE LIGHT ON. BRAKES PADS ON LEFT SIDE METAL TO METAL. SECOND BRAKE JOB. ALL PROBLEMS STILL EXISTAS.

NHTSA complaint #706347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Terrytown, LA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

SUSPENSION PULLS TO THE LEFT. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR GRINDS. ENGINE LOSES POWER WITH ENGINE LIGHT ON. BRAKES PADS ON LEFT SIDE METAL TO METAL. SECOND BRAKE JOB. ALL PROBLEMS STILL EXISTAS.

NHTSA complaint #706347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SO. SAN Francisco, CA

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

APPLYING PARKING BRAKE, SUDDENLY GIVES WAY. REPLACED, HELPED SOME. RARE, UNEXPECTED. MANY REPORTS IN NHTSA. DEALER CLAIMS CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. SAY FORD HAS NO INFORMATION ON PROBLEM. BAD IN SF,CA!

NHTSA complaint #705067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Davison, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #704991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Ford Mustang problems

← Full 1997 Ford Mustang report