18 of the 297 complaints about the 1998 Ford Mustang are about the throttle and cruise control — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 83,420 miles.
18
Complaints
6
Crashes
1
Fires
4
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS BRAKING AT A RED LIGHT BEHIND A TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN I HAD ALMOST COMPLETELY STOPPED, MY CAR LURCHED FORWARD, WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE. I LIFTED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE FOR AN INSTANT, THEN SLAMMED THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN, STOPPING MY CAR JUST A COUPLE INCHES FROM SLAMMING INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME.
NHTSA complaint #10586767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 FORD MUSTANG . THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE STARTED TO REV AND THE RPMS INCREASED DRASTICALLY AS THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WHILE DOING SO, THE CONTACT HAD TO DRIVE WEDGING THE TIRE AGAINST THE CURB IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO LOSE SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS FRAYED AND COMING APART. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH A NEW CABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
NHTSA complaint #10451473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL-THE DRIVER OWNED A 1998 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS UNKNOWN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND LIQUID SPLASHED ONTO THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER ENDED UP ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TRAFFIC AND CRASHED INTO A VAN. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS WERE INJURED IN THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILES WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. AA
NHTSA complaint #10325179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
CONSUMER HEARS A NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS GOING 60 MPH OR GREATER. ALSO, IT CAN BE HEARD WHEN ACCELERATING UP A HILL.
NHTSA complaint #10073617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FAILURE TO IDLE RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES, NO RESERVE ON POWER BRAKES. DT
NHTSA complaint #770449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
NO SUMMARY. DT
NHTSA complaint #768953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING 28 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES,BUT DID NOT SLOW DOWN VEHICLE. CONSUMER THEN APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKE, THIS ALSO DID NOT SLOW DOWN VEHICLE. VEHICLE WENT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION/ WENT ABOUT 6 BLOCKS/HIT CURB ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD/CROSSED ROAD TO AVOID A ONCOMING VEHICLE, AND HIT A DUMP TRUCK. VEHICLE HAD ACCELERATED TO A SPEED OF 45 MPH. A POLICE WITNESS ESTIMATED SPEED TO BE HIGHER. CONSUMER WAS SEVERELY INJURED. CONSTRUCTION WORKER NEAR DUMP TRUCK WAS ALSO SEVERLY INJURED. BOTH IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT THIS TIME. AIRBAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE IMPOUNDED BY POLICE TO INVESTIGATE. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY PHILIP C. JOHNSON, ATTORNEY.
NHTSA complaint #891043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE HAVING CRUISE CONTROL ON AND TRYING TO SLOW DOWN CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. CONSUMER WAS WAS TRAVLING AT ABOUT 70 MPH BEFORE TRYING TO TURN CRUISE CONTROL OFF. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WILL TRY TO FIX PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #881849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
REMOTE DOOR DOES NOT WORK ALL OF THE TIME. DEALER REPLACED LATCH BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CUSTOMER PLACED A SMALL ROUND MAGNET ON THE QUARTER PANEL ON EACH SIDE WHERE THE LID CONTACTS THE QUARTER PANEL TEMPORARILY CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. CUSTOMER WOULD LIKE THE DEALER TO PROPERLY CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CAR IDLES ROUGH WHEN ACCESSORORIES ARE TURNED ON. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARSHLY UNDER VARIOUS CONDITIONS. TRANSMISSION DOES NOT IMMEDIATELT ENGAGE IN GEAR WHEN GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN CAR SITS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME BUT DOES NOT ALWAYS OCCUR. CUSTOMER HAS NOTICED AT TIMES AN UNUSAL LARGE LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT DOES NOT SEE A LEAK OR SMELL. RIGHT FRONT DOOR SPEAKER CUTS IN AND OUT.
NHTSA complaint #725396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND COMING UP ON TRAFFIC, CONSUMER HAD TO STEP ON THE BRAKES TO GET CRUISE CONTROL TO RELEASE. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS UNSAFE.
NHTSA complaint #866140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN GEAR AND THE BRAKES WERE ON, VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, HITTING A BUSH AND A HOME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON.
NHTSA complaint #856381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE WAITING FOR THE GARAGE DOOR TO OPEN ALL OF A SUDDEN BACK WHEELS STARTED TO SKID, CAR TOOK OFF RIGHT THROUGH THE GARAGE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #854490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AFTER RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED (99V-062) ENGINE IDLE SPEED WAS TOO FAST. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON TWO OCCASIONS, ONE INCIDENT RESULTED IN VEHILCE RUNNING INTO DITCH WHEN ACCELERATION EXPERIENCED WITH REAR WHEEL LOCK UP. MJS
NHTSA complaint #547355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
REAR END OF VEHICLE LOCKED-UP, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. VEHICLE STARTED TO SPIN AND WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL IT SLID INTO A DITCH OFF THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #547151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #606182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE RECALL REPAIR (99V-062) CAN NOT BE COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #546556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING INTO THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE ACCLERATED IN A FAST SPEED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE WALL. CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE WENT AT A HIGH SPEED IN REVERSE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #825639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.