FaultScore

1998 Ford Mustang suspension problems

16 of the 297 complaints about the 1998 Ford Mustang are about the suspension — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 91,975 miles.

D

16

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Rear 5 31.3%
Front 4 25.0%
Suspension 4 25.0%
Wheel Bearing 1 6.3%
Shock Absorber 1 6.3%
Multiple Axle 1 6.3%

Suspension across every Ford Mustang year

1994 17 8.4%
1995 37 18.2%
1996 23 11.3%
1997 15 7.4%
1998 16 7.9%
1999 10 4.9%
2000 12 5.9%
2003 10 4.9%
2005 22 10.8%
2007 25 12.3%
2012 16 7.9%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 112,000 miles Tarpon Springs, FL

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD MUSTANG. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, IT WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION WIRES AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE PROPERLY ALIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

NHTSA complaint #10721986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 71,951 miles Miami, FL

SUSPENSION:FRONT

MY VEHICLE HAS LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. FOUND RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ON LINE, HOWEVER, MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT CORRESPOND. I CALLED NHTSA AND THEY SUGGESTED I FILE A COMPLAINT. MY VEHICLE HAS NO EXTERNAL LEAKS OR WORN OR TORN SUSPENSION PARTS, IT MUST HAVE INTERNAL DAMAGE TO STEERING GEAR. FORD DOES NOT SHOW A RECALL. I WILL BE REPAIRING MY VEHICLE IN THE MEANTIME, ONES VEHICLE IS VERY NECESSARY TO GET BY OUR DAY TO DAY BUSINESS, HOWEVER, I NEED THIS ISSUE RESOLVED.

NHTSA complaint #10266242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Modesto, CA Crash

SUSPENSION

ERRATIC HANDLING ON FREEWAY , STEERING BECAME UNCONTROLABLE AND SWERVING WHEN PULLING OUT INTO INTERSECTION.

NHTSA complaint #764431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Redding, CA

SUSPENSION:REAR

MY HUSBAND AND I TEST DROVE THIS CAR WITH THE TOP DOWN, AND DROVE IT HOME WITH TOP DOWN. THE NEXT DAY WHEN WE DROVE IT WITH THE TOP UP WE COULD HEAR A WHOOSHING SOUND FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. IT WOULD GET WORSE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. WE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT FOR NO CHARGE SINCE WE HAD JUST PURCHASED THE CAR EVEN THOUGH IT CAME WITH NO WARRANTY. (OUR MECHANIC HAD CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID IT WAS THE REAR END GOING OUT) THE DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT THE CAR AND SAID THE ENTIRE REAR END NEEDED REPLACEMENT!! THE AXLES, BEARINGS, ETC. WERE RUINED. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW OF THE SITUATION. THEY TOLD MY HUSBAND IF I WOULD HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR ANOTHER 2 WEEKS THE REAR END WOULD HAVE SEIZED, CAUSING THE CAR TO SUDDENLY STOP, AND PROBABLY CAUSING AND ACCIDENT. SINCE THE CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT COULD HAVE A PROBLEM AS SEVERE AS THIS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IS WAS A POOR DESIGN BY FORD. I AM VERY UPSET AT THE FACT THAT THIS CAR HAD A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTICED, AND I AM KICKING MYSELF FOR NOT TEST DRIVING IT WITH THE TOP UP. FURTHERMORE , SINCE IT HAD NO WARRENTY, I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THEY HAVE TOLD ME I ONLY HAVE TO PAY $480.00 EVEN THOUGH THE WORK WILL BE WELL OVER $1000.00. I FEEL THE DEALERSHIP SOLD ME A CAR THAT WAS VERY UNSAFE, AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FOOT ANY OF THE BILL.

NHTSA complaint #764169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Montrose, CA

SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE

REAR WHEELS MADE LOUD CLINKING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT REAR BEARINGS NEEDEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #892741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST. Peters, MO

SUSPENSION:REAR

REAR SWAY BAR IS HOLLOW AND THE ENDS ARE PRESSED, THAT'S WHERE IT SNAPPED. SUPPOSSEDLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM SO I WANTED TO REPORT IT IN HOPES THAT FORD WILL SOMEDAY RECALL IT. THEY ALREADY HAVE PRODUCED A NEW PIECE THAT ISN'T HOLLOW AND SUPPOSEDLY MUCH STRONGER, SO THEY MUST KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #745404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL

SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THEN GOES OFF. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SOMETIME BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED BUT HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE CHECKED. REAR SUSPENSION FEELS AS IF THE SHOCK ABSORBERS HAVE ALREADY FAILED, CAUSING HARDER THAN NORMAL SHOCKS SPECIALLY WHEN HITTING SMALL BUMPS OR DEEPS ON THE ROAD. KEY GETS STOCK ON THE IGNITION WHEN PARKING AND ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE KEY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS IN AN ATTEMP TO CORRECT THE FAILURE BUT IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. APPRECIATE ANY ASSIATANCE AND SUGGESTIONS YOU CAN PROVIDE WITH RESPECT TO SIMILAR PROBLEMS REPORTED TO YOU.

NHTSA complaint #745236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chapel Hill, NC

SUSPENSION:REAR

WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED ON, IT WOULD MAKE STRANGE HARMONIC RESONANCE NOISE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE & SHAKE. ONLY HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS RUNNING. NOISE WOULD BUILD UP. PROBLEM CANNOT BE DUPLICATED. VEHICLE COULD BE IDLING & NOISE WOULD ALSO APPEAR. MECHANIC CANNOT SOLVE PROBLEM. ALSO HAS A BAD DRIVE TRAIN & REAR END.

NHTSA complaint #873963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jackson, TN

SUSPENSION:REAR

WHILE DRIVING REAR END HAS A NOISE COMING FROM IT. ALSO, THE REAR END FEELS AS IF IT SWAYS BACK AND FORTH AND OUT OF CONTROL. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES AND CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE.

NHTSA complaint #851971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clinton, IA

SUSPENSION:FRONT

FRONT END ALIGNMENT OFF. MJS

NHTSA complaint #548178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dana Point, CA

SUSPENSION:REAR

REAR SUSPENSION FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #606182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pacific PA, CA

SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

WHEEL BEARING SYSTEM FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #606994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Trabuco Canyon, CA 1 injured

SUSPENSION

VEHICLE'S SUSPENSION DESIGN IS NOT STABLE WITH LIGHT REAR END CAUSING THE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION TO BE OFF BALANCE, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED VEHICLE COLLISION DUE TO LOSS OF TRACTION CONTROL IN THE REAR END CRASHING INTO CONCRETE WALL, SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK UP PROPERLY RESULTING IN MINOR INJURY. MJS

NHTSA complaint #606920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Belmont, CA Crash

SUSPENSION:FRONT

THE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT A CURB, THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TIRE WAS INFLATED BEFORE IT HIT THE CURB. ALSO ACCIDENT COST 2700.00 IN DAMAGES.

NHTSA complaint #836650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cuthbert, GA

SUSPENSION:FRONT

RECALLS 97V165002/97V165000; TIRES STARTED TO WEAR ON FRONT, MADE LOUD NOISES WHEN GOING OVER BUMP. DEALER CONTACTED AND STATED THE RACK AND PINION WAS WORN OUT. REPAIR WORK NOT PERFORMED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH RECALL. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #833007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lexington, KY Crash

SUSPENSION

WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE SPINNED AROUND, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HITTING A CURB. THE PAVEMENT WAS WET. *AK

NHTSA complaint #831776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Ford Mustang problems

← Full 1998 Ford Mustang report