1998 Ford Mustang GT problems
The 1998 Ford Mustang GT has 58 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (60%) concerns engine. After that come exhaust system (24%) and cooling system (17%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 58 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 60% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 2 and 4
- Injuries and deaths
- 3 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 82,000 miles 43 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 2 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 9 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 9 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 12 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 5 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 3 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 43 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 82,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 82,000 miles (26 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a crash; 4 complaints mention a fire; 3 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1998 ranks 8th most-complained-about out of 10 model years of the Ford Mustang GT with enough data (11 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Intake manifold defects.. It's made from plastic and it can not withstand all the pressore and heat that it will crack very ealry and cause cooling fluid to leak , and with all that stem coming from the hood it will be so hard to see the road and will cause a fire from the electric system shorting out from the fluid.
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 ford mustang gt. Approximately fifteen minutes after parking and exiting the vehicle, the engine compartment became engulfed in flames. The vehicle was destroyed. There was damage to another vehicle and to a neighboring home; however, the contact did not know the extent of the damage. A fire report was filed. The VIN and purchase date were unknown. The current and failure mileages were 140,000. Updated 03-04-08 updated 03/04/08
Road hugger rage tires, mfg. By kelly springfield, size 245/45/17, have developed substantial circumferential sidewall cracks on low mileage, high tread tires. Same cracks present in 3 of the 4 tires on the vehicle. This is the same as described in recall 98t002 on similar tires by same mfg. Contacted kelly springfield customer service and they refused to replace tires. Later failure of one tire resulted in low-speed accident.
Re: 1998 ford mustang 4.6 litre. Defective plastic intake manifold split near thermostat housing. Found out through internet research this was a common problem, with recalls to almost every vehicle made with a 4.6 liter engine except for my year, thus we had to find out the hard way. We now face replacing this part, at our own expense, because ford refuses to pay for the replacement. We were treated rudely at the local ford dealership, who even refused to tell us whether a upgraded replacement part was available.
While driving on the interstate at 65MPH, the intake manifold cracked, spraying coolant and steam from the hot engine out the back of the hood. This covered the windshield, causing me to lose all visibility. This is very dangerous, had there been something in front of me, I would have caused an accident. I see that there are numerous recalls for the same part/engine on other years and vehicles. The dealer also replaces it, with an updated version to avoid failure, at a cost of $900.00.