1997 Ford Mustang

Family: Mustang · filed with NHTSA as MUSTANG, MUSTANG COBRA, MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE, MUSTANG GT

Summary

In its first three years the 1997 Mustang drew 74 complaints — 0.8× the median of its generation (1996–1998). It does not stand out from the other years of this generation.
These are complaint counts, not failure rates: they are not divided by how many cars were sold, because no public source reports U.S. sales by model year.
Complaints are spread across systems: the largest, Engine, holds 29% of the 211 that name a component.
11 recalls filed for this model year.
2 federal defect investigations cover this model year.

At a glance

Owner complaints: 214
Recalls: 11
Investigations: 2
NCAP overall: Not rated
Combined MPG: 18–21
Annual fuel cost: $2,950–$4,100
Median mileage at complaint: 84,618 mi (n = 43)
Crashes / fires / injuries / deaths: 19 / 4 / 14 / 2

What owners report

Engine

62 complaints · 29% of complaints that name a component · median 85,584 mi (n = 25)

Owner report TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, A FOUL ODOR STARTED TO EMIT INTO THE CABIN. THE CONTACT THEN MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE HE BECAME DISTRAUGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. …

Owner report TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A DESIGN FLAW. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD NOT SERVICE ANY VEHICLES OVER TEN YEARS OF …

Brakes

40 complaints · 19% of complaints that name a component · median 93,000 mi (n = 4)

Owner report TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD MUSTANG, COBRA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PARKED IN HIS DRIVEWAY HE APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO COAST DOWN HIS DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED NHTSA RECALL #00V349000 PARKING BRAKE: CONVENTIONAL DID NOT APPLY TO HIS VEHICLES VI…

Owner report WAS INFORMED BY THE GARAGE I TOOK MY CAR TO THAT MY MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER AND HYDROBOOST WERE LEAKING. I WAS TALKING THIS OVER WITH A LAWYER FRIEND OF MINE AND SHE INFORMED ME OF A RECALL ON FEDERAL VEHICLES, POLICE, ETC. BUT THIS WAS NOT A GENERAL RECALL. BUT IF YOU HAD UNDER 100,000 MILES ON YOUR VEHICLE IT WOULD BE …

Powertrain

31 complaints · 15% of complaints that name a component · median 59,138 mi (n = 2)

Owner report MANUAL TANSMISSION. NO 5TH OR REVERSE. CLUTCH/TRANMISSION MESSED UP WHILE ON INTERSTATE.

Owner report AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS AT TIMES UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK INTO A DRIVE GEAR, THIS RENDERS VEHICLE USELESS UNTIL THE GEAR SHIFT IS MOVEABLE. YES THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.*AK

1% of complaints name no specific component and are left out of the shares above.

Across the generation (1996–1998)

To compare years fairly, each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 91.

Model year	All complaints	First three years
1996	286	91
1997	214	74
1998	305	126

Recalls

Whether a recall has been fixed on a specific car depends on its VIN; check it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

09E025000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Filed 2009-05-11 · 42,540 vehicles

Defect: DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

09E012000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Filed 2009-04-07 · 16,270 vehicles

Defect: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

08E050000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Filed 2008-08-11 · 1,921 vehicles

Defect: K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

06E064000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Filed 2006-07-17 · 4,029 vehicles

Defect: CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.

06E060000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Filed 2006-06-29 · 87,745 vehicles

Defect: CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Risk: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH

Remedy: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.

06E049000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Filed 2006-05-24 · 27,176 vehicles

Defect: CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

06E026000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Filed 2006-03-23 · 61,944 vehicles

Defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

06E025000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Filed 2006-03-21 · 1,450 vehicles

Defect: CERTAIN POLI-AUTO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS. 11-728, 11-728D, 11-710, 11-419, 11-713, 11-703, 11-704, 11-708P, 11-735, 11-725, 11-726, 11-716 (P&C), 11-721-1, 11-733, 11-729, 11-730, AND 11-732, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: POLI-AUTO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE HEADLAMPS AT ITS ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT POLI-AUTO AT 305-477-1356.

06E023000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Filed 2006-03-13 · 292,000 vehicles

Defect: CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.

01V318000 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Filed 2001-10-03 · 911 vehicles

Defect: EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE REPLACED AFTER APRIL 5, 2000. THE REPLACEMENT DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE INFLATOR MAY HAVE INSUFFICIENT WELDS THAT COULD PREVENT PROPER INFLATION OF THE AIR BAG.

Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MAY NOT PROPERLY DEPLOY WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN LESS THAN THE INTENDED LEVEL OF OCCUPANT PROTECTION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

00V349000 · PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

Filed 2000-10-30 · 434,000 vehicles

Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. IF A VEHICLE IS PARKED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE NOT FULLY APPLIED AND NOT IN FIRST GEAR, AS DIRECTED IN THE OWNER GUIDE, AND THE SELF ADJUSTMENT PAWL SUBSEQUENTLY SKIPS ONE OR TWO TEETH, THE VEHICLE COULD MOVE ON SOME GRADES.

Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL AND INSTALL A PLATE OR OVER-BRACKET TO THE CONTROL TO LOCK THE SELF ADJUST MECHANISM IN POSITION FOLLOWING ADJUSTMENT.

Federal investigations

Action	Component	Opened	Closed	Recall
DP05005	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	2005-09-22	2006-01-04
PE99002	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC	1999-01-11	1999-06-30

DP05005: SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD

PE99002: FRONT BRAKE HOSE

Engines and fuel economy

Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Fuel cost / yr
Mustang	3.8L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	18	27	21	$2950
Mustang	3.8L 6cyl	Manual 5-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	18	27	21	$2950
Mustang	4.6L 8cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	15	22	18	$3450
Mustang	4.6L 8cyl	Manual 5-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	16	24	19	$4100
Mustang	4.6L 8cyl	Manual 5-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	15	24	18	$3450

Fuel cost is EPA's estimate at the fuel prices of its last update, not today's.

Crash test ratings (NCAP)

Variant	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover
1997 Ford Mustang Convertible	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated
1997 Ford Mustang 2-DR.	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated

Service bulletins

Ford issued 189 service bulletins listed against this model year, most often about engine and engine cooling.

A bulletin tells dealers how to fix a known condition. It is not a recall and not a defect finding. Most bulletins cover several model years at once, so one listed here may not be specific to this year. The number of bulletins tracks how long and how widely a model was sold, so it is not a measure of reliability.

Date	Component	Summary
2007-10-01	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	SOME 1997-2008 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6L 2V, 5.4L 2V, OR 6.8L 2V ENGINE--SPARK PLUG THREAD REPAIR PROCEDURE--NOT COVERED UNDER NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY. NJ THIS INCLUDES F-53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS. UPDATED 2/23/10. PE
2005-12-14	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE	EXTENDED COVERAGE PROGRAM 05N04 - EXTENDED COVERAGE FOR COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS PROGRAM IS BEING PROVIDED AS A SETTLEMENT TO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT EXTEND THE COVERAGE OF THE ALL-COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIF…
2004-12-13	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)	GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT
2004-06-01	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER OR CRANK NO START - POSSIBLE PATS LAMP FLASHING AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) U1147 AND/OR U1262. *TT
2003-09-15	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE) - SERVICE TIPS. *TT
2003-05-12	FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER	MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATION WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0442, P0455, P0456, P0457, P1442 OR CHECK FUEL CAP LAMP ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0457. *TT
2003-01-05	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION	NEW SERVICE PART - NUMBER 5 NEEDLE BEARING AND RACE KIT - 4R70W TRANSMISSION - SERVICE TIP. *TT
2002-11-11	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	ENGINE-GEAR DRIVEN SYNCHRONIZERS-INCORRECT INSTALLATION-CAMSHAFT POSITION SYNCHRONIZER (CMP) INSTALLATION TOOL CORRECT APPLICATION. *MJ
2002-10-22	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	INCORRECTLY INSTALLED GEAR DRIVEN CAMSHAFT POSITION (CMP) SENSOR SYNCHRONIZER ASSEMBLIES CAUSING SURGE, LOST OF POWER, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P1336, P1309 AND P0340. *TT
2002-10-14	EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER	CLIMATE CONTROL A/C SERVICE TECH TIPS. *EH

How to read this page

Complaint counts are not failure rates. A model that sells more cars draws more complaints, and owners file more often after news coverage or a recall. That is why this page compares a model year only with other years of the same generation, never with other models.

Each complaint is counted once, even when it names several components; a complaint that names several systems appears under each of them. Owner reports are quoted as filed and have not been verified by NHTSA or by us.

Every model year of this Mustang, including the ones without a page of their own, is listed on the Ford Mustang model page.

Sources

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: complaints, recalls and investigations (bulk files, data as of 2026-10-28).
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program: crash test ratings.
U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov: engines, transmissions and fuel economy.

MotorAlmanac is independent and not affiliated with NHTSA, EPA or any manufacturer. This page summarises public records; it is not a mechanical inspection. Before buying a used car, check its VIN for open recalls and have it inspected.