Problems · by component

1996 Ford Mustang engine and engine cooling problems

109 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Ford Mustang cite engine and engine cooling, 36% of all 304 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
109
36% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“ON MY 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT WITH THE 4.6L ENGINE 3 SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF AND THAT IT WOULD BE $1,341.98 TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE. I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE AND SAW THAT FORD BLAMES THE DAMAGE ON IMPROPER TORQUING OF THE SPARK PLUGS. AS THE CAR ONLY HAS 49,000 MILES IT HAS NEVER HAD THE PLUGS CHANGED IN ANY WAY. THREE BLEW OUT AND 2 MORE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE ENGINE AS THE ALUMINUM HEAD AND ALUMINUM SPARK PLUGS HAD SEIZED. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO FIX IT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 27, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10357842
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON JUNE 4, 2010, WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, THE ANTIFREEZE SPILLED AND HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 136,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 7, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10335072
“FIRST MY ENGINE SEEMED TO OVERHEAT A BIT THEN EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IT WOULD SOUND LIKE THE ENGINE WAS GRINDING ON SOMETHING AND WOULDN'T STOP.. SOUNDED LIKE A BUNCH OF CHAINS IN MY HOOD. BUT THEN ON OCCASIONS THE STUPID THING WOULDN'T SHUT OFF WHEN IT WAS MAKING THE CHAIN SOUND, EVEN WITH MY KEY OUT. IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN AND NOW THE THING SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING AND I HAVE NO POWER WHAT SO EVER IN MY VEHICLE. BEFORE WHEN IT FINALLY SHUT OFF IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO SPARK. THEN IT WAS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE THAT WASN'T COOL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 10, 2008Engine and engine coolingODI 10245079
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT. WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE UP TO THE DASHBOARD WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. FORD WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 152,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 7, 2007Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10198708
“INLET MANIFOLD COOLANT TRANSFER PASSAGE ON MY 1996 FORD MUSTANG WITH 4.6L 2V FAILED. AS THIS OCCURRED AT SPEED AND RESULTED IN OBSCURED FORWARD VISION, IT CREATED SOME HAZARD - AS WELL AS THE SUBSEQUENT INCONVENIENCE OF AN IMMOBILE VEHICLE. THIS FAULT HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO CLASS ACTION IN THE USA, BUT A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF AFFECTED VEHICLES, INCLUDING MINE, HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED ON BASIS OF AGE. THE FLAMING FORD WEBSITE HAS REQUESTED THESE INCIDENTS BE REPORTED VIA YOURSELVES. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 27, 2006Engine and engine coolingODI 10160904
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS LEAKING FLUID. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL ON OTHER FORD VEHICLES. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, THE REPAIR WERE MADE FOR A FEE. ALSO EVERY 25000 MILES, THE OIL PAN GASKET NEEDED TO BE CHANGED DUE A SMALL LEAK. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THIRD, THE EXHAUST AND INTAKE MANIFOLDS WERE LEAKING CAUSING A NOXIOUS SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE SAME SERVICE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH MANIFOLDS, AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK DRIPPING ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 22, 2006Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed controlODI 10160448

Showing 6 of 109 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.