Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Ford Mustang problems
Owners filed 297 complaints about the 1999 Ford Mustang with NHTSA between Jan 1999 and Apr 2021. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (61).
Complaints
297
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
56
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
28
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling61
- Air bags34
- Power train32
- Vehicle speed control31
- Seat belts25
- Parking brake22
- Service brakes, hydraulic22
- Suspension20
- Electrical system17
- Tires13
- Seats11
- Steering11
- Exterior lighting9
- Visibility8
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
36
58
55
22
23
18
31
13
12
6
4
3
5
1
1
3
2
0
0
3
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 36 |
| 2000 | 58 |
| 2001 | 55 |
| 2002 | 22 |
| 2003 | 23 |
| 2004 | 18 |
| 2005 | 31 |
| 2006 | 13 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
61 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A CRACKED MANIFOLD AND IT WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.”
Air bags
34 reports26 crashes
“IT WAS LATE SUMMER, CLOSE TO EARLY FALL 2017. MY TWO SONS, AGES 17 AND 15, HAD JUST GOTTEN OUT OF FOOTBALL PRACTICE AND WERE GETTING INTO THE 1999 MUSTANG TO COME HOME. (MY 17 YEAR OLD SON, MATTHEW, HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR QUITE AWHILE, AND HAD NO TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS OR VIOLATIONS YET EITHER, NOR DOES HE NOW. HE HAS BEEM A CAREFUL DRIVER.) THEY WERE DRIVING VERY SLOWLY, AS THEY HAD JUST EXITED THEIR PARKING SPOT, AND THEN PROCEEDED AHEAD, AND WHILE DRIVING IN VERY SLOW MOTION WENT OVER A SMALL BUMP OR NODE, OR BARELY ANYTHING, IN THE ENUMCLAW HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT. THE AIRBAGS BOTH BLEW OUT SUDDENLY, SLIGHTLY INJURING MY 15 YEAR OLD SON'S HAND, AND BLINDING AND PUSHING THEM BOTH BACKWARD IN THEIR SEATS. BOTH OF THEM JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR IMMEDIATELY, VERY SCARED. THEY HAD BEEN DRIVING VERY SLOWLY, SO WERE ABLE TO STOP SUDDENLY DO THIS AND STILL SAFELY ENOUGH TO IMMEDIATELY GET OUT. MANY OF THE FOOTBALL BOYS WERE WATCHING, AS THEY WERE DRIVING RIGHT BY THEM, AND EVERYONE BROKE OUT IN EMOTION. ONE WITNESS CLAIMED THAT IT CAUSED THE WHEELS TO LIFT OFF THE GROUND. THEY DROVE HOME THAT DAY, WITH AIRBAGS OUT, BUT SINCE THEY HAVE QUITE DRIVING THE CAR, AS IT APPEARS TO…”
Power train
32 reports3 crashes
“INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACK DESTROYING ENGINE. CYLINDER HEAD SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT. HEATER CORE FAILURE. CONVERTIBLE TOP DETERIORATING. FUEL PUMP FAILURE ALL LESS THAN 1200000”
Vehicle speed control
31 reports11 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECREASE IN SPEED WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DEACTIVATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT SHUT THE ENGINE OFF WHILE DRIVING IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V062001 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.”
Seat belts
25 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“MY SEAT BELTS DO NOT FUNCTION WELL. SOMETIMES, THEY RETRACT VERY SLOW, LOSE AND SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT EVEN RETRACT. ALSO, SOMETIME THEY GET STUCK. WHEN I BRAKE HARD, THEY STUCK AND TOO TIGHT....ON THE OTHER HAND SOMETIMES THEY ARE VERY LOSE AND DOESN'T STAY TIGHT TO MY CHEST, SAME IS THE CASE WITH THE NAVIGATOR SEAT BELTS AND ALSO THE REAR SEAT SEAT BELTS. IT BEEN HAPPENING FOR COUPLE OF WEEKS.”
Parking brake
22 reports11 crashes1 related recall
“I AM THE OWNER OF A 1999 FORD MUSTANG, WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, PURCHASED IN 2004. LAST WEEK, I PARKED MY CAR ON A LOCAL STREET, AT A METER AND WENT INTO CHURCH. WHILE IN CHURCH, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON MY CAR FAILED, AND MY CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS, A BLOCK AND A HALF THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND WAS HIT BY A CITY BUS, BEFORE LANDING AGAINST A TREE. THE POLICE TOWED MY CAR AWAY. SINCE THEN I HAVE PAID TO GET MY CAR FROM THE TOW YARD, TAKEN IT IN FOR AUTO BODY REPAIR AND HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE BACK END REPLACED FROM DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS FAILURE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. *NM”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.