95 complaints reported

1996 Ford Mustang Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
95
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
3

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Dec 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE RADIATOR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND STEAM STARTED TO EMERGE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE TEMPERATURE GAGE INDICATED HOT. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE WATER CROSSOVER FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE ENGINE WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,242.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2016
Apr 2012

CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSED VAR TO OVERHEAT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2012
Sep 2010

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2010
Jul 2010

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2010
Jul 2007 Fire

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2007
Sep 2006

I BOUGHT A USED 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT, SOON AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT THE CAR RAN HOT AND COULD SOMETIMES SMELL COOLANT WHEN EXITING THE CAR, AFTER MY HUSBAND CHANGED MANY PARTS IN THE COOLING SYSTEM, WHICH DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE, WE CALLED A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE THE PARTS DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A RECALL SO HE SENT US TO TALK TO A SERVICE MANAGER, AFTER GIVING THE VIN # TO THE SERVICE MANAGER WE WERE INFORMED THAT OUR CAR DID NOT HAVE ANY RECALLS. A FEW DAYS LATER MY HUSBAND FOUND A CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WE REPLACED IT OURSELVES AT OUR OWN EXPENSE ONLY TO FIND OUT THROUGH RESEARCH THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES, I FIND IT SAD THAT AN AMERICAN CAR COMPANY CAN GET AWAY WITH KNOWINGLY SELLING DEFECTIVE VEHICLES AND GETTING AWAY WITH IT. I WILL REMEMBER THIS NEXT VEHICLE AND BUY A FOREIGN CAR. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2006
Jun 2006

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2006
Jun 2006

THIS IS REGARD TO A 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT COUP WITH A 4.6L WITH THE NOW KNOWN FAULTY PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR, IT WAS PURCHASED FROM CAR MAX IN EARLY 2000. SO FAR THE REPAIR COST IS JUST $1,000. I AM AWARE OF THE JUST FINISHED CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BUT MY CASE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO IT BEING OUTSIDE THE 7 YEAR WINDOW. THE CAR WAS SERVICED AT FORD DEALERSHIPS WELL WITH IN THE 7 YEARS BUT THEY NEVER SAID A WORD. I FEEL THIS IS UNFAIR PRACTICES BY FORD AND THEIR AFFILIATED DEALERSHIPS. I WANT TO MAKE YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE AWARE THAT I AM PREPARED TO JOIN ANY SUBSEQUENT LITIGATION TO HELP COVER THE MANY, MANY OTHER INTAKES THAT WERE NOT HANDLED IN THIS CLASS ACTION SUIT. I AM ASKING YOU TO PLEASE ENCOURAGE FORD TO MAKE GOOD ON THE RIGHT THING TO DO. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2006
Jan 2006

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 1996 FORD MUSTANG CRACKED WITH 48750 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS FAILUE OCCURED WITHIN A FEW MILES OF MY HOME AND I WAS ABLE TO LIMP THE CAR BACK. THIS MANIFOLD IS KNOWN BY FORD TO BE DEFECTIVE AND WAS RECALLED IN FLEET CARS AND WAS ALSO THE SUBJECT OF LITIGATION (WHICH FORD LOST). WHILE THE MANIFOLD ON MY CAR IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE MANIFOLDS ON THE RECALLED VEHICLES OR THE ONES COVERED BY THE LAWSUIT, FORD WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FAILURE. WHILE THE LAWSUIT HAS BEEN SETTLED, AND IT APPEARS THAT THE LAWSUIT IS COSTING FORD MONEY, I BEG TO DIFFER. THEIR STATISTICIANS KNOW THE HALF LIFE OF THIS PART. THEY ALSO KNOW THAT ALL CARS WITH THIS ENGINE WILL BE AFFECTED SOONER OR LATER. IF THEY MAKE MONEY ON UNNECESSARY REPAIRS THAT ARE NOT COVERED (MY PARTS COST WAS TRIPLE THAT OF WHAT I COULD HAVE BOUGHT THE PART FOR ONLINE), THEN THEY CAN AFFORD TO COVER THEIR RECALLED PARTS AND EITHER BREAK EVEN OR WORSE YET, MAKE A PROFIT OFF OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THIS SETS A POOR PRECIDENCE. ADDITIONALLY, THE MANIFOLD LEAKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE LEAK WAS SMALL, REQUIRING THAT I ADD ABOUT 2 QUARTS OF ANTIFREEZE A YEAR. VAPOR FROM THE ANTIFREEZE COULD BE SMELLED INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE FROM TIME TO TIME AND I'M NOT SURE THAT THIS IS GREAT FOR THE HEALTH OF AN INDIVIDUAL RIDING IN THE CABIN. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2005
Dec 2005

I OWN A 96 MUSTANG GT THAT HAS A CRACKED INTAKE. WHY IS THE 96 EXCLUDED FROM BEING REPLACED UNDER THE LAWSUIT, WHENEVER THE INTAKES ARE THE SAME? THERE SHOULD NOT BE SO MANY CARS EXCLUDED FROM THIS,THAT HAVE THE SAME INTAKE AS THE ONES INCLUDED, IF FORD REALLY CARES ABOUT ITS BUYERS! *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2003
Oct 2005

CONSUMER 1996 FORD MUSTANG INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. *TS THE CONSUMER FELT THAT FORD SHOULD COVER THE ENTIRE COST OF REPAIR PLUS THE MONIES SPENT ON BORROWING VEHICLES TO GET TO WORK. *SC

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2005
Oct 2005

HELLO PLEASE FORGIVE MY POOR ENGLISH BUT MY PROBLEM IS THAT I HAD JUST BOUGHT MY FIRST CAR FROM A CAR DEALER WITHIN 35 DAYS THE PLASTIC INTAKE STARTED SPRAY OUT OF THE ENGINE AREA EVERY TIME THE GAS PEDAL WAS PUSH THEN CAUSING OTHER PROBLEM TO THE ENGINE. THE 1996 MUSTANG GT 4.6 HAS A CRACKED PLASTIC INTAKE THAT SHOULD NEVER BEEN ON THIS CAR PLEASE HELP IT COST A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2005
Jul 2005

96 MUSTANG OVERHEATING DUE TO CRACKED INTAKE. DEALER WILL NOT FIX UNLESS I PAY. THERE WAS ONCE A RECALL THAT I WAS NEVER AWARE OF. I NEED MY CAR FIXED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2005
Jun 2005

1996 FORD MUSTANG REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD GASKET AND RADIATOR.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR WHILE DRIVING ON A TRECHEROUS MOUNTAIN ROAD THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AND THE RADIATOR SPLIT. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2005
Mar 2005

WE OWNED A 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT THAT HAD A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT CRACKED AND FAILED. THE MANIFOLD CRACKED ON THE COOLANT CROSSOVER PASSAGE, DIRECTLY BEHIND THE ALTERNATOR. THERE WAS NO CRASH OR INJURIES. I REPLACED THE MANIFOLD MYSELF BY PURCHASING A NEW ONE FROM AUTO ZONE ON 8/16/05. THE COST OF THE MANIFOLD WAS $264.94. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2005
Mar 2005

PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED FOR THE 2ND TIME. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET COVERED UNDER THE RECALL THE FIRST TIME, BUT THIS TIME I'M ON MY OWN. THIS IS ON A '96 MUSTANG GT WITH 100K MILES. BOTH CRACKS WERE AROUND THE TEMPERATURE SENDING UNIT AT THE FRONT/PASSENGER SIDE OF THE MOTOR.*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2005
Feb 2005

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM I BOUGHT A LOT OF NEW PARTS FOR THIS CAR TO TRY AND KEEP IT COOLED DOWN EVERYTHING THERE IS TO BUY I WAS FINELY TOLD BY THE SHOP THAT WORKS ON THE CAR I SHOULD CHECK WITH FORD BECAUSE IF THEY DID ANYMORE WORK ON MY CAR IT COULD BECOME UP IN THE THOUSANDS AND THAT FORD SHOULD BE PAYING THE BILL OR RECALL THE WHOLE CAR THERE IS A LOT OF MILES ON MY CAR BUT I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT AND AS MANY PARTS I BUY AND AS MANY TIMES THAT IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP ALMOST EVERYTHING ON THE CAR IS NEW I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING TO MAKE THIS CAR RUN GOOD THE REASON THE OWNER BEFORE ME SOLD THE CAR HE WAS ALWAYS FIXING SOMETHING ON IT WITH EVERYTHING HE DONE TO THE CAR I THOUGHT IF I JUST DID A LITTLE MORE IT WOULD RUN GOOD BUT THERE'S NO WAY I REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD 2 TIMES BECAUSE OF CRACKING I WAS TOLD BY FORD THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLDS BUT THEY DON'T RECALL THEM ANYMORE SO SECOND HAND BUYERS ARE OUT OF LUCK WE JUST KEEP REPLACING THAT PART WHILE FORD GETS RICHER ON A PART THEY KNOW WILL NOT WORK ON THAT CAR I REPLACED THE CLUTCH A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO AND AGAIN SOMETHING 'S WRONG I HAD IT CHECKED AND THEY FOUND THAT ALL THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE TRANSMISSION IN WHERE ALL ALMOST OUT I HAVE HAD THEM PUT BACK IN PLACE 2 TIMES AND THE SAME WITH STARTER ONLY WITH THE STARTER THERE WAS ONLY ONE BOLT LEFT HOLDING IT THE SHOP SAID THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW IT HAD BEEN STARTING SO I FIXED THAT BUT WORRIED ABOUT THEM ALL THE TIME FORD HAS BEEN NO HELP ON ANY THING I CALLED ABOUT BUT THEY SAY THEY KNOW OF THE TROUBLE PEOPLE ARE HAVING BUT SORRY NO ONE HAS PUT ANY RECALLS ON THESE PROBLEMS AND THAT THEY WILL SEND ME A LETTER IF ANY RECALLS COME OUT ANYTHING THAT COST FORD TO MUCH NEVER GETS RECALLS ONLY THING LIKE HOOD LATCH SEAT BELT THOSE 2 THINGS I HAVE NEVER HAD TROUBLE WITH BUT THEY ALSO DON'T PAY MUCH TO HAVE THEM FIXED. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2005
Feb 2005

1996 FORD MUSTANG GT CONVERT. LEAKING COOLANT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I SERVICE IT REGULARLY SINCE 2001. CONFIRMED A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART BUT IT HAD EXPIRED. MY WIFE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY STATED IT WAS A COURTESY RECALL AND THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME BECAUSE THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. HOW CAN A THE MANUFACTURER RECALL A DEFECTIVE PART AND THEN CLOSE THE DATE ON THE RECALL WHEN THERE APPEARS TO BE A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA COMPLAINTS WEBSITE? COST FOR REPLACEMENT INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS $1253.77. REQUESING REIMBURSEMENT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2005
Jan 2005

INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED; I HAD TO PAY 589.17 FOR A NEW ONE AND 225.00 LABOR CHARGES; I WOULD LIKE A REFUND. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2005
Jan 2005

I HAVE 96 MUSTANG GT, AT 21000 MILES INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED IN THE REAR , FORD REPLACED FOR FREE, NOW AT 79000K THE INTAKE HAS CRACKED AGAIN IN THE FRONT , THE FIRST TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS A SILENT RECALL, BEFORE I GO BACK TO FORD, AGAIN DOES FORD HAVE TO FIX IT OR DO I? *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2005
Nov 2004

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD STARTED LEAKING COOLANT, RESULTING IN THE WINDSHIELD TO INSTANTLY BECOME FOGGED AND UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY FORD TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF MY VEHICLE. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2004
Nov 2004

I PURCHASED A 96 MUSTANG GT 4.6, IN 1998 AND IN 2001 THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED SO I DID SOME RESEARCH INTO THIS PROBLEM AND IT TURNS OUT 90% OF ALL 96 AND 97 MUSTANGS WITH THE JUNK PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. I CALL MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND IT COSTS 904.00 THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS. WHY WAS THERE NEVER A RECALL AND WHY DO YOU CHARGE SUCH AN UN COMPREHENDABLE AMMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE IT???? *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2000
Oct 2004

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE DRIVER OPENED THE HOOD AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2004
Oct 2004

2 YEARS AFTER COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT, MY MUSTANG HAS BLOWN ANOTHER HEAD GASKET! I HAD TO HAVE MY 96 FORD MUSTANG ENGINE (V6) REPLACED BECAUSE OF A BAD HEAD GASKET, AND AFTER REPLACING THE ENGINE, WHICH COST ME $3000.00 AT THE TIME, TWO YEARS LATER AM NOW LOOKING AT REPLACING ANOTHER HEAD GASKET, IN A NEWER ENGINE, AND LOOKING AT ANOTHER $2000 IN REPAIRS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO COVER OTHER MODELS OF FORD VEHICLES BESIDE 94-95. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2003
Oct 2004

MY WIFE BOUGHT A USED 1996 FORD MUSTANG V-6 TWO YEARS AGO STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. RECENTLY, THE CAR BEGAN LEAKING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OIL. THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN CRESTVIEW, FLORIDA (HUB CITY FORD) TOLD US THAT THE LEAK WAS FROM THE TIMING CHAIN COVER AND THE MANIFOLD COVER. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED UNDER A RECALL AT 30,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER, WASN'T REALLY FIXED AND WE WERE INFORMED THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THIS $600 SERVICE DONE EVERY 30,000 MILES AND THAT FORD HAD NO PLANS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE FURTHER. OBVIOUSLY, THE RECALL WAS COMPLETELY BOGUS, AS THE "FIX" WAS MERELY TEMPORARY. ANY AUTO MANUFACTURER THAT INTENTIONALLY IS AWARE THAT IT'S RECALL EFFORTS FAILED IS COMPLETELY MISGUIDED. IT IS LUDICROUS THAT A MAJOR $600 SERVICE EVERY 30,000 MILES OR LESS BE ACCEPTABLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD MUSTANG, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2004

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 1996 Ford Mustang has 95 Engine complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.