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8.4

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
3,737 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1996 Ford Mustang cooling system problems

cooling system problem

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1996 Ford Mustang Owner Comments

problem #19

Feb 071999

Mustang 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 71,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 1996 Ford Mustang LX. I was driving my car at night and I had it on cruise control and it blew up.I took care of my car and checked the engine and the antifreeze before I leave my house.I gave my car a 15 minute warm up period before I leave my house.the engine overheated and blew up due to faulty engine gasket. I have had to change the starter, the water pump(2X), radiator, and pistons because of that. I am very mad at Ford and I told them so in dearborn mi. I will not buy a Ford in the future and I tell everyone that asks me about my bad experience w/ this car and I tell them to not buy Ford cars or trucks. Thank you for reading this.

- Huntsville, AL, USA

problem #18

Nov 262002

Mustang

  • miles
Consumer states her auto is running hot, and she has taken the auto to 4 mechanics and each has said that this part has been on recall. She also states that her air condition and defroster does not work. She also said she was told that the 95 and 96 has been recalled for this problem.

- Walnut, CA, USA

problem #17

Jul 152000

Mustang

  • miles
I have had several reoccurring problems including 2 transmission failures. The transmission is an aod automatic, and it still doesn't shift correctly. If passing gear is engaged, then car's rpms shoot up and it shifts down to too low of a gear. I have replaced 2 water pumps that were leaking. I have replaced a sway bar that broke while driving down a flat road. There is a whinning sound that comes from either the pulleys or the crankshaft. In hot weather the car will act like it is running out of gas when accelerating even when the tank is full. The brakes are very poor even with new pads and the rotors resurfaced, they fade especially when braking must be done quickly or at higher speeds. There are also many rattles that come from various bady panels and the trunk when driving.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #16

Jun 012001

Mustang

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Recall notice was not sent to our address and B class recall is expired. However this just became a problem with our car. Related problems are as follows. Heater giving cold air, timing chain cover rusting, 1 or more gallons of water daily is leaked out thru gasket after driving. Constant overheating and feared overheating damages to motor may occur or engine fire as a result of such severe motor overheating.

- Middleton, ID, USA

problem #15

Apr 012001

Mustang

  • miles
There was clanking noise when engine was turned off/overheated.

- Southgate, MI, USA

problem #14

Jun 302000

Mustang

  • miles
Engine continues to stall and overheat have had 2 engines replaced because of this has seen dealership several times and there has been no resolution

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #13

Jul 012000

Mustang

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Tempeture shows overheating & engine stalls with or without A/C

- Thornton, CO, USA

problem #12

Sep 222000

Mustang

  • miles
Engine stalled and began smoking from under hood. All coolant lost from cooling system. Repair shop said there is a crack in the intake manifold made from plastic. Has repaired 3 in past 6 months. Ford dealer in the area keeps 15 of this expensive part in stock because it is an ongoing problem.

- Cedar Park, TX, USA

problem #11

Mar 012000

Mustang

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Water pump is leaking.

- Tuscaloosa, AL, USA

problem #10

Mar 012000

Mustang

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Water pump is leaking.

- Tuscaloosa, AL, USA

problem #9

Nov 061999

Mustang

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Plastic gasket not able to handle to with stand the pressure from the coolant system. Most cars do not have plastic cylinder head.

- Tishomingo, OK, USA

problem #8

Oct 251999

Mustang

  • miles
The intake manifold cracked & leaked/steamed under normal driving conditions. It had to be replaced at a cost of over $400. (parts & labor included). I have owned several cars & have never even heard of the intake manifold going out at this low mileage. I asked the dealer service mgr @ moyer Ford in foley, al if this had been a problem & he said, "not on this model, the police cars have had some problems with it though". this isn't right & it makes me want to go back to another make of car that is more reliable.

- Foley, AL, USA

problem #7

Aug 011999

Mustang

  • miles
Engine overheats after manufacturer tsb kit installed, dealer kept car 1 mth afterward, no further updates, no repair, car still runs hot

- Duncanville, TX, USA

problem #6

Jul 121999

Mustang

  • miles
The defective design of the engine coolant system which is not adequate for the size of the engine, caused the vehicle to overheat and stall unexpectedly, which could result in a crash. Dealer will install a new coolant system at consumer's expense.

- Santa Ana, CA, USA

problem #5

Sep 101996

Mustang

  • miles
Car has had serious braking, transmission and cooling problems since the date purchased. Has been in the shop for these repairs more then 12 times. Dealer & Ford have said there is nothing wrong with this car. I have read 33 pages of comments of 1996 Mustang owners who are experiencing the same serious defects that I have. Please do something about this unsafe vehicle!

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

problem #4

Aug 181998

Mustang

  • miles
Bob allen Ford and the regional Ford representative refused to fix the problem. The vehicle's cooling system was not upgraded to the specifications outlined in the service bulletins published by Ford which acknowledged that there is a systemic problem in the cooling systems for 1996 Mustang cobras.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #3

Jul 281998

(reported on)

Mustang

  • miles
Flaw in the design of the engine cooling system causing vehicle to overheat and damage components.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #2

Aug 011996

Mustang

  • miles
Engine overheats with air conditioner on in city type driving on warm days.

- Pleasanton, CA, USA

problem #1

Oct 111996

Mustang

  • miles
Vehicle intermittently overheats.

- San Jose, CA, USA

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