1997 Ford Mustang Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Mustang years
- Fewer complaints than other years 20th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 176 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Ford Mustang. That ranks 20th out of 32 Mustang model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (38 complaints, 22%), typically at around 109,175 miles. Complaints mention 17 crashes, 3 fires, 13 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
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- 176owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 17complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Ford Mustang problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 38 | 22% | 109,175 | — | — |
| Power Train | 29 | 16% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 19 | 11% | 98,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 19 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 15 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 14 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 12 | 7% | 118,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 11 | 6% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 8 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 8 | 5% | 69,999 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 6 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 6 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 5 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 5 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 4 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 4 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 2% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 1% | 128,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Ford Mustang recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Parking brake:conventional
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Spark plug ejection from cylinder head (DP05005) — opened Sep 22, 2005, closed Jan 4, 2006.
- Front brake hose (PE99002) — opened Jan 11, 1999, closed Jun 30, 1999.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Unknown I lost control of my steering and almost wrecked
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford mustang. The contact stated that the steering wheel was cracked in the location of the horn. The failure caused the air bag to become exposed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the air bag would not deploy. The…
Mustangs driver side air bag did not deploy during head on crash. *tr
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…
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…
Other Ford Mustang years
← 1996 Mustang · 1998 Mustang →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Mustang | 8 | 5 |
| 2025 Mustang | 18 | 6 |
| 2024 Mustang | 84 | 12 |
| 2023 Mustang | 15 | 6 |
| 2022 Mustang | 50 | 9 |
| 2021 Mustang | 55 | 6 |
| 2020 Mustang | 120 | 8 |
| 2019 Mustang | 150 | 6 |
| 2018 Mustang | 195 | 3 |
| 2017 Mustang | 267 | 6 |
| 2016 Mustang | 378 | 5 |
| 2015 Mustang | 438 | 11 |
| 2014 Mustang | 359 | 3 |
| 2013 Mustang | 271 | 5 |
| 2012 Mustang | 469 | 6 |
| 2011 Mustang | 466 | 4 |
| 2010 Mustang | 261 | 5 |
| 2009 Mustang | 181 | 5 |
| 2008 Mustang | 347 | 5 |
| 2007 Mustang | 615 | 5 |
| 2006 Mustang | 424 | 5 |
| 2005 Mustang | 705 | 5 |
| 2004 Mustang | 116 | 1 |
| 2003 Mustang | 145 | 1 |
| 2002 Mustang | 118 | 0 |
| 2001 Mustang | 173 | 1 |
| 2000 Mustang | 311 | 2 |
| 1999 Mustang | 213 | 3 |
| 1998 Mustang | 236 | 4 |
| 1997 | 176 | 2 |
| 1996 Mustang | 246 | 3 |
| 1995 Mustang | 602 | 5 |
See all Ford Mustang problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
Similar Ford models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Ford Mustang?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, power train, seat belts problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 38 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Ford Mustang?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Ford Mustang a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Mustang model years, the 1997 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.