Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1999 Ford Mustang, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags32
- Engine and engine cooling31
- Power train25
- Vehicle speed control25
- Service brakes, hydraulic22
- Parking brake21
- Seat belts19
- Tires11
- Steering10
- Electrical system10
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 22 injuries and 2 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 31 1999 Mustang vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 25 people died inside them, and 10 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1999 Ford Mustang failed the safety check 0.90% of the time — 49% less often than the average 1999 passenger car (1.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 94,686 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
35 first registered in 1999 are on Dutch roads; 57% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde21
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen9
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect6
- Licht- donkerscheiding dimlicht onduidelijk5
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm5
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt5
- Accu ondeugdelijk bevestigd4
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld4
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
15 cars built in 1999 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 12 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
11 of these cars first registered in 1999 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 112,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
66 1999 cars are on the New Zealand register; 94% arrived as used imports, 6% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 11.4–13.3 L/100 km (about 18–21 mpg US), CO₂ 262–306 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mustang · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 13.4 | 8.9 | 11.4 |
| Mustang · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 13.3 | 9.3 | 11.5 |
| Mustang · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 15.1 | 11.0 | 13.2 |
| Mustang · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 15.6 | 10.5 | 13.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 1999 Ford Mustang.
| 2001079 5 Apr 2001 | Suspension On certain Mustang SVT vehicles, when operated in severe driving cycles such as frequent drag race type standing start acceleration, the ball joint in the rear … |
| 2000282 28 Nov 2000 | Brakes On certain vehicles equipped with manual transmissions, if parked with the parking brake not fully applied and not in first gear, as directed in the Owner Guide… |
| 1999176 19 Oct 1999 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles, the seat belt retractor in certain seating positions may have a pin shaft in the switchable ELR/ALR(emergency locking retractor/automatic l… |
| 1999153 19 Aug 1999 | Emissions On certain Mustang GT vehicles equipped with 4.6 litre, 2-valve engines, the transmission control wire harness may chafe against the EGR tube and sleeve possibl… |
| 1999061 15 Apr 1999 | Engine On certain vehicles, the speed control cable may interfere with the speed control servo pulley and not allow the throttle to return to idle when disengaging the… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE A PIN SHAFT IN THE SWITCHABLE ELR/ALR MECHANISM THAT IS INCORRECTLY FORMED. IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SWITCHING MECHANISM COULD BECOME NONFUNCTIONAL, PREVENTING THE SEAT BELT WEBBING FROM BEING EXTRACTED FROM THE RETRACTOR. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT MALFUNCTION OF THE MECHANISM COULD PREVENT THE BELT FROM BEING SWITCHED INTO THE ALR MODE. THE ELR MECHANISM IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1997-1999 RHD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MAY 29, 1996 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEERS EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC OR 5.0L ENGINES OR 1998-1999 RANGERS EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L, 3.0L FFV/EFI OR 4.0L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM JANUARY 5, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 MUSTANGS EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L, 4.6L 2-VALVE OR 4-VALVE ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1999 F250/F350/F450/F550 (OVER 8,500 LBS.) TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; AND 1999 F-53 STRIPPED CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999. A CRUISE CONTROL CABLE CAN INTERFERE WITH THE SPEED CONTROL SERVO PULLEY AND NOT ALLOW THE THROTTLE TO RETURN TO IDLE WHEN DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1999 Ford Mustang: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637824 | SUBJECT REGARDING INACCURATE SPEEDOMETER. *TT |
| 636339 | SUBJECT REGARDING SPEED CONTROL LAMP. *TT |
| 636265 | SOME COBRAS MAY EXHIBIT A CLUNK NOISE FROM THE DRIVELINE DURING A QUICK ACCLERATION JUST AFTER COAST (TIP-IN CLUNK). *TT |
| 636065 | INFORMATION REGARDING DISCHARGED BATTERY CHARGING SERVICE TIPS AND GUIDELINES. *TT |
| 636052 | INOPERATIVE OR INACURRATE SPEEDOMETER, 4X4 LAMP ILLUMINATD, AND / OR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1635 OR P1639. *TT |
| 630628 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN INTAKE MANIFOLD CROSSOVER (FIRST RUNNER) COOLANT SEEPAGE CONDITION. *TT |
| 630554 | INFORMATION ON DRIVELINE CLUNK FOR COBRA MODELS. *TT |
| 630515 | ENGINE OIL SYSTEM PRIMING PROCEDURES, SERVICE TIPS FOR REPORTS OF PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TT |
| 630354 | SOME VEHICLES MAY RUN ROUGH AT CRUISE OR MOMENTARILY AFTER STOPPING, A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT,AND P030X CODES. *TT |
| 630341 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE T45 MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION OF BEING STUCK IN REVERSE, DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR MAY POP OUT OF REVERSE. *TT |
| 630001 | SOME ENGINE ASSEMBLIES WITH ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS REPAIRED IN-VEHILE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO LEAK COOLANT AND/OR OIL FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AREA. *TT |
| 627927 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VACUUM OR AIR LEAKS IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND / OR ENGINE SYSTEM CAUSING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0171 AND OR P0174. *TT |
| 627774 | SOME IGNITION SWITCH LOCK CYLINDER ASSEMBLIES MAY EXHIBIT ROUGNESS AND / OR EXCESS EFFORT IN TURNING, KEY DOES NOT FULLY RETURN FROM START, A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP MAY ILLUMINATE WITH P0500, P1502 AND U1039 STORED IN POWERTRIAN CONTROL MODULE (PCM). *TT |
| 625732 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT THE DOOR GLASS COMING OFF OF THE WINDOW TRACK. *TT |
| 625718 | BODY - HOOD SCOOP LOOSE OR DETACHED FROM HOOD. *NLM |
| 625715 | BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB |
| 624911 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A STAIN ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLAMP LENS. |
| 624711 | SOME VEHICLES EXHIBIT THE DOOR GLASS POPPING OFF TRACK. *YH |
| 624571 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A FEAD BELT JUMP-OFF TOSS. *YH |
| 624149 | VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AUDIO SPEAKER BUZZ, SQUEAK, RATTLING OR AN INOPERATIVE CONDITION. *JADA |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 621005 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A POWERTRAIN NOISE DESCRIBED AS A BRIEF ROAR, HOOT OR GROAN BETWEN 2500 - 3500 RPM WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS HALF WAY DOWN, DURING SHIFTING OR WHEN DEPRESSING AND RELEASING THE CLUTCH. *TT |
| 620988 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4R70W AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A CLUNK NOISE DURING THE 2-1 DOWNSHIFT EVENT. *TT |
| 620498 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINE AND MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT TRANSMISSION OIL SEEPAGE, OIL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CASE. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation