Model year record
1997 Ford Mustang Gt recalls & problems
The 1997 Ford Mustang Gt has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 23 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (16 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1997 Ford Mustang Gt.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine coolingExhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe; Cooling system | 16 | 85,101 mi |
| Power trainClutch assembly; Manual transmission | 2 | — |
| Vehicle speed controlCruise control | 2 | — |
| StructureFrame and members | 1 | — |
| Fuel system, otherStorage › Tank assembly | 1 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Master cylinder | 1 | — |
| Parking brakeConventional | 1 | — |
| Steering | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Steering
AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROX. 15MPH, I HEARD A LOUD POP/CRACK COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AT THIS TIME THE CAR STARTED TO DRIFT OFF TO THE RIGHT AND ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT TO COMPENSATE FOR THE CHANGE AND THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO TURN IN A 360 DEGREE ROTATION WITH NO CONTROL OF THE TIRES. AT THIS TIME I FELT SOMETHING HIT MY SHOE FROM ABOVE THE GAS PEDAL AND I REALIZED THAT SOMETHING HAD BROKE CAUSING ME TO HAVE ABSOLUTE NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE STEERING COLUMN, IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE SHAFT HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE COLUMN THAT GOES INTO THE FLOOR BOARD AND INTO THE…
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
ENGINE WAS USING COOLANT/TOOK TO FORD DEALER & THEY ADVISED IT'S COMING FROM CRACK IN TOP OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THESE DUE TO CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, BUT TIME TO FILE ENDED 4 MOS. AGO & WE'D HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. *TR
- Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
MY INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS CRACKED. *TR
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 MUSTANG WITH 4.6L. COST $1020 PLUS TOWING, TO REPAIR AT LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. FORD REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, CITING THE CHAMBERLAIN SETTLEMENT'S EXCLUSIONS. *JB
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
TOOK CAR TO GARAGE TO CHECK FOR REASON FOR LOSS OF COOLANT. THEY FOUND THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THE FORD 4.6 L ENGINE WAS LEAKING AND STATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. COST TO REPAIR WAS ALMOST $1000 AND FORD HAS REFUSED CLAIM ON THE GROUNDS THAT THIS CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT FORD RECENTLY AGREED TO SETTLE. *NM
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1997 MUSTANG GT. CAR HAD 124,289 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT. I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WITH ONE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND WE PRECEDED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. I WAS STILL IN FIRST GEAR, CAR LET OUT A LOUD BANG. IT HONESTLY SOUNDED LIKE A GUN HAD FIRED. I WAS THROUGH THE INTERSECTION SO I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND COASTED TO THE SHOULDER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO FORD. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SPARK PLUG HAD EXPLODED AND CRACKED THE HEAD. REPAIRS BY FORD TOTALED $2956.91 AND IT TOOK THEM A WEEK TO FIX THE CAR. I HAVE THE RECEIPT FROM FORD SHOWING A DETAILED LIST OF PARTS REPLACED, WHICH INCLUDED REPLACING THE RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD, 8 NEW SPARK PLUGS…
- Engine and engine cooling
I PURCHASED A 1997 FORD MUSTANG. THE 1ST INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED ON MAY 19, 2000 AND HANDLED UNDER WARRANTY. THE 2ND INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2005. FORD REFUSED TO HANDLE THIS UNDER WARRANTY AND I PAID 1187.07. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE HELP ME. THANK YOU. *JB
- Engine and engine coolingCrash1 injury
MY EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILS WHEN ENGANGED AND THE BRAKES ARE PROPERLY ADJUSTED.THE E-BRAKE POPS LOOSE CAUSING THE CAR TO ROLL EVEN IN 1ST GEAR.I HAVE BEEN RAN OVER BY THE FAILURE AND THE CAR WAS SOLD TO ME BY DUVAL FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULDN'T FIX BEACAUSE OF THE 131,000 MILES BUT THEY CERTIFIED THE CAR AS PERFECT FOR SALE.NOT TO INCLUDE THE REAR END NEEDED REBUILT THE INTAKE WAS CRACKED AND LEAKED INTO THE CYLINDER CAUSING THE ROD TO SPIN A BEARING.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEADClosed
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY…