1996 Ford Mustang vs 1997 Ford Mustang
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1996 Ford Mustang | 1997 Ford Mustang |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 246 | 176 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 151 | 167 |
| Investigations | 3 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 17 | 17 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–21 | 18–21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 70,000 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Mustang | Ford Mustang |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 82 | 38 |
| Power Train | 25 | 29 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 34 | 19 |
| Suspension | 22 | 14 |
| Seat Belts | 12 | 19 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 16 | 12 |
| Air Bags | 21 | 6 |
| Parking Brake | 7 | 15 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Overheating | 22 | 5 |
| Vibration / shaking | 16 | 11 |
| Stalling | 9 | 10 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 6 |
1996 Ford Mustang
1997 Ford Mustang
Compare all Ford Mustang vs Ford Mustang years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.