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1999 Ford Mustang problems

The most common problem on the 1999 Ford Mustang is brakes. It has fewer complaints than a typical Mustang model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Owner complaints
213
Recalls
3
Service bulletins
190
Worst area
Brakes
Fuel economy
17-21mpg

The worst 1999 Ford Mustang problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 1999 Ford Mustang

No deployment 17Stalling 13Brake failure 12Adaptive cruise 9Headlights 7Seat belt 6

Recalls 3

Parking brake: conventionalReported October 30, 2000 · 434,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Remedy
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.

Recall number 00V349000 · Recall details

Seat belts: front: anchorageReported September 20, 1999 · 25,306 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
If the mechanism malfunctions and does not allow the webbing to be extracted, the lap and shoulder belt could not be worn by a vehicle occupant. In the event that the mechanism does not allow the alr mode to be engaged, the operator may be unable to properly install a child seat in that seating position.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the lap and shoulder belt assemblies. Assemblies with julian date codes of 200 through 223 are suspect and will be replaced.

Recall number 99V250000 · Recall details

Vehicle speed controlReported March 30, 1999 · 898,739 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
If the cruise control is used and this condition is present, a stuck throttle could result, which could potentially result in a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the cruise control cables. At the present time, the replacement cables are not available. Customers are being advised not to use the cruise control system until a replacement can be made.

Recall number 99V062001 · Recall details

See all 3 recalls for the 1999 Ford Mustang

Defect investigations

Spark plug ejection from cylinder headOpened September 22, 2005, closed January 4, 2006

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 1997 to 2002 subject vehicles.(2) most the complainants reported hearing a loud pop while driving or upon starting up the vehicle followed by a loud, repetitive clicking or popping sound.(3) many of the complainants reported that the popping sound was accompanied by some loss of vehicle power; however, in 99% of the incidents reported, the vehicle did not stall.in the very few incidents where the vehicle did stall, most vehicles could be restarted.(4) only a small percentage of the complainants cited that they smelled gas or a slight burning smell when the incident occurred.(5) in all but a very few incidents, vehicle damage was limited to the engine.in one incident, the complaint reported that the fuel rail was damaged and replaced after one of the spark plugs ejected from the engine; however, the complainant reported that the damage did not result in any type of fuel leak or fire.in another incident, the only incident where a fire was alleged, the complainant reported that no fluid leak was observed, but that a fire resulted after the spark plug had ejected from the engine and he had restarted the vehicle and driven to another location.none of the complainants reported any damage to the vehicle hood.(6) only two complainants reported that they observed what appeared to be some drops of fuel coming from the cylinder where the spark plug had failed or on the spark plug itself; however, each of these complainants reported that there was no smoke or flames as a result of his incident.as the petitioner noted, and odi?s analysis showed, it is possible for a spark plug to detach from the engine cylinder threads in the subject vehicles.however, odi?s analysis of 474 complaints describing such incidents found only a very few alleged any safety-related consequences.none of these showed any evidence of a serious safety consequence.given the large population and relatively long exposure time of the subject vehicles, the complaint analysis indicates that the risk to motor vehicle safety from the alleged defect is very low.in view of the foregoing, it is unlikely that the federal safety agency would issue an order for the notification and remedy of the alleged defect at the conclusion of the investigation requested in the petition.therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize the federal safety agency?s limited resources to best accomplish the agency?s safety mission, the petition is denied.

DP05005

Technical service bulletins for the 1999 Ford Mustang 190

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 190 bulletins for the 1999 Ford Mustang

1999 Ford Mustang fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
3.8L 6‑cylRWD1725-2720-21
4.6L 8‑cylRWD152217-18

What 1999 Ford Mustang owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Apr 11, 2021 · Airbags · 110,000 miles · CO

Ii was putting my car in park and the air bags inflated and to gas like smell came from the bags.

Filed Feb 5, 2018 · Acceleration, Electrical · OH

I have having issues with wiring. Wide shield wipers don't work, multiple head lights are out and dome light stays on sometimes

Filed Jan 29, 2018 · Brakes · 177,000 miles · TX

My vehicle started moving when I parked in a 30 degree incline.

Filed Jan 25, 2018 · Airbags · 107,000 miles · WA

It was late summer, close to early fall 2017. My two sons, ages 17 and 15, had just gotten out of football practice and were getting into the 1999 mustang to come home. (my 17 year old son, matthew, had been driving for quite awhile, and had no traffic infractions or violations yet either, nor does he now. He has beem a careful driver.) they were driving very slowly, as they had just exited their parking spot, and then proceeded ahead, and while driving in very slow motion went over a small bump or node, or barely anything, in the enumclaw high school parking lot. The airbags both blew out suddenly, slightly injuring my 15 year old son's hand, and blinding and pushing them both backward in their seats. Both of them jumped out of the car immediately, very scared. They had been driving very slowly, so were able to stop suddenly do this and still safely enough to immediately get out. Many of the football boys were watching, as they were driving right by them, and everyone broke out in emotion. One witness claimed that it caused the wheels to lift off the ground. They drove home that day, with airbags out, but since they have quite driving the car, as it appears to be illegal to drive it without airbags. Now we don't know what to do about this situation, and we are left feeling short of one of our necessary vehicles. Since there was not actually an accident that set off the airbags, and the car is minimally insured, we don't know what to do about it. Note: I am not sure about the exact date, but it is close.

Filed Nov 23, 2015 · Seat belts · CA

My seat belts do not function well. Sometimes, they retract very slow, lose and sometimes they do not even retract. Also, sometime they get stuck. When I brake hard, they stuck and too tight....on the other hand sometimes they are very lose and doesn't stay tight to my chest, same is the case with the navigator seat belts and also the rear seat seat belts. It been happening for couple of weeks.

Filed Dec 16, 2014 · Acceleration · 165,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford mustang. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 MPH with the cruise control engaged, the vehicle failed to decrease in speed when the cruise control was deactivated. The contact also stated that the brake pedal was applied, but the vehicle failed to stop. The contact shut the engine off while driving in order to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 99v062001 (vehicle speed control). The approximate failure mileage was 165,000.

Filed Dec 11, 2014 · Airbags · 95,000 miles · NC · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford mustang. While driving 15 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle. The air bags deployed and impacted the contact in the face with excessive force, causing unknown injuries. Medical attention was required and a police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Jul 29, 2013 · Engine · 75,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford mustang gt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, she smelled a strong odor of antifreeze. The contact pulled over and noticed a crack in the plastic manifold and coolant leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis, who stated that the manifold would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and informed the contact that there was not a recall related to the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000. The was unavailable.

Filed Apr 28, 2011 · Seat belts · 60,000 miles · CA

Mustang rear passenger seat belt stuck.

Filed Apr 19, 2011 · Seat belts · FL

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 ford mustang. The contact noticed that the front driver and passenger seat belts would not retract similar to the federal safety agency campaign id number: 99v250000 (seat belts:front:anchorage). The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was advised to have the entire mechanism for both sides replaced. The contact did not inform the manufacturer nor was the vehicle repaired. The current mileages were 92,658 and the failure mileages were unknown.

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Other model years

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Questions about the 1999 Ford Mustang

Is the 1999 Ford Mustang reliable?

Owners have filed 213 complaints about the 1999 Ford Mustang, fewer than a typical Mustang model year.

What is the most common problem with the 1999 Ford Mustang?

Brakes, with 44 complaints. Next is airbags (32).

How many recalls does the 1999 Ford Mustang have?

3 recalls, covering parking brake, seat belts and vehicle speed control.

Was there a recall on the 1999 Ford Mustang brakes?

Yes, 1 recall: 00V349000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Ford Mustang have bad brakes?

The Ford Mustang model years with the most brakes complaints are 2000 (63 complaints), 2015 (51 complaints) and 1999 (44 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 1999 Ford Mustang get?

Official estimates for the 1999 Ford Mustang range from 17 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.8L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 17 city and 25-27 highway.

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