1998 Ford Mustang Convertible

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELTS MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT SECURE ANYONE SITTING IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT HE WOULD NEED TO PURCHASE REPLACEMENT SEAT BELTS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WE TOOK OUR 1998 6 CYLINDER MUSTANG IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. IT HAS ABOUT 90,000 MILES ON IT. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT IS LEAKING FUEL AND THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. WE NOW HAVE TO SPEND $1000 TO REPLACE THE FUEL RAIL, BOTH VALVE GASKETS, VALVE COVER GASKETS AND FUEL INJECTOR O RINGS. PLUS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT ON LABOR. WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR CAR/ENGINE WILL CATCH FIRE, IF WE DO NOT REPLACE THESE PARTS. THIS IS MY DAUGHTER WHO IS IN COLLEGE'S CAR. HOW CAN THEY HAVE SUCH A HORRIBLE DESIGN AND IF WE REPLACE THE PARTS IS THIS GOING TO BE REPEATED? THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING FROM AN ENGINE LIGHT OR ANYTHING ELSE. THE TECHNICIAN CHECKED IT BECAUSE WHEN HE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, HE THOUGHT HE SMELLED GAS AND THEN FOUND THE LEAK. WE HADN'T NOTICED A LEAK. MY DAUGHTER COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED DRIVING BACK TO SCHOOL THIS WEEK. *TR

PASSENGER AND REAR SEAT BELTS STOPPED WORKING....CANNOT PULL THEM OUT. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING HOME FROM WORK AND WAS JUST STARTING TO BRAKE TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO MY CRESCENT WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED ACCELERATING UNCONTROLLABLY. I DROVE UP ONTO THE CURB AND TOOK OUT TWO SECTIONS OF FENCE AND TURNED MY WHEEL HARD TO AVOID HITTING A PARKED CAR, THE ACCELERATION FINALLY STOPPED WHEN I CRANKED THE WHEEL, NO EFFECT WHEN I WAS BRAKING AT ALL! I HAVE INJURED MUSCLES IN MY NECK AND BACK. *TR

I HAVE A 98 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE CAR IS COVERED IN THE CLASS ACTION SUIT, BUT I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT 3 MONTHS AFTER IT EXPIRIED. (FORD VS. CHAMBERLIN). IT'S A MAJOR PROBLEM IN ALL CARS BETWEEN 96-99. I'M SURE YOU HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON IT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO CRACKS IN THE HEAD GASKET, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP. THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT ON 6/20/06 DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. IT WAS RAINING AND THE RATE OF SPEED WAS 30MPH. NO INJURIES INCURRED BUT MINOR DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS REPORTED IN THE POLICE REPORT.

DT: WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 20-25 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL KEPT TURNING BUT THE WHEELS WERE NOT MOVING. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO HIT A PARKED CAR. THE CAR WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED, BUT HAS NOT BEEN TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. INSURANCE COMPANY INSTRUCTED A MECHANIC TO INSPECT THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WAS NOTED THERE WAS PROBLEM WITH THE SHAFT WHICH BROKE AND THEREFORE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. IT WAS NOTED BY THE MECHANIC, AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY AS A DEFECTIVE STEERING ON THE CAR INVOLVING THE SHAFT. MECHANIC SAID HE MUST REPAIR VEHICLE TO DETERMINE IF THERE WAS OTHER ISSUES WITHIN THE STEERING OR SUSPENSION. AS OF YET NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED HE AND THE OWNER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE DID NOT THINK IT WAS NECESSARY TO FILE A POLICE REPORT SINCE THE DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL. *JB

1. I WAS DRIVING FROM SAN DIEGO TO FRESNO, ON I-5. ABOUT 70 MPH. I STRETCHED, AND LEANED BACK INTO THE SEAT, WHEN THE SEAT FLIPPED BACKWARDS FAR ENOUGH TO CAUSE ME TO LOOSE SIGHT OF THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY, I WAS HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTLY ENOUGH TO RAISE MYSELF QUICKLY AND REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*AK 2. A METAL BRACKET THAT CONNECTS THE SEAT TO THE FLOOR TRACK BROKE, CAUSING A LOSS OF RIGIDITY OF THE SEAT. 3. I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE PART, OR GET IT WELDED, IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE SAFELY DRIVEN.

I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN I SMELLED COOLANT. WHEN I GOT HOME AND CHECKED FOR LEAKS I FOUND THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING COOLANT IT TO THE ENGINE VALLEY. MY MOMS '96 COUGAR AND FRIENDS '98 MUSTANG DID THE SAME THING. THEY HAD TO HAVE THE MANIFOLD REPLACED. *AK

DRIVER-SIDE SEAT BELT IS SEVERLY FRAYED/COMPROMISED. THE PORTION OF THE BELT THAT IS DAMAGED CAN BE SEEN WHEN THE BELT IS EXTENDED OUT AS IN USE (EXTENDED) AND LOOKING DOWN AT THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY. I BELIEVE THIS EXCESSIVE WEAR CONDITION IS PRODUCED BY NORMAL DRIVER MOVEMENTS THAT CAUSE THE BELT TO RUB AGAINST THE GUIDE LOCATED ON THE OUTBOARD BASE OF THE SEAT NEAR THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY. I CAN PROVIDE DIGITAL IMAGES OF THE PROBLEM, IF THAT IS HELPFUL TO YOU. [email protected]

THERE HAS BEEN A "CREAKING" SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION AREA FOR OVER A YEAR. I'M VERY GOOD AT GETTING MY CAR SERVICED. AT THE LAST TIRE ROTATION, I HAD THIS CHECKED OUT & THE TECH POINTED TO THE PROBLEM-SAID IT WAS A DRYING OUT OF SEALS, BUT POSED NO DRIVING PROBLEM. STILL, CREAKS LIKE CRAZY. TECH SAID GREEASE WOULDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I AM THE ORIGIAL OWNER; I HAVE LESS THAN 48 K MILES ON THE CAR.*AK