VehicleVerdict

1997 Ford Mustang engine problems

The 1997 Ford Mustang has 42 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 18% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

42

Engine complaints

18%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Mustang engine complaints by model year410 complaints1978: 2 complaints1983: 1 complaints1984: 6 complaints1985: 3 complaints1986: 6 complaints1987: 5 complaints1988: 5 complaints1989: 7 complaints1990: 10 complaints1991: 7 complaints1992: 7 complaints1993: 12 complaints1994: 194 complaints1995: 410 complaints1996: 95 complaints1997: 42 complaints1998: 48 complaints1999: 35 complaints2000: 47 complaints2001: 27 complaints2002: 27 complaints2003: 45 complaints2004: 8 complaints2005: 44 complaints2006: 27 complaints2007: 20 complaints2008: 8 complaints2009: 4 complaints2010: 12 complaints2011: 55 complaints2012: 33 complaints2013: 23 complaints2014: 19 complaints2015: 50 complaints2016: 80 complaints2017: 34 complaints2018: 61 complaints2019: 56 complaints2020: 25 complaints2021: 10 complaints2022: 6 complaints2023: 2 complaints2024: 9 complaints2026: 1 complaints
Mustang engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CAUGHT ON FIRE AND EXPLODED. CONSUMER PURCHASED A NEW COOLING FAN BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE. THE SERVICE MANAGER EXPLAINED THAT THE BEARINGS HAD SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE. THERE IS A…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · October 1, 2001 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1997 Ford Mustang have?

NHTSA has 42 complaints about the 1997 Ford Mustang engine — 18% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.