VehicleVerdict

1997 Ford Mustang transmission problems

The 1997 Ford Mustang has 32 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 14% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

32

Transmission complaints

14%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Mustang transmission complaints by model year203 complaints1984: 1 complaints1985: 2 complaints1986: 1 complaints1987: 1 complaints1988: 3 complaints1989: 3 complaints1990: 6 complaints1991: 9 complaints1992: 6 complaints1993: 5 complaints1994: 56 complaints1995: 62 complaints1996: 28 complaints1997: 32 complaints1998: 22 complaints1999: 27 complaints2000: 49 complaints2001: 18 complaints2002: 7 complaints2003: 15 complaints2004: 11 complaints2005: 26 complaints2006: 32 complaints2007: 37 complaints2008: 30 complaints2009: 7 complaints2010: 14 complaints2011: 203 complaints2012: 180 complaints2013: 49 complaints2014: 29 complaints2015: 42 complaints2016: 29 complaints2017: 22 complaints2018: 43 complaints2019: 26 complaints2020: 22 complaints2021: 9 complaints2022: 4 complaints2023: 1 complaints2024: 7 complaints2025: 1 complaints2026: 1 complaints
Mustang transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“CAR PURCHASED 9/97 FACTORY DELIVERY BRAKE PROBLEMS CONSTANTLY SQUEEKING METAL CLINGING, BOOT COVER NEVER LOCKS, TRANSMISSON FAILURE TWICE, LEAKS AROUND WINDOW SEALS”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · August 30, 1999 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 1997 Ford Mustang have?

NHTSA has 32 complaints about the 1997 Ford Mustang transmission — 14% 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.