VehicleVerdict

1998 Ford Mustang brakes problems

The 1998 Ford Mustang has 35 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 12% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

35

Brakes complaints

12%

Share of year

9

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Brakes complaints by year

Related recalls

00V349000BrakesOctober 30, 2000 · 434,000 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

What owners report

THE DEFECTIVE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTIONED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, AND THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE UP. THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY, HITTING A TREE, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED INJURIES. THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE IS STILL IN THE "UP POSITION" AFTER THE ACCIDENT.…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · October 22, 1998 · crash

Common questions

How many brakes complaints does the 1998 Ford Mustang have?

NHTSA has 35 complaints about the 1998 Ford Mustang brakes — 12% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1998 Ford Mustang brakes?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the brakes: 00V349000.

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.