1998 Ford MUSTANG COBRA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data updated: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Wiring is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 5 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 20.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 20.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Tires:Bead | 1 |
Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Tires:Bead: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2004: 1; 2005: 3; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10100751 · 2004-11-30 (November 30, 2004)
CAR WILL NOT START, STARTER SOLENOID CLICKS. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO START CAUSES SMOKE TO RISE FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALS THE SMOKE IS COMMING FROM THE RUBBER BOOT WHERE THE METAL PARKING BREAK CABLE GOES FROM THE INSIDE TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CABLE ACTUALLY GLOWS RED FROM HEAT (APARENT GROUND PATH FOR SOME KIND OF SHORT). THE STARTER CIRCUIT DOES NOT WORK BUT THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL START (MANUAL TRANSMISSION). THIS IS SECOND OCCURANCE OF THIS PROBLEM. FIRST OCCURANCE WAS IN JUNE OF 2000 @ 14,500 MILES…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,801 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100751 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10136547 · 2005-09-15 (September 15, 2005)
MY ENGINE STARTED CLANKING NOISES BEFORE IT EVEN HAD 100,000 KILOMETERS ON IT, NOW THE ENGINE IS TOAST AT ABOUT 105,000 KILOMETERS, I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY FORD THAT I HAVE SPUN THE MAIN BEARING AND WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE,. THIS VEHICLE IS BABIED, REGULAR OIL CHANGES WITH PURE SYNTHETIC OIL, AND PREMIUM GAS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10136547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138344 · 2005-10-03 (October 3, 2005)
APPROXIMATELY THE SECOND WEEK OF MAY WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY A LOUD HISSING NOISE OCCURRED AND AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF PRESSURE OCCURRED . WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT THE LOUD NOISE WAS EVIDENT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND THE DISCOVERY WAS A SPARK PLUG HAD DETENADED IN THE ENGINE . SPARK PLUG WIRES WERE COOKED AND BURNT , THE THREADS IN THE ENGINE HAD BEEN STRIPPED DUE TO THE BLOW OUT OF THE PLUG. THE PLUG WAS NOT STRIPPED. THE ONLY WAY IT COULD BE FIXED WAS TO HAVE IT RECOILED , NOT CHEAP IT COST ME ABOUT $1800,00 IN REPAIRS AND IN MY CA…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138344 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10140077 · 2005-10-18 (October 18, 2005)
ON AUGUST 07, 2005 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE 85 IN SOUTH CAROLINA AT 65 MPH. MY CAR SUDDENLY MADE AN ABRUPT TURN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THAT THE TIRE SUDDENLY DEFLATED LOOSING IT'S BEAD WITH THE WHEEL. THE TIRE WAS A NITTO NT555 P255/35/18. IT WAS MOUNTED ON A 9.5 INCH GENUINE FORD WHEEL.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 101,489 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140077 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10399778 · 2011-05-10 (May 10, 2011)
FILLER NECK TO TANK GASKET RIPPED AND LEAKING FUEL. CAUSES FUEL TO POUR FROM THE VEHICLE ON LEFT HAND TURNS WITH FULL TANK OF FUEL. HIGH PROBABILITY OF AN AUTO FIRE DUE TO THIS CONDITION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10399778 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
5 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 116.7%ODI 10112717DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT FAILS TO FUNCTION, WILL NOT CATCH/STOP FORWARD MOTION WHEN JERKED/PULL ON. I ASK MECHANIC TO LOOK AT IT WHEN IT STOPPED RETRACTING. CAR WAS IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. HE ADVISED ME THAT THE SEAT BELF WILL NOT FUNCTION IF I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT, OFFERING NO DRIVER RESTRAINT. BASICLY THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 321.4%ODI 10021168 · 40,000 miHELLO, TSB 99S26 STATES THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SAFTEY BELT RETRACTOR ON THE 1999 FORD MUSTANG COBRA. I HAVE HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE REPAIRED AT MY COST THEN FOUND THIS RECALL NOTE. HOWEVER THE DEALER AND FORD BOTH CLAIN THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL FOR MY PARTICULAR VIN#. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE AS NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS NOT WORKING. IS THERE A WAY TO FIND OUT IF MY CAR IS COVERED BY THIS SAFETY ISSUE? FORD AND THE DEALER STATE THAT THEY DO NOT SHOW ANYTHING AND THAT THIS IS THE DEPARTMENT THAT CAN HELP OUT.THANK YOU… | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 321.4%ODI 10057842 · 28,000 miFRONT END SHOOK DUE TO DEFECTIV EBALL JOINTS, AND BLUE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. *AK | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 116.7%ODI 10157690 · 66,000 mi1997 FORD COBRA NUMBER 6 SPARK PLUG CAME OUT AND CAR STALLED HAD TO BE TOWED. *NM | 120.0%ODI 10138344 · 90,000 miAPPROXIMATELY THE SECOND WEEK OF MAY WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY A LOUD HISSING NOISE OCCURRED AND AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF PRESSURE OCCURRED . WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT THE LOUD NOISE WAS EVIDENT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND THE DISCOVERY WAS A SPARK PLUG HAD DETENADED IN THE ENGINE . SPARK PLUG WIRES WERE COOKED AND BURNT , THE THREADS IN THE ENGINE HAD BEEN STRIPPED DUE TO THE BLOW OUT OF THE PLUG. THE PLUG WAS NOT STRIPPED. THE ONLY WAY IT COULD BE FIXED WAS TO HAVE IT RECOILED , NOT CHEAP IT COST ME ABOUT $1800,00 IN REPAIRS AND IN MY CA… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 214.3%ODI 10057842 · 28,000 miFRONT END SHOOK DUE TO DEFECTIV EBALL JOINTS, AND BLUE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. *AK | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 116.7%ODI 10041781 · 56,450 miMANUAL TRANSMISSION LOCKS IN REVERSE GEAR. *LA | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 17.1%ODI 10013585 · 45,000 mi96 COBRA, I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION EITHER WORKED ON OR REPLACED 6 TIMES. IT WENT IN THE SHOP FOR IT'S SECOND NEW TRANSMISSION AND IT TOOK TWO TRANSMISSIONS BEFORE I GOT IT BACK. FROM TALKING WITH OTHER OWNERS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE COBRA'S WITH THE T-45 TRANSMISSION. *JB | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 17.1%ODI 10131851 · 41,800 miA SPARK PLUG BLEW IN MY 99 MUSTANG COBRA. IT ONLY HAS 41,800 MILES. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE LAST CHANGED 3 YEARS AGO. I HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED YET. THE THREADS ARE STRIPPED AND THE IGNITION COIL WAS DESTROYED. I BOUGHT A NEW IGNITION COIL AT AN AUTO PARTS STORE. *NM | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0%ODI 10100751 · 32,801 miCAR WILL NOT START, STARTER SOLENOID CLICKS. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO START CAUSES SMOKE TO RISE FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALS THE SMOKE IS COMMING FROM THE RUBBER BOOT WHERE THE METAL PARKING BREAK CABLE GOES FROM THE INSIDE TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CABLE ACTUALLY GLOWS RED FROM HEAT (APARENT GROUND PATH FOR SOME KIND OF SHORT). THE STARTER CIRCUIT DOES NOT WORK BUT THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL START (MANUAL TRANSMISSION). THIS IS SECOND OCCURANCE OF THIS PROBLEM. FIRST OCCURANCE WAS IN JUNE OF 2000 @ 14,500 MILES… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 116.7%ODI 10148150 · 58,000 miTWO TIMES THE AIR INTAKE SUCKED IN WATER AND BLEW THE ENGINE. ONE TIME FORD COVERED THE COST OF THE ENGINE AND THE SECOND TIME THE $7000 CHARGE WAS PAID BY MY FATHER (PREVIOUS OWNER). *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring | Too few reports for a range | 32,801 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10100751 · 32,801 miCAR WILL NOT START, STARTER SOLENOID CLICKS. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO START CAUSES SMOKE TO RISE FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALS THE SMOKE IS COMMING FROM THE RUBBER BOOT WHERE THE METAL PARKING BREAK CABLE GOES FROM THE INSIDE TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CABLE ACTUALLY GLOWS RED FROM HEAT (APARENT GROUND PATH FOR SOME KIND OF SHORT). THE STARTER CIRCUIT DOES NOT WORK BUT THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL START (MANUAL TRANSMISSION). THIS IS SECOND OCCURANCE OF THIS PROBLEM. FIRST OCCURANCE WAS IN JUNE OF 2000 @ 14,500 MILES… |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | Too few reports for a range | 90,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10138344 · 90,000 miAPPROXIMATELY THE SECOND WEEK OF MAY WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY A LOUD HISSING NOISE OCCURRED AND AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF PRESSURE OCCURRED . WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT THE LOUD NOISE WAS EVIDENT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND THE DISCOVERY WAS A SPARK PLUG HAD DETENADED IN THE ENGINE . SPARK PLUG WIRES WERE COOKED AND BURNT , THE THREADS IN THE ENGINE HAD BEEN STRIPPED DUE TO THE BLOW OUT OF THE PLUG. THE PLUG WAS NOT STRIPPED. THE ONLY WAY IT COULD BE FIXED WAS TO HAVE IT RECOILED , NOT CHEAP IT COST ME ABOUT $1800,00 IN REPAIRS AND IN MY CA… |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | Too few reports for a range | 70,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10136547 · 70,000 miMY ENGINE STARTED CLANKING NOISES BEFORE IT EVEN HAD 100,000 KILOMETERS ON IT, NOW THE ENGINE IS TOAST AT ABOUT 105,000 KILOMETERS, I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY FORD THAT I HAVE SPUN THE MAIN BEARING AND WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE,. THIS VEHICLE IS BABIED, REGULAR OIL CHANGES WITH PURE SYNTHETIC OIL, AND PREMIUM GAS. *NM |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | Too few reports for a range | 75,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10399778 · 75,000 miFILLER NECK TO TANK GASKET RIPPED AND LEAKING FUEL. CAUSES FUEL TO POUR FROM THE VEHICLE ON LEFT HAND TURNS WITH FULL TANK OF FUEL. HIGH PROBABILITY OF AN AUTO FIRE DUE TO THIS CONDITION. *TR |
| Tires:Bead | Too few reports for a range | 101,489 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10140077 · 101,489 miON AUGUST 07, 2005 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE 85 IN SOUTH CAROLINA AT 65 MPH. MY CAR SUDDENLY MADE AN ABRUPT TURN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THAT THE TIRE SUDDENLY DEFLATED LOOSING IT'S BEAD WITH THE WHEEL. THE TIRE WAS A NITTO NT555 P255/35/18. IT WAS MOUNTED ON A 9.5 INCH GENUINE FORD WHEEL.*JB |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1999: 4 complaints · 2000: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Electrical System:Wiring | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | Fuel System, Gasoline | Tires:Bead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Tires:Bead | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.