1996 Ford Mustang Fuel System
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED DUE TO PLASTIC MATERIAL USED ON ORIGINAL PART - REPLACEMENT PART IS MADE OF ALUMINUM AND PLASTIC - THIS INDICATES MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT ORIGINAL DESIGN BEING FAULTY. *AK
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS CRACKED. FORD HAS RECALLED MANY OF THEIR 4.6L INTAKE MANIFOLDS IN THEIR CROWN VICTORIAS, BUT NOT IN THE SAME ENGINE IN THE MUSTANG. THEY NEED TO!! PLEASE HELP.*AK
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO AUTO CENTER FOR A SQUEAK BEHIND TIRE, THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BUSTING AT A SEAM AND HAD SPRAYED COOLANT EVERYWHERE, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS MADE OUT OF SOME KIND OF PLASTIC, THERE WAS A RECALL AND THE PRIOR OWNER HAD RECALL REPAIRS COMPLETE, HOWEVER RECALL COMPONENT FAILED AGAIN, FORD WILL NOT REIMBURSE CONSUMER FOR THE FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD. *SLC
INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND LOST ALL COOLANT ON THE HIGHWAY. MECHANIC REPORTED PROBLEM IS NOT UNCOMMON, BUT NO RECALL ISSUED.*AK
LIFETIME RECALL ON PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK
GASOLINE LEAKAGE AT RUBBER SEAL BETWEEN GAS TANK AND TUBE(FILLER TUBE). WHERE YOU INSERT THE GAS NOZZEL AT GAS STATION.*AK
I HAVE REPAIR INVOICES AND TESTAMENT FROM REPAIR FACILITY THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO THIN PLASTIC WALLS OF INTAKE MANIFOLD.*AK
FUEL TANK IS DEFECTIVE. AREA OF WETNESS SEEPING FROM TOP OF TANK ON DRIVERS SIDE ADJACENT TO EXHAUST TAIL PIPE CONFIRMED BY DEALER . THE POINT OF DEFECT ON TOP OF TANK IS OBSCURED FROM ROAD HAZARDS BY IT'S CLOSE LOCATION TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE AUTO FRAME, LEAVING THE CONCLUSION THAT THE TANK HAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I DO NOT FEEL THIS SHOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE AS THE SEEPAGE AND IT'S PROXIMITY TO THE HOT EXHAUST IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD.*AK
I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE HAS BEEN MANY OTHER LISTINGS REGUARDING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK
APPEARS THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SUFFERED A COOLANT LEAK. IS THERE A RECALL AND WHAT ARE THE DETAILS. *AK
FUEL LINE CRACKED, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK WHICH RESULTEDIN A FIRE. THIS WAS DETERMINED BY FORD AND THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR, AND FORD WAS WILLING TO PAY FOR THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD RUPTURED UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE COOLANT SYSTEM. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS (85-DEGREES F), BUT THERMOSTAT WAS MOST LIKELY STILL CLOSED. CAR HAD BEEN STARTED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2- TO 3-MINUTES. UPON INSPECTION OF THE CRACK, IN THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD, THE FISSURE APPEARS NEAR THE INJECTION MOLD 'SEAM'. THE CRACK DID NOT APPEAR NEAR THE GASKET SURFACES. THE CRACK WAS LOCATED ON THE BOTTOM-CENTER OF THE FORWARD SECTION OF THE MANIFOLD, RUNNING PERPENDICULAR TO THE DRIVESHAFT. THE HAIRLINE CRACK IS ABOUT 3/4-INCH LONG. TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD, IT COST ME $520 IN PARTS AND LABOR. MY MECHANIC FELT THAT THIS CRACK WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, AS A RESULT OF POOR ENGINEERING/MANUFACTURE. MY PERSONAL SUBJECTIVE ANALYSIS IS THAT A PLASTIC IS INHERENTLY WEAK (CHEAP CRAP). *AK
FUEL TANK LEAKING ON THE FRONT LEFT CORNER WHERE THE 2 HALFS OF THE TANK ARE MATED TOGETHER. IT IS LEAKING FROM BETWEEN THE TANK HALFS
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE REAR ENGINE . FIRE EXPERT ON CARS INFORMED OWNER THAT THE FUEL INJECTION HOSE CAUSED THE FIRE DUE TO LEAKING. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED AND SMELLED SMOKE; CHECKED UNDERHOOD, VEHICLE WASENGULFED WITH FLAMES, NO WARNING, DEALER DETERMINED FIRE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE FUEL LINE. *AK
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 1996 Ford Mustang has 15 Fuel System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.