Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Ford Mustang owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was traveling home from work and was just starting to brake to make a right turn into my crescent when the vehicle started accelerating uncontrollably. I drove up onto the curb and took out two sections of fence and turned my wheel hard to avoid hitting a parked car, the acceleration finally stopped when I cranked the wheel, no effect when I was braking at all! I have injured muscles in my neck and back.
I do not know if this is a safety hazard. I hope you will let me know. I own a 1998 Ford Mustang gt. It has 48,620 miles on it. About a year ago, the cruise control and inside lights stopped working. I took it in to a Ford dealership. They told me it was some kind of sensor or something like that. I do not remember specifics. They told me it would be about $500.00 plus to fix it. I could not afford to fix. Last month the ABS light came on in the car. I took it in last week and they told me the hydraulic control unit was bad. It would be $992.00 plus to fix it. I spent $115.00 just so they could tell me this. I am financially strapped, I do not have this kind of money. The car is in mint condition. Yes, it is about 8 years old but, as you can see by the miles it has hardly been driven. Ford doesn't seem to want to do anything about it. …
My complaint is in regards to the 05n04 recall on my mothers 1998 Ford Mustang. Last Friday my 80 year mother got lost and I sent my niece to pick her up, and on their way home the car caught fire and died, my niece thinking quickly turned the car into fire station and was able to get help fast. I thank god my mother was not driving when the hood fire started, she would have wrecked for sure. I then had the car towed to walt's auto care the next day, which was on Saturday and tests were run to find the reason why the car caught on fire without any type of prior warning from the car obc. It was not until then we were informed of the recall notice and told that it was covered under the recall notice. However, we received a call Monday from walt's stating that they could not do the work and that they had the car towed to another service station named renton auto repair. …
Remote door does not work all of the time. Dealer replaced latch but did not correct the problem. Customer placed a small round magnet on the quarter panel on each side where the lid contacts the quarter panel temporarily correcting the problem. Customer would like the dealer to properly correct the problem. Car idles rough when accessorories are turned on. Transmission shifts harshly under various conditions. Transmission does not immediatelt engage in gear when going from park to drive. This seems to happen when car sits for an extended period of time but does not always occur. Customer has noticed at times an unusal large loss of transmission fluid but does not see a leak or smell. Right front door speaker cuts in and out.
While driving 28 MPH vehicle suddenly accelerated. Consumer applied brakes,but did not slow down vehicle. Consumer then applied emergency brake, this also did not slow down vehicle. Vehicle went through an intersection/ went about 6 blocks/hit curb on right side of road/crossed road to avoid a oncoming vehicle, and hit a dump truck. Vehicle had accelerated to a speed of 45 MPH. A police witness estimated speed to be higher. Consumer was severely injured. Construction worker near dump truck was also severly injured. Both in critical condition at this time. Airbag deployed. Vehicle impounded by police to investigate. Information provided by philip c. Johnson, attorney.
Tl-the driver owned a 1998 Ford Mustang. While driving at speeds unknown, the vehicle accelerated. The vehicle began to smoke and liquid splashed onto the vehicle. The driver lost control of the vehicle. The driver ended up on the other side of traffic and crashed into a van. The vehicle was destroyed. The drivers and passengers were injured in the crash. A police report was filed. The failure and current miles were not available. The VIN was not available. Aa
I was braking at a red light behind a Toyota prius. When I had almost completely stopped, my car lurched forward, with my foot still on the brake. I lifted my foot from the brake for an instant, then slammed the brake pedal down, stopping my car just a couple inches from slamming into the car in front of me.
While driving into the garage, the vehicle acclerated in a fast speed, causing the vehicle to crash into the wall. Consumer put the vehicle in reverse the vehicle went at a high speed in reverse. The consumer had to turn off the vehicle in order to stop the vehicle.
Tl* the contact owned a 1998 Ford Mustang . The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH and without warning, the engine started to rev and the rpms increased drastically as the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The contact had to apply extreme pressure to the brake pedal in order to stop the vehicle and turned off the engine. While doing so, the contact had to drive wedging the tire against the curb in order for the vehicle to lose speed. The vehicle was then towed to an authorized dealer where they diagnosed that the cruise control cable was frayed and coming apart. The vehicle was repaired with a new cable. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 135,000.
While having cruise control on and trying to slow down cruise control would not disengage. Consumer was was travling at about 70 MPH before trying to turn cruise control off. Contacted dealer, and dealer will try to fix problem.
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control
Vehicle description: certain 1997-1999 rhd explorer equipped with 4.0l ohv/sohc engines and cruise control built from May 29, 1996 through March 4, 1999; 1998-1999 explorer/mountaineers equipped with 4.0l ohv/sohc or 5.0l engines or 1998-1999 rangers equipped with 2.5l, 3.0l ffv/efi or 4.0l engines and cruise control built from…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the cruise control cables. At the present time, the replacement cables are not available. Customers are being advised not to use the cruise control system until a replacement can be made.
Acceleration complaints in other Mustang years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 1998 Ford Mustang?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 1998 Ford Mustang, 7% of the model year's 300 complaints. The component named most often is cruise control (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Ford Mustang acceleration problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 99V062001 (vehicle speed control, Mar 30, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1998 Ford Mustang acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 47,000 miles, and 20% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 2 fires and 11 injuries and 1 death to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.