Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
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).
Rear right parking brake does not engage and when trying to come to an emergency stop brake is ineffective
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. …
When driving 30 MPH and upon depressing brake pedal to make a normal stop steering wheel locked up, causing extended stopping distance, resulting in an accident. Many mechanics stated to the consumer that the weight shifts from the back to the front when the brakes are applied, causing the anti-brake system to become confused and lock up the steering wheel. The consumer would then have to pump the brakes quickly to disengage the locked steering wheel, the vehicle has been labeled as a lemon by the national transportation safety board and Ford credit service center and representatives.
Driving at 40 MPH started into turn but not yet turning the steering wheel the tires locked up and steering wheel locked up for no apparent reason. The car viered off the road and into a farmers field. I was only bruised but the car is damaged. Ford service rep. Is stating the car is showing no faulty codes. The brakes had been replaced under warranty just three weeks earlier and the car would not start for no apparent reason back in July and August finally fixed they replaced the starter (Ford)
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. Cause unknown. Please provide further details.
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.
Consumer called complaining about having problems with her brakes. Dealer was contacted at the time but nothing was done to the vehicle. Also consumer stated that she was on a collision and the car was a total lost which it means consumer no longer has the vehicle. Ts
Consumer stated that vehicle was parked in a parking lot. Emergency brake was up, and brake didn't hold at all, causing vehicle to roll down the hill and hit a tree. Dealership was aware of the problem. They were waiting for the part to come in.
00 v 3490 000/parking brake pawl: while making a stop with emergency brake engaged, vehicle commenced to roll down hill and hit another parked car. Dealer / manufacturer were notified, and were unwilling to assist in this matter.
1. Convertible roof was out of alignment when car was received, .25# gaps between seals of front section of folding roof. 2. Harsh noise was heard when braking and turning, diagnosed to be "water dripping on exhaust pipe" by dealer(?!!) A/C also not strong-possibly replaced (never fully told) brake shoes/pads also worked on. 3. While driving on highway, going uphill, car began slowing down, pulled onto shoulder as car stopped. Diagnosed as fuel pump failure.
Related recalls
Parking brake › Conventional
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.
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.
Brake complaints in other Mustang years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 1998 Ford Mustang?
NHTSA has 35 complaints about the brakes of the 1998 Ford Mustang, 12% of the model year's 300 complaints. The component named most often is conventional (11 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Ford Mustang brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 00V-349 (conventional, Oct 30, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1998 Ford Mustang brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 79,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 9 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to brakes 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.