Ford's Mustang is an icon of American muscle cars, but there have been some terrible ones.
The Ford Mustang, named after the legendary World War II P-51 Mustang fighter jet, is the longest-running Ford nameplate in production. Since 1964, the Ford Mustang has been one of America's most popular and iconic cars. People love the looks, the performance, and the overall design, but what do you know about all these vehicles? Can you pick out the worst models and tell me why?
Well, we are going to tell you. We will break down the top worst Mustangs of all time, as generated by popular opinion on a handful of forums and blogs, and tell you why?
Here are 11 of the worst Mustangs in no particular order. (sort newest to oldest)
Some owners report that their Mustangs have developed engine problems. In particular, it seems that the 3.7-liter V6 has a problem going into limp mode, where it will suddenly and sharply decelerate.
While some owners had their throttle bodies fixed to rectify the problem, Ford did not acknowledge it as an issue. Some Mustang owners of this particular vintage may have also dealt with control arm failure and transmission slipping out of gear.
RELATED: Top 7 America's Favorite Muscle Cars
For the 2011 model year, Ford Motor Company installed the Coyote 5.0-liter V8 engine in its Mustang sports car. The engine itself had some serious problems, including an airbag that exploded, sending shrapnel into the car.
Owners have also reported having to have their engines replaced or rebuilt because of piston defects, as well as their transmissions slipping out of gear. Corrosion under the paint remains one of the Mustang's biggest problems.
According to a Consumer Reports study, the 2006 Ford Mustang has the most complaints against it. Everything that could go wrong with a car did with the Mustang—owners reported paint bubbles and peeling as well as water leakage into the cabin.
On top of that, the Mustang's engine and transmission were problematic. The car's transmission frequently broke down, and there were electrical problems to go with all the mess as well, where the battery seemed to drain continuously. This isn't a car you want to bring home, since there would be nothing but constant headaches.
The 1999 model year saw the turn-of-the-century Mustang SN95s receive a facelift. The upgrade is not entirely cosmetic, as the car also gets some extra horsepower. However, the modular 4.6 engine was an issue, as Ford had not drilled the threads for the spark plugs deep enough; This caused them to pop out.
For owners of 1999-2001 Mustang GTs, shifting gears can be a real pain. It wasn't until 2002 that the SN95 Mustang saw improvements in this area and got rid of these problems, so if an SN95 Mustang is what you wish for (no judging), you'd best go for a 2002 model year.
Owners of the '98 Mustang GT had problems; some were minor and others were more serious. One common complaint was that the car would lurch forward while the brake pedal was pressed, presumably with an automatic transmission.
Others complained that the intake manifold cracked due to a defect in the composite material. Ford responded by acknowledging the problem and fixing it, but only if it occurred within seven years of their vehicles being built.
RELATED: The 10 Best Muscle Cars from the '90s, You Should Buy!
After the departure of the Fox Body in the mid-90s, the SN95 chassis took over. The car came with either a V6 or the same 302 as in the Fox Body, albeit slightly modified. All in all, it was rather heavy and made 215 horsepower at the crank.
The engine uses a pushrod, which is not necessarily unusual given the success of Chevrolet's LS motor. However, it also still uses a distributor and suffers from intermittent cut-outs and head gasket failures.
The first few years of the Fox-Body generation were rocky. Ford had some kinks to work out, especially after the second oil crisis hit. Fortunately, they got their bearings by 1985-86, when fuel injection finally made its appearance.
In the early Fox body models, carburetors were the primary source of fuel delivery, and engines were weak until the mid-80s when V8s made at least 200 hp. Of course, the Mustang was already doing that with its turbocharged SVO model.
The '78 Ford Mustang II King Cobra II was one of the worst Mustangs ever built. Compared to the classic muscle cars of the '70s, it seems like a joke, and Ford slapped on a special livery to try to make it look good, but the beauty of this car is skin deep. All the promise of better-performance cars in the '70s vanished with the oil crisis.
Ford's decision to retire the Mustang II with a special edition called the King Cobra II, which had nothing but cosmetic upgrades and the same 5.0-liter V8 that the car had had since 1975, was a mistake since the King Cobra II was also widely regarded as pretty ugly. If you see this car on a used lot, keep walking.
RELATED: The 5 Best Muscle Cars in 1970s
In 1974, the Ford Mustang II was in the middle of an unusual battle. It had to fend off other American muscle cars like the Chevy Camaro and imports that were much lighter than it. Then came the oil crisis, which cut the mileage of all cars; Adding emissions standards also forces automakers to reduce engine displacement and power.
The second generation of the Ford Mustang began in the 1974 with this model year and ran until 1979. The 1974 Mach 1 was one of several underpowered models produced during this period, with a paltry 2.8-liter V6 that only managed to cough up 105bhp. This generation of Mustang was built on a small Pinto platform, which meant it never had enough power.
To many, the Mustang symbolized the 1960s, a period characterized by its emphasis on performance. So it's fair to assume that Ford's efforts to create an environmentally friendly version of the 1969 Mustang were off target.
As you might expect, Ford's Mustang E is a flop. Most consumers were unimpressed by the car's 4.1-liter inline-six engine with 155 horsepower. In fact, Ford only created the Mustang E to compete in the MobilGas Economy Run, a 1,900-mile car race between Los Angeles and Kansas City that measures the fuel economy of various vehicles. Fortunately, only 50 examples of the Mustang E were ever built.
RELATED: The 5 Best Muscle Cars in 1960s
Although the V6-equipped Mustang is still a Mustang at heart, its lack of performance and disappointing resale value makes it less desirable among collectors than the V8-powered models. In the end, we want everyone to enjoy the V8-engined Mustang.
| Rank | Company | Country |
|---|---|---|
| #1 |  Volkswagen |
Germany |
| #2 |  Toyota |
Japan |
| #3 |  Stellantis |
Netherlands |
| #4 |  Mercedes-Benz Group |
Germany |
| #5 |  Ford Motor |
United States |
| Rank | Company | Country |
|---|---|---|
| #1 |  Michelin |
France |
| #2 |  Bridgestone |
Japan |
| #3 |  Continental |
Germany |
| #4 |  Goodyear |
United States |
| #5 |  Sumitomo |
Japan |
