Ford Mustang Convertible engine problems

ENGINE

INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACK DESTROYING ENGINE. CYLINDER HEAD SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT. HEATER CORE FAILURE. CONVERTIBLE TOP DETERIORATING. FUEL PUMP FAILURE ALL LESS THAN 1200000

NHTSA complaint #10780084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

LOUD POP NOISE AND VEHICLE SPEED VERY QUICKLY DECREASED. ENGINE RAN EXTREMELY ROUGH. VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #10606941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

VEHICLES HEAD GASKETS FAILED, PCM FAILED AKA THE BRAIN ON THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10449276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

1997 FORD MUSTANG GT 4.6L 8CL OIL IN RADIATOR, BUT NO WATER IN ENGINE. CAR RUNS GREAT BUT WILL RUN HOT AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF REPLACING THE RADIATOR. COMPRESSION TEST DID NOT SHOW LOSS OF COMPRESSION. MECHANICS ARE BAFFLED BECAUSE THE CAR RUNS SO WELL WITHOUT MISSING OR POWER LOSS. FURTHER TEST CAN NOT PROVE BLOWN HEAD GASKET. CAR DOESN'T EVEN SMOKE. IM CONFUSED, NEED HELP AND HOPING THERE IS A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10352010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WE TOOK OUR 1998 6 CYLINDER MUSTANG IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. IT HAS ABOUT 90,000 MILES ON IT. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT IS LEAKING FUEL AND THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. WE NOW HAVE TO SPEND $1000 TO REPLACE THE FUEL RAIL, BOTH VALVE GASKETS, VALVE COVER GASKETS AND FUEL INJECTOR O RINGS. PLUS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT ON LABOR. WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR CAR/ENGINE WILL CATCH FIRE, IF WE DO NOT REPLACE THESE PARTS. THIS IS MY DAUGHTER WHO IS IN COLLEGE'S CAR. HOW CAN THEY HAVE SUCH A HORRIBLE DESIGN AND IF WE REPLACE THE PARTS IS THIS GOING TO BE REPEATED? THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING FROM AN ENGINE LIGHT OR ANYTHING ELSE. THE TECHNICIAN CHECKED IT BECAUSE WHEN HE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, HE THOUGHT HE SMELLED GAS AND THEN FOUND THE LEAK. WE HADN'T NOTICED A LEAK. MY DAUGHTER COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED DRIVING BACK TO SCHOOL THIS WEEK.

NHTSA complaint #10272667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

BROKE DOWN ON HIGHWAY WITH WATER AND SMOKE EVERYWHERE. HAD IT TOWED TO A GARAGE AND HAD TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED . FORD REFUNDED US THE MONEY AND IT WORKED FOR AWHILE BUT BEGAN OVERHEATING AGAIN AND HAD TO ADD WATER EVERYDAY. HUSBAND PASSED AWAY IN 2006 AND UNTIL 2008 EXCEPT FOR STARTING IT, I DID NOT DRIVE IT. HAD THE COOLING SYSTEM FIXED AGAIN AT MY COST AND I AM BACK APPROX 6 MTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM OVERHEATING AGAIN AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. CAR SOUNDS AWFUL AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX IT AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10261547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

BROKE DOWN ON HIGHWAY WITH WATER AND SMOKE EVERYWHERE. HAD IT TOWED TO A GARAGE AND HAD TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED . FORD REFUNDED US THE MONEY AND IT WORKED FOR AWHILE BUT BEGAN OVERHEATING AGAIN AND HAD TO ADD WATER EVERYDAY. HUSBAND PASSED AWAY IN 2006 AND UNTIL 2008 EXCEPT FOR STARTING IT, I DID NOT DRIVE IT. HAD THE COOLING SYSTEM FIXED AGAIN AT MY COST AND I AM BACK APPROX 6 MTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM OVERHEATING AGAIN AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. CAR SOUNDS AWFUL AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX IT AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10261547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT. THERE WAS REALLY NOTHING THAT LED UP TO THIS THAT I KNOW OF. APPARENTLY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS A LOT TO FORD VEHICLES (I HAVE A 99 MUSTANG V8). FORD RECOMMENDED A NEW HEAD ($2000). AN ALTERNATIVE WAS TO RETAPE THE HEAD ($800).

NHTSA complaint #10225907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

I PARKED THE CAR ALONG THE CURB AT UCLA AND SPENT THE NIGHT AT THE DORMS. THE CAR WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY FINE, I DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING DIFFERENT AND THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. WHEN I AWOKE THE FOLLOWING MORNING A FRIEND AND I WERE HUNGRY SO WE DECIDED TO GO TO MCDONALD'S. IT WAS APPROX. 1.5 - 2 MILES AWAY. WHILE WE WERE SITTING IN THE DRIVE THROUGH, I STARTED TO HEAR A LOUD NOISE, KIND OF LIKE A BELT SQUEAKING INSIDE THE HOOD. I COULDN'T TELL IF IT WAS FROM MY CAR OR THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF ME, SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF. THE NOISE STOPPED. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON HOWEVER, THE NOISE GOT UNBEARABLY LOUD AND SOUNDED LIKE METAL ON METAL, AND WE NOTICED THE AROMA OF SOMETHING BURNING. I EXITED THE DRIVE THROUGH AND STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT. I LOOKED AT THE GAUGES, AND THE OIL, BATTERY AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES WERE ALL WHERE THEY NORMALLY SHOULD BE, BOUT IN THE MIDDLE TO SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE HALFWAY MARK...WELL...THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED AND I ASSUMED THEN THAT IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I KNEW THERE WAS A GAS STATION UP AHEAD, SO I TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN, IT HAD SOME PROBLEMS STARTING UP, BUT THEN FINALLY STARTED AND I WAS GOING TO DRIVE THE BLOCK REMAINING TO THE GAS STATION. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE WAS A LOUD POP UNDER THE HOOD, AND ALL THE GAUGES DROPPED AND I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND LET IT COAST TO THE SIDEWALK, WHEN I EXITED THE CAR, THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER THE GROUND, LEAKING FROM SOMEWHERE AND I NOTICED THAT UNDER THE HOOD, THE PLASTIC CAP THAT WAS COVERING THE PISTONS (I ASSUME) WAS CRACKED...THERE WAS SMOKE EVERYWHERE. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER CAME, HE SAID THAT SOMEHOW SOMETHING CAME UNLOOSE FROM THE ENGINE AND SHOT UP THROUGH THE PISTONS AND THAT'S WHAT BROKE THE PLASTIC CAP. HE SAID HE'S NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE IN HIS 30 YRS OF SERVICE.

NHTSA complaint #10225580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

JULY 2007 THROUGH CURRENT DATE. CAR STALLS WHEN PUSHING IN CLUTCH TO STOP OR MAKE TURNS. THERE IS A TSB (17542)ON THIS ISSUE BUT NO RECALL. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHICH COULD BE FATAL TO A NOVICE DRIVER; ESPECIALLY WHEN CAR STALLS DURING A LEFT HAND TURN.

NHTSA complaint #10215574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 10-30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED, BUT THE RADIO REMAINED ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT WAITED FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AUTOMATICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,200. UPDATED 12/12/2007

NHTSA complaint #10210241 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

MARCH 30, 2007 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I HAVE A 2000 FORD MUSTANG GT-WHILE DRIVING HOME TODAY 3/30/07 IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, I HEARD A LOAD POP, AND THEN LOST ENGINE FUNCTION. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT KILLED. WHEN I CHECKED MY ENGINE, IT HAD BLOWN THE SPARK PLUG-I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED PROBLEM UNTIL I CHECKED ON THE INTERNET, AND READ ALL OF THE INCIDENTS WITH FORDS "SPITTING" SPARK PLUGS. I THINK IT IS HORRIFIC THAT FORD WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND DO THE RIGHT THING-"RECALL"-HOW MANY WILL HAVE TO DIE BEFORE FORD ACKNOWLEDGES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR AUTOMOBILES BLOWING SPARK PLUGS. I WILL SAY THAT AS THE OWNER OF MULTIPLE FORD MUSTANGS INCLUDING 65, 66, 67, 70, 98, 2000 (STILL HAVE THEM ALL). I WILL THINK TWICE BEFORE BUYING ANOTHER FORD IF THEY DO NOT TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION AND ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THEIR PRODUCT-SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A NOTIFICATION OF A POTENTIAL PROBLEM COULD HAVE SAVED 1000S FROM EXPENSIVE, NEEDLESS DAMAGE TO THEIR AUTOMOBILES. I FOR ONE WOULD HAVE ENSURED THAT I DID FREQUENT SPARK PLUG CHECKS TO ENSURE THEY WERE SECURE, OR WOULD HAVE POSSIBLY TAKEN CORRECTIVE MEASURES BEFORE NEEDED REPAIRS FROM DAMAGE. AMERICAN MADE SHOULD NOT EQUATE TO INFERIORLY MADE. I AM REQUESTING THAT I BE REIMBURSED FOR THE DAMAGE CAUSED DUE TO A FAULTY DESIGN WITH THE CYLINDER HEAD. IN ADDITION, I AM REQUESTING THAT FORD NOTIFY THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE MODELS WITH THIS DESIGN FLAW TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO NEEDLESS LOSS OF LIFE FROM POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THIS DESIGN FLAW.

NHTSA complaint #10186618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND AFTER INITIAL INSPECTION DETERMINED COOLANT HAD LEAKED FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA complaint #10166210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAVE A 98 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE CAR IS COVERED IN THE CLASS ACTION SUIT, BUT I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT 3 MONTHS AFTER IT EXPIRIED. (FORD VS. CHAMBERLIN). IT'S A MAJOR PROBLEM IN ALL CARS BETWEEN 96-99. I'M SURE YOU HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON IT.

NHTSA complaint #10161699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

INLET MANIFOLD COOLANT TRANSFER PASSAGE ON MY 1996 FORD MUSTANG WITH 4.6L 2V FAILED. AS THIS OCCURRED AT SPEED AND RESULTED IN OBSCURED FORWARD VISION, IT CREATED SOME HAZARD - AS WELL AS THE SUBSEQUENT INCONVENIENCE OF AN IMMOBILE VEHICLE. THIS FAULT HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO CLASS ACTION IN THE USA, BUT A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF AFFECTED VEHICLES, INCLUDING MINE, HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED ON BASIS OF AGE. THE FLAMING FORD WEBSITE HAS REQUESTED THESE INCIDENTS BE REPORTED VIA YOURSELVES.

NHTSA complaint #10160904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

HEAD GASKETS FAILED AT 77,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10154238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

I HAVE A 2001 FORD MUSTANG V6 CONVERTIBLE. FORD HAS A DEFECT ON THEIR DPFE SENSOR FOR THEIR EMISSION EGR FLOW. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM IN FORD MUSTANGS. EVERY PERSON I KNOW WHO OWNS A 99-01 HAS HAD TO CHANGE THEIR DPFE SENSOR, SPENDING THEIR OWN MONEY FOR FORD'S DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. EVEN THE LOCAL ROCK RIVER FORD DEALERSHIP PARTS DEPT. TOLD ME THAT FORD HAS A BIG DEFECT ON THIS, AND THEY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THE PROBLEM. FORD HAS A FAULTY DPFE SENSOR ON THEIR MUSTANGS. I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO PAY MY HARD EARNED MONEY TO TEMPORARILY FIX THEIR PROBLEM, BY BUYING A NEW DPFE SENSOR. I THINK FORD SHOULD GIVE ME A NEW SENSOR, IT WAS THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. CHECK UNDER ANY OF THE 99-01 V6 MUSTANG FORUMS SITES, AND SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT, FOR "INSUFFICIENT EGR FLOW". CAUSED BY THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY THROTTLE STICKING. UNDER HARD ACCELERATION, WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS, THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP GOING FASTER. THE GAS PEDDLE STICKS. I HAVE ALMOST GOT INTO A FEW ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS.

NHTSA complaint #10152706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

FAILED HEAD GASKET ON 1994 MUSTANG WITH APPROX. 79,000 MILES. THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT IT COULD COST ME UPWARDS OF $2500-3000 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I'M DISCOVERING THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH FORD ON THIS MATTER AND I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND REIMBURSE ME (AND OTHERS) FOR ALL REPAIR COSTS.

NHTSA complaint #10147871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2003 FORD MUSTANG COBRA CONVERTIBLE IN PLACENTIA, CA AND WAS VERY EXCITED TO HAVE MY FIRST MUSTANG. I AM 32 AND MARRIED WITH TWO CHILDREN AGES 13 AND 5 SO OUR OTHER CAR IS A MINIVAN. IN THE END, AS YOU WILL SEE IN THIS DESCRIPTION, THIS WAS THE WORST PURCHASE I HAVE EVER MADE IN REGARDS TO A VEHICLE. AFTER AROUND 7,000-9,000 MILES ( I WOULD HAVE TO PULL THE PAPERWORK AS I AM AT WORK NOW) THE CAR OVER-HEATED ON THE FREEWAY AND DURING THE OVERHEATING THE CAR SHUT DOWN FORCING ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND THE CAR BEGAN TO DRIFT LEFT IN TO THE OTHER LANE. I PUMPED THE CLUTCH SEVERAL TIMES AND SUCCESSFULLY WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR RUNNING JUST FAR ENOUGH TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND CALL A TOW TRUCK. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE SINCE TRAFFIC WAS MOVING AROUND 65-70 MPH. THE CAR WAS SENT TO FRITTS FORD IN RIVERSIDE, CA AND I FOUND OUT THAT NOT ONLY WAS THE RADIATOR CAP CRACKED AS WELL AS THE RADIATOR BUT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER (I KNOW MY SPELLING IS WRONG HERE) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR SOME REASON. I BELIEVE THEY SAID IT HAD A HOLE IN IT WHICH I CAN'T BELIEVE AFTER ONLY 7K-9K MILES. I ALSO BELIEVE THEY REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. IT WAS TOO LONG AFTER I RECEIVED THE CAR BACK (ABOUT 3K-5K MILES) THAT THE OVERHEATING HAPPENED AGAIN, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN, ETC AND I WAS FORCED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND AGAIN LUCKILY WAS NOT HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. THE CAR WAS BACK AT THE DEALER AND THE RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT WERE REPLACED I BELIEVE. SINCE THEN I HAVE MOVED TO TEXAS AND THE SAME THING HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. EACH TIME (WELL THE FIRST TWO SINCE THE LAST ONE JUST HAPPENED LAST NIGHT) I WAS TOLD THE THERMOSTAT WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I GUARANTEE NOW THAT THE CAR IS AT BOB TOMES FORD IN MCKINNEY TEXAS FOR THE 3RD TIME WITH ONLY 22,000 TOTAL MILES THAT THE THERMOSTAT WAS BAD AGAIN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10136505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.