1996 Ford Mustang GT problems

ENGINE

CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSED VAR TO OVERHEAT.

NHTSA complaint #10487341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ON MY 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT WITH THE 4.6L ENGINE 3 SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF AND THAT IT WOULD BE $1,341.98 TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE. I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE AND SAW THAT FORD BLAMES THE DAMAGE ON IMPROPER TORQUING OF THE SPARK PLUGS. AS THE CAR ONLY HAS 49,000 MILES IT HAS NEVER HAD THE PLUGS CHANGED IN ANY WAY. THREE BLEW OUT AND 2 MORE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE ENGINE AS THE ALUMINUM HEAD AND ALUMINUM SPARK PLUGS HAD SEIZED. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO FIX IT.

NHTSA complaint #10357842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2008 AND TWO MONTHS LATER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD(OEM) DEVELOPED A CRACK AND HAS A RESULT ANTIFREEZE WAS BEING BURNT WHICH CAUSED A MISFIRE ON THE 3RD CYLINDER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THEN STARTED TO FLASH (INDICATED MISFIRE) DROVE IT HOME TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND INSTALLED A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH HAD UPDATED FEATURES TO PREVENT THE INCIDENT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN THE FAILURE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A BLOWN UP ENGINE IT WAS COMMON IN 1996-2001 FORD 4.6L 2V V8 MOTORS.

NHTSA complaint #10300029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

I BOUGHT A USED 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT, SOON AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT THE CAR RAN HOT AND COULD SOMETIMES SMELL COOLANT WHEN EXITING THE CAR, AFTER MY HUSBAND CHANGED MANY PARTS IN THE COOLING SYSTEM, WHICH DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE, WE CALLED A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE THE PARTS DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A RECALL SO HE SENT US TO TALK TO A SERVICE MANAGER, AFTER GIVING THE VIN # TO THE SERVICE MANAGER WE WERE INFORMED THAT OUR CAR DID NOT HAVE ANY RECALLS. A FEW DAYS LATER MY HUSBAND FOUND A CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WE REPLACED IT OURSELVES AT OUR OWN EXPENSE ONLY TO FIND OUT THROUGH RESEARCH THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES, I FIND IT SAD THAT AN AMERICAN CAR COMPANY CAN GET AWAY WITH KNOWINGLY SELLING DEFECTIVE VEHICLES AND GETTING AWAY WITH IT. I WILL REMEMBER THIS NEXT VEHICLE AND BUY A FOREIGN CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10154919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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

THIS IS REGARD TO A 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT COUP WITH A 4.6L WITH THE NOW KNOWN FAULTY PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR, IT WAS PURCHASED FROM CAR MAX IN EARLY 2000. SO FAR THE REPAIR COST IS JUST $1,000. I AM AWARE OF THE JUST FINISHED CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BUT MY CASE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO IT BEING OUTSIDE THE 7 YEAR WINDOW. THE CAR WAS SERVICED AT FORD DEALERSHIPS WELL WITH IN THE 7 YEARS BUT THEY NEVER SAID A WORD. I FEEL THIS IS UNFAIR PRACTICES BY FORD AND THEIR AFFILIATED DEALERSHIPS. I WANT TO MAKE YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE AWARE THAT I AM PREPARED TO JOIN ANY SUBSEQUENT LITIGATION TO HELP COVER THE MANY, MANY OTHER INTAKES THAT WERE NOT HANDLED IN THIS CLASS ACTION SUIT. I AM ASKING YOU TO PLEASE ENCOURAGE FORD TO MAKE GOOD ON THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

NHTSA complaint #10152015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 1996 FORD MUSTANG CRACKED WITH 48750 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS FAILUE OCCURED WITHIN A FEW MILES OF MY HOME AND I WAS ABLE TO LIMP THE CAR BACK. THIS MANIFOLD IS KNOWN BY FORD TO BE DEFECTIVE AND WAS RECALLED IN FLEET CARS AND WAS ALSO THE SUBJECT OF LITIGATION (WHICH FORD LOST). WHILE THE MANIFOLD ON MY CAR IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE MANIFOLDS ON THE RECALLED VEHICLES OR THE ONES COVERED BY THE LAWSUIT, FORD WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FAILURE. WHILE THE LAWSUIT HAS BEEN SETTLED, AND IT APPEARS THAT THE LAWSUIT IS COSTING FORD MONEY, I BEG TO DIFFER. THEIR STATISTICIANS KNOW THE HALF LIFE OF THIS PART. THEY ALSO KNOW THAT ALL CARS WITH THIS ENGINE WILL BE AFFECTED SOONER OR LATER. IF THEY MAKE MONEY ON UNNECESSARY REPAIRS THAT ARE NOT COVERED (MY PARTS COST WAS TRIPLE THAT OF WHAT I COULD HAVE BOUGHT THE PART FOR ONLINE), THEN THEY CAN AFFORD TO COVER THEIR RECALLED PARTS AND EITHER BREAK EVEN OR WORSE YET, MAKE A PROFIT OFF OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THIS SETS A POOR PRECIDENCE. ADDITIONALLY, THE MANIFOLD LEAKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE LEAK WAS SMALL, REQUIRING THAT I ADD ABOUT 2 QUARTS OF ANTIFREEZE A YEAR. VAPOR FROM THE ANTIFREEZE COULD BE SMELLED INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE FROM TIME TO TIME AND I'M NOT SURE THAT THIS IS GREAT FOR THE HEALTH OF AN INDIVIDUAL RIDING IN THE CABIN.

NHTSA complaint #10148081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I OWN A 96 MUSTANG GT THAT HAS A CRACKED INTAKE. WHY IS THE 96 EXCLUDED FROM BEING REPLACED UNDER THE LAWSUIT, WHENEVER THE INTAKES ARE THE SAME? THERE SHOULD NOT BE SO MANY CARS EXCLUDED FROM THIS,THAT HAVE THE SAME INTAKE AS THE ONES INCLUDED, IF FORD REALLY CARES ABOUT ITS BUYERS!

NHTSA complaint #10145525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WE OWNED A 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT THAT HAD A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT CRACKED AND FAILED. THE MANIFOLD CRACKED ON THE COOLANT CROSSOVER PASSAGE, DIRECTLY BEHIND THE ALTERNATOR. THERE WAS NO CRASH OR INJURIES. I REPLACED THE MANIFOLD MYSELF BY PURCHASING A NEW ONE FROM AUTO ZONE ON 8/16/05. THE COST OF THE MANIFOLD WAS $264.94.

NHTSA complaint #10138363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HELLO PLEASE FORGIVE MY POOR ENGLISH BUT MY PROBLEM IS THAT I HAD JUST BOUGHT MY FIRST CAR FROM A CAR DEALER WITHIN 35 DAYS THE PLASTIC INTAKE STARTED SPRAY OUT OF THE ENGINE AREA EVERY TIME THE GAS PEDAL WAS PUSH THEN CAUSING OTHER PROBLEM TO THE ENGINE. THE 1996 MUSTANG GT 4.6 HAS A CRACKED PLASTIC INTAKE THAT SHOULD NEVER BEEN ON THIS CAR PLEASE HELP IT COST A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY.

NHTSA complaint #10136073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM I BOUGHT A LOT OF NEW PARTS FOR THIS CAR TO TRY AND KEEP IT COOLED DOWN EVERYTHING THERE IS TO BUY I WAS FINELY TOLD BY THE SHOP THAT WORKS ON THE CAR I SHOULD CHECK WITH FORD BECAUSE IF THEY DID ANYMORE WORK ON MY CAR IT COULD BECOME UP IN THE THOUSANDS AND THAT FORD SHOULD BE PAYING THE BILL OR RECALL THE WHOLE CAR THERE IS A LOT OF MILES ON MY CAR BUT I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT AND AS MANY PARTS I BUY AND AS MANY TIMES THAT IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP ALMOST EVERYTHING ON THE CAR IS NEW I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING TO MAKE THIS CAR RUN GOOD THE REASON THE OWNER BEFORE ME SOLD THE CAR HE WAS ALWAYS FIXING SOMETHING ON IT WITH EVERYTHING HE DONE TO THE CAR I THOUGHT IF I JUST DID A LITTLE MORE IT WOULD RUN GOOD BUT THERE'S NO WAY I REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD 2 TIMES BECAUSE OF CRACKING I WAS TOLD BY FORD THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLDS BUT THEY DON'T RECALL THEM ANYMORE SO SECOND HAND BUYERS ARE OUT OF LUCK WE JUST KEEP REPLACING THAT PART WHILE FORD GETS RICHER ON A PART THEY KNOW WILL NOT WORK ON THAT CAR I REPLACED THE CLUTCH A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO AND AGAIN SOMETHING 'S WRONG I HAD IT CHECKED AND THEY FOUND THAT ALL THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE TRANSMISSION IN WHERE ALL ALMOST OUT I HAVE HAD THEM PUT BACK IN PLACE 2 TIMES AND THE SAME WITH STARTER ONLY WITH THE STARTER THERE WAS ONLY ONE BOLT LEFT HOLDING IT THE SHOP SAID THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW IT HAD BEEN STARTING SO I FIXED THAT BUT WORRIED ABOUT THEM ALL THE TIME FORD HAS BEEN NO HELP ON ANY THING I CALLED ABOUT BUT THEY SAY THEY KNOW OF THE TROUBLE PEOPLE ARE HAVING BUT SORRY NO ONE HAS PUT ANY RECALLS ON THESE PROBLEMS AND THAT THEY WILL SEND ME A LETTER IF ANY RECALLS COME OUT ANYTHING THAT COST FORD TO MUCH NEVER GETS RECALLS ONLY THING LIKE HOOD LATCH SEAT BELT THOSE 2 THINGS I HAVE NEVER HAD TROUBLE WITH BUT THEY ALSO DON'T PAY MUCH TO HAVE THEM FIXED.

NHTSA complaint #10131024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WAS SITTING AT A HIGH TRAFFIC INTERSECTION WHEN CAR SHUT OFF AND WAS VERY HARD TO START BACK UP AND GET OUT OF THE WAY MY CAR HAS DONE THIS 5 OR 6 TIMES I HAD IT LOOKED AT BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM SAID THEY WOULD NEED TO KEEP IT AND DRIVE THE CAR TO SEE BUT WHEN I LET THEM HAVE IT FOR A WEEK IT NEVER DID IT SO NOW I ALWAYS TAKE THE CHANCE IT CAN DO IT AT ANYTIME ANY WHERE I PUT NEW STARTER BEFORE THIS STARTED HAPPENING BUT CAR IS STILL VERY HARD TO START .....

NHTSA complaint #10130984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT

NHTSA complaint #10128993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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

1996 FORD MUSTANG GT CONVERT. LEAKING COOLANT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I SERVICE IT REGULARLY SINCE 2001. CONFIRMED A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART BUT IT HAD EXPIRED. MY WIFE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY STATED IT WAS A COURTESY RECALL AND THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME BECAUSE THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. HOW CAN A THE MANUFACTURER RECALL A DEFECTIVE PART AND THEN CLOSE THE DATE ON THE RECALL WHEN THERE APPEARS TO BE A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA COMPLAINTS WEBSITE? COST FOR REPLACEMENT INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS $1253.77. REQUESING REIMBURSEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10119376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED FOR THE 2ND TIME. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET COVERED UNDER THE RECALL THE FIRST TIME, BUT THIS TIME I'M ON MY OWN. THIS IS ON A '96 MUSTANG GT WITH 100K MILES. BOTH CRACKS WERE AROUND THE TEMPERATURE SENDING UNIT AT THE FRONT/PASSENGER SIDE OF THE MOTOR.

NHTSA complaint #10108489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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

INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED; I HAD TO PAY 589.17 FOR A NEW ONE AND 225.00 LABOR CHARGES; I WOULD LIKE A REFUND.

NHTSA complaint #10106482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD STARTED LEAKING COOLANT, RESULTING IN THE WINDSHIELD TO INSTANTLY BECOME FOGGED AND UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY FORD TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10100589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE DRIVER OPENED THE HOOD AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #10097074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

(1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. 2) FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES: CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD ON 1996 FORD MUSTANG GT SOHC V8 ENGINE (85,000MILES). ENGINE COOLANT LEAKED OUT RENDERING CAR UNDRIVEABLE, AND ME STRANDED. (3) WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; I.E, PARTS REPAIRED OR REPLACED: FRAMINGHAM FORD DEALER REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PART AT A CHARGE OF $1150. THE WORK WAS DONE IN A SLOPPY FASHION WHERE UPON RECEIVING THE CAR, THERE WERE WASHERS AND NUTS MISSING FROM SOME PARTS OF THE REASSEMBLED ENGINE (WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN ADRESSED). THE CRACKED MANIFOLD WAS NOT FIXED UNDER WARRANTY OR THE 97M91 RECALL AS IT HAD RUN OUT LAST YEAR. THERE WAS NO RECALL NOTICE SENT PRIOR TO IT RUNNING OUT. BEING A KNOWN PROBLEM, FORD NEEDS TO REPLACE THE PART AT THEIR EXPENSE, NOT AT A PROFIT FOR THEMSELVES.

NHTSA complaint #10086160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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

CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD IN THERMOSTAT HOUSING. CAUSING TEMP TO RAISE SIGNIFICANTLY. FORD DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A GENERAL RECALL, NOT MANDATORY. HOW WHERE WE SUPPOSED TO BE MADE AWARE OF THIS? CAR IS 1996, 89000 MILES, OUT OF WARRANTY COVERED BY 'GENERAL RECALL' THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!!

NHTSA complaint #10068057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DEAR FORD MOTOR COMPANY, WILL YOU PLEASE ASSIST IN GETTING MY CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD FIXED? I AM UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THERE ONCE WAS A RECALL ON THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS BUT I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT. NOW I FIND MYSELF IN THE POSITION OF NEEDING MINE REPLACED AS IT IS CRACKED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR FUTURE ASSISTANCE, AS I KNOW YOU WISH TO KEEP YOUR CONSUMERS HAPPY AND LOYAL AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU WANT TO PROVIDE THE CONSUMERS WITH PRODUCTS THAT WORK WITHOUT MANUFACTURES DEFECTS SO THAT WE MAY TRANSPORT YOUR FUTURE CAR BUYERS SAFELY. SINCERELY, J. HERNDON.

NHTSA complaint #10067820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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

FORD MUSTANG GT 4.6L INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND FORD WILL NOT REPLACE/REPAIR. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART.

NHTSA complaint #10065849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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

CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD NOT COVERED BY FORD,CAR HAS 38000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10054737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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

YES I HAVE A 1996 MUSTANG AND MY INTAKE HAD CRACKED FOR THE THIRD TIME AND FORD IS NOT FIX IT THIS TIME TELLING ME THAT ITS OUT OF WARRANTY SO HOW CAN THEY KEEP PUTTING INTAKES ON IF THEY GO BACK THERE HAS BEEN A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTAKES FOR THE 1996 MUSTANG GT THEY SAY THERE IS A GENERAL RECALL BUT NOT A SAFTY RECALL SO U TELLING ME THEY RECONIZE THERE IS SOME THING WRONG WITH THERE INTAKES SO WHY SOULD THE RECALL RUN OUT I MEAN COME ON I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE 1999 AND HAD 46000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND NOW ITS 2004 AND 82000 MILES AND 3 INTAKES HAVE CRACKED I 4 YEARS SOME THING ITS VERY WRONG AND FORD NEED TO BE PAYING FOR THIS IM TIRED OF HAVEN THIS GO OUT AND SOME ONE NEED TO STEP UP AND PAY FOR FORDS MISTAKE ON THIS INTAKE NOW IM NOT GANNA GIVE UP FORD WILL PAY FOR MINE WHEN I GET DONE I PROMISE THAT I MEAN I HAVE BEEN LOOKN FOR 5 DAYS NOW AND I HAVE OVER 100 PEOPLE THAT I HAVE SEEN COMPLAINTS FOR THIS INTAKE NOW COME ON FORD U THINK SOME THING IS WRONG WITH THAT AND U SEE WHY PEOPLE DONT LIKE FORD ANY MORE CUZ U DONT STAND BHIND UR PARTS AND U LEAVE CUSTOMERS OUT IN THE COLD HEY IF ITS UR FAULT STAND UP AND ADMIT IT DONT DENY IT CUZ EVERY ONE KNOWS THAT THIS INTAKE PROBLEM IS FORD FAULT.

NHTSA complaint #10052815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.