FaultScore

2002 Ford Mustang acceleration problems

15 of the 159 complaints about the 2002 Ford Mustang are about the throttle and cruise control — 9% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 31,500 miles.

B

15

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Vehicle Speed Control 10 66.7%
Accelerator Pedal 4 26.7%
Cruise Control 1 6.7%

Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Ford Mustang year

1995 13 2.7%
1996 10 2.1%
1998 18 3.8%
1999 26 5.5%
2000 19 4.0%
2001 13 2.7%
2002 15 3.2%
2003 16 3.4%
2004 34 7.2%
2005 55 11.6%
2006 35 7.4%
2007 43 9.1%
2008 19 4.0%
2009 22 4.6%
2010 10 2.1%
2011 39 8.2%
2012 35 7.4%
2013 19 4.0%
2014 10 2.1%
2015 14 2.9%
2016 10 2.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Stockton, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

No

NHTSA complaint #11438547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 31,000 miles NEW Tripoli, PA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

FIRST INCIDENT: I WAS APPROACHING MY MAIL BOX TO STOP AND GET MY MAIL OUT, WHILE BRAKING INSTEAD OF STOPPING THE CAR ACCELERATED AND WENT RIGHT PAST MY MAILBOX. I DROVE INTO MY STONE DRIVEWAY, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY EVEN THOUGH I HAD STOPPED, THE TIRES WERE SPINNING SO FAST THEY MAD RUTS IN MY DRIVEWAY. EVEN SITTING THERE IN PARK, THE RPM NEEDLE WAS RACING UPWARD. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS GO ON. I TURNED THE CAR OFF. NEXT DAY I WENT OUT, AND CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING WITHOUT ME STEPPING ON THE GAS. SCARED TO DRIVE IT, I HAD IT TOWED TO A SERVICE CENTER. THEY HAD IT FOR A WEEK AND A HALF, NEVER HAPPENED FOR THEM, AND SAID UNLESS IT HAPPENS WHILE THEY HAVE IT, COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. (ALTHOUGH THEY DID MENTION A FEW POSSIBILITIES: THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, LEAKAGE, COMPUTER) AS I WAS TAKING MY CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP ON 8/9/13 FOR OTHER SERVICE, I EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY SAID ALSO UNLESS THE CAR DID IT WHILE IT WAS THERE THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CHECK IT OUT. SECOND INCIDENT: WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, PROBABLY ABOUT 55-60 MPH, THE CAR ON ITS OWN SPED UP, THE RPM NEED SEEMED STUCK AT 3, EVEN THOUGH I WAS BREAKING THE CAR WASN'T SLOWING DOWN; AND JUST LIKE THAT, PROBABLY IN 30 SECONDS, IT RECOVERED AND RAN FINE. I WROTE A LETTER ON 9/6/13 TO FORD MOTOR CO EXPLAINING WHAT IS HAPPENING AND ASKING FOR THEIR HELP IN IDENTIFYING A SOLUTION. I RECEIVED A LETTER BACK FROM FORD MOTOR CO DATED 9/16/13, THEY OFFER NO ASSISTANCE AT ALL.

NHTSA complaint #10545310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Kings Park, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

DT: CONTACT STATES THE THROTTLE STICKS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. IT OVERRUNS THE BRAKE; IT DOES NOT THROTTLE DOWN; IT ACCELERATES WHILE BRAKING. HE DOES NOT HAVE TO HAVE FOOT ON THE GAS AT ALL. HE NOTICED THIS HAPPENING A FEW MONTHS AGO AT HIGH SPEEDS OF 60-65 MPH. IT OCCURS MORE OFTEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN A DOWNWARD PITCH. IT HAS OCCURRED ON A BIG HILL AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO SURGE FORWARD WHILE HE WAS BRAKING. AFTER A BRIEF PERIOD IT DOES THROTTLE DOWN. HE HAS NOT TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER. HE HAS NOT YET TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER. HE IS PLANNING TO TALK TO FORD SHORTLY. THE MANUFACTURER'S NAME, CITY, STATE WAS ALL THAT WAS AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10128702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wesley Chapel, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS BEING PRESSED OR IS COMPLETELY PRESSED TO THE FLOOR, THE CAR ACCELERATES AND LUNGES FORWARD.

NHTSA complaint #10128534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chatsworth, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

WHILE DRIVING 35-45 MPH AND ONCE RELEASING THE GAS PEDAL VEHICLE WOULD COAST FORWARD. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10080138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,936 miles Chatsworth, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND WHEN BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE PULLED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. *AK THERE WAS A CLUNK AFTER THE BRAKES WERE RELEASED, THE FRONT TIRES RUBBED ON THE FRAME WHEN TURNING, THREE BELTS WERE INSTALLED WITHIN 6000, THE VEHICLE SMELLED LIKE OIL, EVEN WITH THE A/C ON. THE MOTOR RATTLED BEFORE THE GEARS WERE SHIFTED, WITH THE A/C ON THE MOTOR WOULD SURGE UP AND DOWN TO THE POINT WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL. AFTER THE CONSUMER WOULD TAKE HIS FOOT OFF OF THE GAS THERE WOULD BE A SLIGHT ACCELERATION, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND LUNGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS SOMETIMES HARD TO START AND MUST BE CRANKED SEVERAL TIMES. THERE WAS A RATTLE IN THE REAR OF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AS IF SOMETHING WAS LOOSE MOVING BACK AND FORTH. POOR ALIGNMENT HAD WORN THE TIRES ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE. THE BOLT FROM THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND IN THE DRIVEWAY, AND THE REAR WINDOW HAD AN AIR LEAK. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10080140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cincinnati, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE ACCELERATED.

NHTSA complaint #10071806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 32,000 miles MT Pleasant, SC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM IN WHICH ENGINE WILL RACE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, AND FOOT OFF OF GAS PEDAL. USUALLY OCCURS WHEN STOPPING AT STOP SIGN OR PULLING INTO PARKING PLACE. CAR WILL COME TO ALMOST COMPLETE STOP AND THEN THE ENGINE WILL RACE AND THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD, AND BRAKES CANNOT STOP CAR. BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT STOPPING VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL OR PARK TO STOP THE VEHICLE. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION.AR IS AT FORD DEALER PRESENTLY.

NHTSA complaint #10049152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Heavener, OK

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS ALOUD NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN ANY GEAR AND THEN THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE CONSUMER ALSO BELIEVED THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS LOOSE, THE TAIL LIGHT LENS HAD CONDENSATION, THE WINDOW SEAL TRIM CAME OFF AND THE WINDOWS MADE UP WHEN UP OR DOWN. *JB *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10031267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sallisaw, OK

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE WOULD STALL ON TAKE OFF AND EVENTUALLY BEGAN TO STALL WHILE IN MOTION (45 MPH) WHICH WOULD CAUSE ALL POWER ASSISTED OPTIONS TO FAIL, NEARLY CAUSING MANY WRECKS. TRAVELING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW AND IT FELT AS IF THE CRUISE WAS STUCK, BUT THE CRUISE HAD NEVER BEEN ENGAGED. TAKEN TO DEALER BUT COULD NOT GET PROBLEM TO HAPPEN IN SERVICE. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN SERVICE. DT

NHTSA complaint #769377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dumont, NJ Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

WHILE DRVING GAS PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO BRAKES, AND VEHICLE SLOWED TO APPROXIMATELY 55MPH, BUT WOULD NOT STOP. CONSUMER THEN COLLIDED WITH THE CURB. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO ADVISED CONSUMER THAT AN ENGINE PROBLEM EXISTED.

NHTSA complaint #8017613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #765098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Apopka, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

STALLS OCCURS APPROXIMATELY EVERY 1-2 WEEKS WITHOUT WARNING; REPLACING IAC DIDN'T FIX.

NHTSA complaint #765134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Woodbridge, VA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

STALLING AFTER ACELERATION.

NHTSA complaint #765160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lexington, MA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELT FLOPPY. CONSUMER CHANGED GEAR , LET FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR, AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER APPLIED CLUTCH TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. VEHICLE IS AT DEALER AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA complaint #899520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2002 Ford Mustang problems

← Full 2002 Ford Mustang report