← New search

2000 Ford Mustang

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Mustang years

Owner complaints for the 2000 Ford Mustang are substantially higher than the model-year median of 81.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

97 reports with mileage · 214 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

56 crash reports9 fire reports30 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

14 reports
Clear category filter
120,000 miles · Jul 8, 2020
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIMMED AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING IN LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE AMBER REFLECTOR LIGHTS WERE MISSING FROM THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO MEET THE FMVSS REQU…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIMMED AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING IN LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE AMBER REFLECTOR LIGHTS WERE MISSING FROM THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO MEET THE FMVSS REQUIREMENTS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #11338256

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2007
Exterior Lighting

BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLAMP PLASTIC LENS HAVE DETERIORATED AND WERE A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE IT GREATLY REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT EMITTED DURING EVENING HOURS. THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS AUTOMOBILE. HOWEVER, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE REGARDING A FORMAL RECALL. OTHER KNOWN PROBLEMS LIKE: NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGNS 06E049000…

Read full complaint

BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLAMP PLASTIC LENS HAVE DETERIORATED AND WERE A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE IT GREATLY REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT EMITTED DURING EVENING HOURS. THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS AUTOMOBILE. HOWEVER, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE REGARDING A FORMAL RECALL. OTHER KNOWN PROBLEMS LIKE: NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGNS 06E049000 AND 06E064000 WERE ADDRESSING ONLY BULB PROBLEMS. I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HAD TO BE REPLACED . YOU COULD READILY SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OLD DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE NEW, CLEAR PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT PROTECTOR AND THE LIGHT THEY ALLOW ON THE ROAD AHEAD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10196626

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2007
Exterior Lighting

BOTH LEFT & RIGHT HEADLAMP PLASTIC LENS HAVE DETERIORATED AND ARE A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE IT IS GREATLY REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT EMITTED DURING EVENING HOURS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS AUTOMOBILE, HOWEVER, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE REGARDING A FORMAL RECALL TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. OTHER KNOWN PROBLEMS LIKE: NHTSA RECA…

Read full complaint

BOTH LEFT & RIGHT HEADLAMP PLASTIC LENS HAVE DETERIORATED AND ARE A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE IT IS GREATLY REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT EMITTED DURING EVENING HOURS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS AUTOMOBILE, HOWEVER, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE REGARDING A FORMAL RECALL TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. OTHER KNOWN PROBLEMS LIKE: NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGNS 06E049000 AND 06E064000 WERE ADDRESSING ONLY BULB PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10194185

100,000 miles · Jan 27, 2007
Exterior Lighting

1)HEAD LIGHT COVERS BECOME INCREASINGLY OPAQUE 2)UNABLE TO SEE WELL WHILE NIGHT DRIVING BECAUSE HEAD LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE WELL 3)NEED TO REPLACE LIGHT COVERS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10180880

58,000 miles · Jul 3, 2006
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHT LENS IS PLASTIC AND IT HAS DISCOLORED TO THE POINT THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT PASS SAFETY INSPECTION. THE INSPECTOR SAID THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON PLASTIC VERSES GLASS SEALED BEAM HEADLAMPS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10161342

40,000 miles · Apr 8, 2005
Exterior Lighting

FAILURE JUST HAPPENED. FAILURE OF THE "MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH" ON OUR 2000 MUSTANG CAUSED THE FAILURE OF THE TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS, WIPERS, AND SPEED CONTROL. HAD PROBLEM LOOKED AT BY SEVERAL MECHANICS. THEY REPLACED FUSES, WHICH REMEDIED THE SITUATION FOR 24 HOURS. THEN THE FUSES WOULD BLOW, AND THE SYSTEMS WOULD FAIL. CHEV…

Read full complaint

FAILURE JUST HAPPENED. FAILURE OF THE "MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH" ON OUR 2000 MUSTANG CAUSED THE FAILURE OF THE TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS, WIPERS, AND SPEED CONTROL. HAD PROBLEM LOOKED AT BY SEVERAL MECHANICS. THEY REPLACED FUSES, WHICH REMEDIED THE SITUATION FOR 24 HOURS. THEN THE FUSES WOULD BLOW, AND THE SYSTEMS WOULD FAIL. CHEVROLET DEALER DISCOVERED THAT LEAVING THE HAZARD SWITCH IN THE "ON" POSITION WOULD ALLOW THESE SYSTEMS TO FUNCTION NORMALLY, BUT DISABLED THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS. UPON CALLING THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND SPEAKING WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM, AND HE SAID IT WAS THE "MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH", AND THAT THEY HAD REPLACED "A FEW". I HAVE NOT HAD THE REPAIR DONE YET, BUT INTEND TO IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. MEANWHILE, MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THE CAR WITH THE HAZARD SWITCH IN THE "ON" POSITION IN ORDER TO HAVE BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, WIPERS, AND HER SPEED CONTROL OPERABLE. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE!*AK

NHTSA ODI #10116625

22,000 miles · Feb 13, 2005
Exterior Lighting

LENS COVERS FOR HEADLIGHTS ARE FOGGY AND PITTED SO BAD THE BULB ISN'T EVEN VISIBLE MAKING NIGHTTIME DRIVING DIFFICULT. WE WORK WITH SEVERAL POLICE OFFICERS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN AS THEIR FORD POLICE CARS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH LIMITED VISIBILITY DURING NIGHT PATROL DUTY, OFTEN CHOOSING NOT ENGAGING IN CRIMINAL CHA…

Read full complaint

LENS COVERS FOR HEADLIGHTS ARE FOGGY AND PITTED SO BAD THE BULB ISN'T EVEN VISIBLE MAKING NIGHTTIME DRIVING DIFFICULT. WE WORK WITH SEVERAL POLICE OFFICERS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN AS THEIR FORD POLICE CARS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH LIMITED VISIBILITY DURING NIGHT PATROL DUTY, OFTEN CHOOSING NOT ENGAGING IN CRIMINAL CHASES OVER PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS. THE EXPENSE TO REPLACE THESE COVERS AVERAGES OVER $200 PER LENS COVER AND IS NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10110466

56,890 miles · Dec 17, 2004
Exterior Lighting

FORD MUSTANG 2000, FRONT HEAD LIGHT COVERS BEGAN TO SHOW SMALL CRACKS SIMILAR TO SPIDER WEB. WITHIN A 2 MONTH PERIOD ENTIRE COVER HAD CRACKS ALL OVER IT, TO THE POINT WHERE IT APPEARS THAT THE LIGHTS ARE COVERED IN SOMETHING WHITE. I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE LIGHT IS SO DIM. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPL…

Read full complaint

FORD MUSTANG 2000, FRONT HEAD LIGHT COVERS BEGAN TO SHOW SMALL CRACKS SIMILAR TO SPIDER WEB. WITHIN A 2 MONTH PERIOD ENTIRE COVER HAD CRACKS ALL OVER IT, TO THE POINT WHERE IT APPEARS THAT THE LIGHTS ARE COVERED IN SOMETHING WHITE. I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE LIGHT IS SO DIM. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE WHOM HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH FORD CARS. THIS IS CRAZY AND DANGEROUS. I CONTACT FORD NO RECALLS ON THIS CAR AND THEY DID NOT SEEM TO CARE ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10104021

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2004
Exterior Lighting

CONSUMER INDICATED THAT BOTH PLASTIC HEADLIGHTS HAD GLAZED OVER, ALMOST OPAQUE. IT RESULTED IN EXTREMELY REDUCED HEADLIGHT VISIBILITY DURING THE NIGHT, OBSTRUCTING CONSUMER'S VIEW WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PLASTIC ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS WAS SO BAD THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHEN THE SUN ST…

Read full complaint

CONSUMER INDICATED THAT BOTH PLASTIC HEADLIGHTS HAD GLAZED OVER, ALMOST OPAQUE. IT RESULTED IN EXTREMELY REDUCED HEADLIGHT VISIBILITY DURING THE NIGHT, OBSTRUCTING CONSUMER'S VIEW WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PLASTIC ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS WAS SO BAD THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHEN THE SUN STARTED TO SET. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10089923

65,000 miles · Jul 31, 2004
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHT PLASTIC LENSES HAVE BECOME VERY CLOUDED AND IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE HEADLIGHTS EMIT LESS LIGHT AND IN A MUCH MORE DEFUSED MANNER, SO THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT AS EFFECTIVE. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT 4 YEARS IN THE SUN IN TEXAS HAS PROBABLY CAUSED QUITE A FEW FORD PRODUCTS WITH THESE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES (COVERS) TO …

Read full complaint

HEADLIGHT PLASTIC LENSES HAVE BECOME VERY CLOUDED AND IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE HEADLIGHTS EMIT LESS LIGHT AND IN A MUCH MORE DEFUSED MANNER, SO THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT AS EFFECTIVE. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT 4 YEARS IN THE SUN IN TEXAS HAS PROBABLY CAUSED QUITE A FEW FORD PRODUCTS WITH THESE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES (COVERS) TO BE IN THIS CONDITION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10083050

Official recalls

2

00V349000 · Parking Brake:conventional

Oct 30, 2000

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

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.

99V250000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Sep 20, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE A PIN SHAFT IN THE SWITCHABLE ELR/ALR MECHANISM THAT IS INCORRECTLY FORMED. IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SWITCHING MECHANISM COULD BECOME NONFUNCTIONAL, PREVENTING THE SEAT BELT WEBBING FROM BEING EXTRACTED FROM THE RETRACTOR. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT MALFUNCTION OF THE MECHANISM COULD PREVENT THE BELT FROM BEING SWITCHED INTO THE ALR MODE. THE ELR MECHANISM IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONS AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE WEBBING TO BE EXTRACTED, THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT COULD NOT BE WORN BY A VEHICLE OCCUPANT. IN THE EVENT THAT THE MECHANISM DOES NOT ALLOW THE ALR MODE TO BE ENGAGED, THE OPERATOR MAY BE UNABLE TO PROPERLY INSTALL A CHILD SEAT IN THAT SEATING POSITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLIES. ASSEMBLIES WITH JULIAN DATE CODES OF 200 THROUGH 223 ARE SUSPECT AND WILL BE REPLACED.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP05005 · Spark Plug Ejection From Cylinder Head

Opened Sep 22, 2005 · Closed Jan 4, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

Engine And Engine Cooling

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.