← 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

What owners actually said

311 reports
140,000 miles · Dec 2, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

SO I THOUGHT I HAD A SIMPLE THERMOSTAT ISSUE. WENT TO CHANGE THE THERMOSTAT AND NOTICED THE MANIFOLD HOUSING (PLASTIC) HAD A NICE CRACK IN IT. WHEN DOING RESEARCH ON THIS, I NOTICED THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS/INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE. NOW I AM IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD AND WIL…

Read full complaint

SO I THOUGHT I HAD A SIMPLE THERMOSTAT ISSUE. WENT TO CHANGE THE THERMOSTAT AND NOTICED THE MANIFOLD HOUSING (PLASTIC) HAD A NICE CRACK IN IT. WHEN DOING RESEARCH ON THIS, I NOTICED THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS/INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE. NOW I AM IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD AND WILL HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT INSTALLED. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN. POOR MANUFACTURE DESIGN WITH NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OF FAILURE THAT RESULT IN UNNECESSARY HIGH REPAIR COSTS PLACED ON THE CONSUMER. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND THINK IT IS RIDICULOUS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10438127

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

I NOTICED A FUEL LEAK WHEN I FILLED UP MY TANK. IT WAS QUITE BAD! AND WAS A DEFINITE SAFETY RISK! I CHECKED UNDER CAR AND FOUND THE FUEL NECK HAS A PLASTIC COVER TO PROTECT FROM ROAD HAZARDS?? THAT PLASTIC COVER ALLOWS DIRT AND MOISTURE TO COLLECT AROUND THE FUEL NECK. THE NECK INSIDE WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH. THER…

Read full complaint

I NOTICED A FUEL LEAK WHEN I FILLED UP MY TANK. IT WAS QUITE BAD! AND WAS A DEFINITE SAFETY RISK! I CHECKED UNDER CAR AND FOUND THE FUEL NECK HAS A PLASTIC COVER TO PROTECT FROM ROAD HAZARDS?? THAT PLASTIC COVER ALLOWS DIRT AND MOISTURE TO COLLECT AROUND THE FUEL NECK. THE NECK INSIDE WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH. THERE IS ESSENTIALLY A 2 INCH HOLE IN THE FUEL NECK! I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL NECK TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I CHECKED ONLINE AND APPARENTLY THIS IS VERY COMMON WITH 1999 - 2004 MUSTANGS. IT'S ALSO VERY DANGEROUS SINCE GAS COMES POURING OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10422863

Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2011
Equipment

2000 FORD MUSTANG. CONSUMER REQUEST INFORMATION CONCERNING FACTORY TIRE JACKS THAT PROVED DANGER TO CONSUMERS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRE JACK BROKE WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF RAISING THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10406368

10 miles · Nov 4, 2010
Seat Belts

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS PULLED BACK AND HAD NO SLACK. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD TO PULL THE SEAT BELT OUT TO ELIMINATE THE SLACK IN THE SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 99V250000, SEAT BELTS FRONT, ANCHORAGE, BUT THE VE…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS PULLED BACK AND HAD NO SLACK. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD TO PULL THE SEAT BELT OUT TO ELIMINATE THE SLACK IN THE SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 99V250000, SEAT BELTS FRONT, ANCHORAGE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT IS THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAS DEALT WITH THIS PROBLEM SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, BUT THE DEALER HAS NEVER REPAIRED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85000. UPDATED 01/13/11*LJ UPDATED 01/27/11

NHTSA ODI #10363972

120,000 miles · Aug 24, 2010
Seat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED. THE SEAT BELT WEBBING BECAME LODGED AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V250000 (SEAT BELTS: FRONT: ANCHORAGE) WITH THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCL…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED. THE SEAT BELT WEBBING BECAME LODGED AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V250000 (SEAT BELTS: FRONT: ANCHORAGE) WITH THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10351550

85,000 miles · Jan 14, 2010
Seat Belts

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELTS IN MY 2000 FORD MUSTANG WILL NOT RETRACT OR PULL OUT. I BELIEVE FORD HAD A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE FOR THE 2000 MUSTANG BUT SAY THAT MINE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10299707

40,000 miles · Aug 20, 2009
Seat Belts

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT OBSERVED THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RETRACTORS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WEBBING FAILED TO EXTRACT AND THE SEAT BELT COULD NOT BE WORN BY THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUM…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT OBSERVED THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RETRACTORS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WEBBING FAILED TO EXTRACT AND THE SEAT BELT COULD NOT BE WORN BY THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V25000 IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VIN NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 12/07/09 *BF THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT GO INTO THE RETRACTOR. UPDATED 12/09/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10281227

67,000 miles · May 6, 2009
Seat Belts

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG. WHEN THE CONTACT REMOVED HIS SEAT BELT, HE NOTICED THAT IT DID NOT RETRACT. HE FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT COULD FAIL IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RETRACTOR WAS FAILING. THE CONTACT REFUSED TO HAVE THE RETRACTOR REPLACED BECAUSE THE DEALER…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG. WHEN THE CONTACT REMOVED HIS SEAT BELT, HE NOTICED THAT IT DID NOT RETRACT. HE FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT COULD FAIL IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RETRACTOR WAS FAILING. THE CONTACT REFUSED TO HAVE THE RETRACTOR REPLACED BECAUSE THE DEALER REFUSED TO HAVE THE RETRACTOR INVESTIGATED TO DETERMINE WHY THE FAILURE WAS OCCURRING. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ODI #10267877

51,000 miles · Apr 24, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE VEHICLE HIT A GUARD RAIL AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED A FEW DAYS AFTER THE CRASH AND THEY FILED A REPORT. THE CONTACT HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE DEALER DID…

Read full complaint

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE VEHICLE HIT A GUARD RAIL AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED A FEW DAYS AFTER THE CRASH AND THEY FILED A REPORT. THE CONTACT HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE DEALER DID NOT WANT THE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN. THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND SOMEONE OUT TO DIAGNOSE IT. NO ONE HAS GONE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER. THERE WERE MAJOR INJURIES, THE DRIVER SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND SPRAINED HIS SHOULDER. THE WINDSHIELD AND FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WERE HEAVILY DAMAGED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51000. UPDATED 05/18/09. *LJ THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED AS WELL. UPDATED 05/20/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10266652

140,180 miles · Apr 16, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHEN FILLING UP WITH FUEL, GAS LEAKS OUT OF THE FILLER TUBE LEAVING A HUGE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE ON THE GROUND. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE. WHEN LOOKED AT, THE FILLER TUBE IS RUSTED OUT. FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS, BECAUSE IT IS SO DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10265682

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.