← New search

2002 Ford Mustang

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Ford Mustang do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 81.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

54 reports with mileage · 64 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

19 crash reports6 fire reports8 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

20 reports
Clear category filter
1,128,000 miles · Nov 5, 2019
Air BagsInjury

TEN MINUTES PRIOR TO AIR BAGS DEPLOYING I COMPLAINED TO MY TWO PASSENGERS THAT MY EYES WERE BURNING. I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, WITH MY FOOT ON BRAKE IN CENTER LANE IN CITY TRAFFIC, WHEN I HEAR A LOUD BANG AND INSTANTLY BOTH AIRBAGS ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED. THE NOISE AND FORCE STARTLED ME TAKING MY FOOT OF BRAKE AND…

Read full complaint

TEN MINUTES PRIOR TO AIR BAGS DEPLOYING I COMPLAINED TO MY TWO PASSENGERS THAT MY EYES WERE BURNING. I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, WITH MY FOOT ON BRAKE IN CENTER LANE IN CITY TRAFFIC, WHEN I HEAR A LOUD BANG AND INSTANTLY BOTH AIRBAGS ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED. THE NOISE AND FORCE STARTLED ME TAKING MY FOOT OF BRAKE AND ROLLING FORWARD. THE AIR BAGS BLEW BOTH MY PASSENGER AND MY GLASSES INTO THE BACK SEAT OF CAR. THE PASSENGER BAG WAS SMOKING BADLY AND I QUICKLY PUT DOWN BOTH WINDOWS AND I PULLED OFF STREET INTO SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHOM I ROLLED INTO PULLED OVER AS WELL. WE CHECKED BOTH THE FRONT OF MY CAR AND REAR BUMPER OF HER CAR AND BECAUSE NO VISIBLE DAMAGE. I TOOK A PICTURE OF HER BUMPER AND LICENSE PLATE TO SHOW NO DAMAGE. MY PASSENGER IN FRONT SEAT WAS BRUISED FROM AIRBAG AS FOR MYSELF AND THE OTHER PASSENGER WE WERE SHAKEN BY THE EXPERIENCE.

NHTSA ODI #11278233

98,000 miles · Apr 14, 2019
Air BagsCrash

WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON A IN TOWN ROAD SHE CAME UPON CONSTRUCTION, ALL TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED BECAUSE THE 2 LANES WERE DOWN TO 1. AS SHE WAS WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO START MOVING HER BOOT GOT CAUGHT UNDER SEAT LEVER (THIGH HIGH BOOTS FLAP GOT CAUGHT) AND IT MADE HER FOOT SLIP FROM BRAKE, SHE THEN BUMPED INTO THE VAN IN FRONT…

Read full complaint

WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON A IN TOWN ROAD SHE CAME UPON CONSTRUCTION, ALL TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED BECAUSE THE 2 LANES WERE DOWN TO 1. AS SHE WAS WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO START MOVING HER BOOT GOT CAUGHT UNDER SEAT LEVER (THIGH HIGH BOOTS FLAP GOT CAUGHT) AND IT MADE HER FOOT SLIP FROM BRAKE, SHE THEN BUMPED INTO THE VAN IN FRONT OF HER, LESS THEN 5MPH AND BOTH WHICH THERE WAS NO PASSENGER OR ANYTHING ON HER SEAT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DESTROYING HER COLUME. ABSOLUTELY NO FRONT END DAMAGE, NO DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLE, CAR STILL RUNS AND SEATBELTS STILL WORK. HAVING IT CHECKED FOR MALFUNCTIONS.

NHTSA ODI #11196165

115,000 miles · Mar 7, 2017
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE STEERING WHEEL AND DASHBOARD WERE DAMAGED DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO REPAIR FACILITY WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE STEERING WHEEL AND DASHBOARD WERE DAMAGED DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO REPAIR FACILITY WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ODI #10959138

146,000 miles · Nov 14, 2014
Air BagsSeat BeltsService BrakesCrashInjury

THERE WAS A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TRAVELING AT THE SAME SPEED. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ANCHORED THE BRAKES. I WAS 3 CAR LENGTH BEHIND. TH ABS FAILED AND DID NOT ALLOW THE BRAKES TO RESUME. WE HIT THE BACK END OF THE CAR IN FRONT AT 35MPH. THE PASSENGER SEATBELT BROKE ENDING MY FIANCE HEAD INTO THE WINDSH…

Read full complaint

THERE WAS A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TRAVELING AT THE SAME SPEED. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ANCHORED THE BRAKES. I WAS 3 CAR LENGTH BEHIND. TH ABS FAILED AND DID NOT ALLOW THE BRAKES TO RESUME. WE HIT THE BACK END OF THE CAR IN FRONT AT 35MPH. THE PASSENGER SEATBELT BROKE ENDING MY FIANCE HEAD INTO THE WINDSHIELD. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY CAR WAS TOTALED AND THE TOYOTA DID NOT HAVE A SCRATCH: MYSELF AND MY GIRL ARE BOTH INJURED. I PURCHASED THIS CAR 5/14. I BELIEVE THERE MAY NOT BE AIRBAGS AND I ALSO THINK THIS CAR ESCAPED HAVING TO HAVE A SALVAGE TITLE. WE ARE UPSET TO SAY THE LEAST. AS IT IS ONE THING BUT TO PUT A CONSUMERS LIFE AT RISK IS ANOTHER. THIS IS THE SECOND CAR FROM THIS DEALER SINCE MARCH 2014 THAT WE HAD BEEN GIVEN A DEATH TRAP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10654900

100,000 miles · Dec 16, 2008
Air BagsCrashInjury

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, RAINING, CRUISE CONTROL ON, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, HIT TREE HEAD ON. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251937

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2008
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLUSION AT ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR, MY CAR WAS TOTALED AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10221632

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2006
Air BagsCrash

MY DAUGHTER, WHILE DRIVING OUR 2002 FORD MUSTANG, STOPPED BEHIND A TRUCK AHEAD OF HER THAT WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. THE TRUCK PULLED FORWARD AS IF TO GO, THEN STOPPED SUDDENLY IN FRONT OF HER. SHE RAN INTO THE BACK OF HIS TRUCK GOING LESS THAN 5 MPH AND HER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10170268

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2005
Air BagsSteeringCrash

DT: THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE ROADS WERE DRY AND SHE WAS DRIVING 40-50 MPH. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SPIN AND HIT A GUARD RAIL. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. SHE WAS UNAWARE IF ANYTHING WAS DONE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO BO…

Read full complaint

DT: THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE ROADS WERE DRY AND SHE WAS DRIVING 40-50 MPH. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SPIN AND HIT A GUARD RAIL. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. SHE WAS UNAWARE IF ANYTHING WAS DONE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER STATED, AT THE SCENE, IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. SHE WAS UNSURE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10141289

70,000 miles · Jul 25, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury

2 DOOR FORD MUSTANG CONVERTABLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER CAR ON SATURDAY 7/23/05 WITH 3 PEOPLE INJURED IN THE MUSTANG. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL

NHTSA ODI #10130017

35,600 miles · Apr 30, 2005
Air Bags

I AM A COSIGNER ON A 2002 FORD MUSTANG-DANIEL BARKER COSIGNER WAS BRANDON VICK, ALSO, ON MY INSURANCE. ON 04-16-2005 BRANDON WAS DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY, 6 A MAJOR HIGHWAY RUNNING THROUGH BCS BETWEEN NAVASOTA AND HEAMPSTEAD, HE DROVE OVER A BRIDGE WHICH CHANGED TEXTURES, OR SLOPPED DOWN AND THE AIRBAGS IN DEPLOYED. BRANDO…

Read full complaint

I AM A COSIGNER ON A 2002 FORD MUSTANG-DANIEL BARKER COSIGNER WAS BRANDON VICK, ALSO, ON MY INSURANCE. ON 04-16-2005 BRANDON WAS DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY, 6 A MAJOR HIGHWAY RUNNING THROUGH BCS BETWEEN NAVASOTA AND HEAMPSTEAD, HE DROVE OVER A BRIDGE WHICH CHANGED TEXTURES, OR SLOPPED DOWN AND THE AIRBAGS IN DEPLOYED. BRANDON PULLED OVER SLOWLY AND CAME TO A STOP, PULLED OUT THE AIRBAGS AND DROVE AWAY.*AK 04-18-05-BRANDON TALKS TO INSURANCE AGENT WHO CALLS VARSITY FORD ABOUT FIXING THIS SINCE IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY JUST SAY NO, IT WILL BE $2,000. CALLS THOMPSON COUNTRY FORD AND THEY SAY TO COME IN AND RUN MUSTANG UNDER DIAGNOSIS MACHINE. WORKERS SAY THEY DONT KNOW WHAT THE CODES MEAN AND ASKED BRANDON TO COME BACK WHEN MANAGER IS BACK. GOES BACK 04-22 MANAGER SAYS THEY WILL NOT FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY CAUSE IT HAS EXPIRED, THIS IS NOT TRUE.IT WAS INITITIALLY UNDERSTOOD BY ALL PARTIES FROM THE BOOK IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLE GLOVE COMPARTMENT THAT THIS VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY FOR AIRBAG SITUATIONS. THEN TOLD BRANDON NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE CHARGE. THEN WHEN PROVED WRONG THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT DO IT CAUSE IT HAD CRASHED BUT REFUSED TO WRITE THIS ON PAPER UNLESS THEY WERE PAID $70. I WENT UP THERE AND PAID THEM $70. THEY WROTE THAT THE CAR WAS TRAVELLING DOWN HWY 6 AND HIT A POTHOLE. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND CRASH IS DETECTED THEREFORE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT RELEASE CODES OR EXPLAIN WHAT ALL MEANT. THEY IMPLIED THAT CAR WAS CRASHED AND 'FIXED UP' FROM SAT TO MON. THEY ALSO WROTE ON PAPER THAT VEHICLES WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THEY WERE FALSIFYING THE TRUTH BY SAYING THAT CAR HIT A POTHOLE. THAT WAS NEVER SAID. THERE IS NO SIGN OF DAMAGE ON THE CAR, EXAMINED BY CLAIMS REP. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES THAT TRAVEL HWY 6 EVERYDAY AND DRIVE OVER THE SAME BRIDGE. NO MODIFICATIONS TO THIS VEHICLE. CLAIM WITH FARMERS PENDING HOWEVER MECHANICAL FAILURE IS EXCLUDED FROM POLICY.

NHTSA ODI #10118745

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.