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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

What owners actually said

118 reports
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…

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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

148,000 miles · Jul 11, 2014
EngineStructureFire

MY WIFE WAS PULLING IN TO THE DRIVE WAY ON HER WAY FROM DOING SOME ERRANDS A DRIVE OF LESS THAN 5 MILES AND ITS A RURAL ROAD WHERE YOU CANT DRIVE MORE THAN 30 MILES AN HOUR WHEN SHE SMELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. SHE CHECKED THE GAUGES AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE AND THEN SAW SMOKE COMING OFF THE HOOD. SHE ONLY HAD TIME TO PAR…

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MY WIFE WAS PULLING IN TO THE DRIVE WAY ON HER WAY FROM DOING SOME ERRANDS A DRIVE OF LESS THAN 5 MILES AND ITS A RURAL ROAD WHERE YOU CANT DRIVE MORE THAN 30 MILES AN HOUR WHEN SHE SMELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. SHE CHECKED THE GAUGES AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE AND THEN SAW SMOKE COMING OFF THE HOOD. SHE ONLY HAD TIME TO PARK THE CAR AND GET OFF AS THE WHOLE ENGINE BAY GOT ENGULFED IN FLAMES.THE FIRE FIGHTERS ARRIVED AND WERE ABLE TO CONTROL THE FIRE FROM SPREADING BUT THE FRONT HALF OF THE CAR WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609977

31,000 miles · Sep 25, 2013
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 …

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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. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10545310

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2013
Seat Belts

THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOES NOT COME OUT OR RETRACT. IT STUCK IN A HALF WAY OUT POSITION. IT CANNOT BE USED. IT HAS BEEN REPLACE TWICE ONLY TO GO BACK THE EXACT SAME WAY AND IS NOT SAFE TO USE. THE COST IS OVER $400.00 TO FIX IF YOU FIND THE PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10525684

Mileage unknown · May 18, 2013
EquipmentFuel System, Gasoline

THE MOTORCRAFT FUEL FILTER ON MY 2002 FORD MUSTANG CRACKED AT THE SEAM WHERE THE INLET NIPPLE IS ATTACHED TO THE BODY OF THE FILTER. GASOLINE WAS SPRAYING OUT OF THE CRACK AND LEAKING ON THE GROUND. THE WYNN FILTER I PURCHASED TO REPLACE IT WITH USES A ONE PIECE FILTER BODY WHICH IS MUCH SAFER. HAS ANYONE ELSE REPORTED THE FI…

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THE MOTORCRAFT FUEL FILTER ON MY 2002 FORD MUSTANG CRACKED AT THE SEAM WHERE THE INLET NIPPLE IS ATTACHED TO THE BODY OF THE FILTER. GASOLINE WAS SPRAYING OUT OF THE CRACK AND LEAKING ON THE GROUND. THE WYNN FILTER I PURCHASED TO REPLACE IT WITH USES A ONE PIECE FILTER BODY WHICH IS MUCH SAFER. HAS ANYONE ELSE REPORTED THE FILTERS BREAKING AND LEAKING? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10512620

82,700 miles · Mar 31, 2013
Seat Belts

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SLOW TO RETRACT. NOW IT WILL NOT RELEASE AT ALL. DEALER REFUSES TO FIX OR REPLACE AS A DEFECT. WILL CHARGE OVER $500 TO FIX. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED AS THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 83K MILES. I THOUGHT SEAT BELTS WERE GUARANT…

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PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SLOW TO RETRACT. NOW IT WILL NOT RELEASE AT ALL. DEALER REFUSES TO FIX OR REPLACE AS A DEFECT. WILL CHARGE OVER $500 TO FIX. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED AS THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 83K MILES. I THOUGHT SEAT BELTS WERE GUARANTEED FOR THE LIFE A VEHICLE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505130

Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2013
Structure

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE HOOD SEPARATED AND FLEW OVER THE TOP OF THE CAR. INTO TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSING A ACCIDENT. THE TOP PANEL FLEW OFF WHILE THE HOOD REMAINED LATCHED TO THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10499298

50,000 miles · Jun 7, 2012
Seat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WAS JAMMED. THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT MOVE AND THE CONTACT FELT THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WAS JAMMED. THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT MOVE AND THE CONTACT FELT THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO KNOWN SIMILAR FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10460886

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2011
Seat Belts

REAR PASSENGER SEATBELT DOES NOT RETRACT; UNUSABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424629

103,000 miles · Sep 6, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE FOURTH SPARK PLUG ON MY 2002 FORD MUSTANG GT 4.6L VEHICLE BLEW OUT. THIS RESULTED HEAVY LOSS OF POWER, SHAKING, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY FUEL FUMES TO COME OUT. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON AN INTERSTATE AT HIGH-SPEED AND I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO SAFELY MAKE IT OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE COST TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR IS…

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THE FOURTH SPARK PLUG ON MY 2002 FORD MUSTANG GT 4.6L VEHICLE BLEW OUT. THIS RESULTED HEAVY LOSS OF POWER, SHAKING, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY FUEL FUMES TO COME OUT. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON AN INTERSTATE AT HIGH-SPEED AND I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO SAFELY MAKE IT OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE COST TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR IS ESTIMATED AT $2500. THIS IS A VERY COMMON SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE FORD 8-CYLINDER ENGINES FOR WHAT I GATHERED THROUGH INDEPENDENT RESEARCH AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE THREADS ARE TOO THIN AROUND THE SPARK PLUG AND THE HEAT CAUSES THEM TO BLEW OUT - LITERALLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10423995

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.