IllustrationEVERY TIME IT RAINS, UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SEAT INTO THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD IS FLOODED WITH WATER. *TR
2004 Ford Mustang
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Ford Mustang do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 81.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Mustang years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
590–25K
825–50K
850–75K
575–100K
5100–150K
4150K+
89 reports with mileage · 27 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.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
20 crash reports0 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
116 reportsSEPTEMBER 18, 2011: WHILE EXITING AN INTERSTATE, I BEGAN TO GO AROUND THE CLOVERLEAF OF MY EXIT, LESS THAN 15 MPH, AND THE BACK END OF MY MUSTANG VERY QUICKLY FISHTAILED SPINNING ME ALL THE WAY AROUND. I ENDED UP FACING THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME, WHO FORTUNATELY WERE GOING AS SLOWLY AS I WAS. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO STOP JUST SHO…
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SEPTEMBER 18, 2011: WHILE EXITING AN INTERSTATE, I BEGAN TO GO AROUND THE CLOVERLEAF OF MY EXIT, LESS THAN 15 MPH, AND THE BACK END OF MY MUSTANG VERY QUICKLY FISHTAILED SPINNING ME ALL THE WAY AROUND. I ENDED UP FACING THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME, WHO FORTUNATELY WERE GOING AS SLOWLY AS I WAS. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO STOP JUST SHORT OF HITTING A CONCRETE BARRIER WALL. THERE WAS A VERY LIGHT RAIN, AND THE ROADS WERE WET. I HAVE ALL NEW TIRES. I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND HAVE FISH-TAILED BEFORE, BUT NEVER SPUN COMPLETELY AROUND. COMPLETELY TERRIFYING. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE VERY DIM AND THE HIGH BEAMS HAD TO BE USED IN ORDER TO SEE AT NIGHT. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE LENS AND ADDED HIGH INTENSITY LIGHT BULBS, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND STATED THE LIGHTS WERE NOT COVERE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE VERY DIM AND THE HIGH BEAMS HAD TO BE USED IN ORDER TO SEE AT NIGHT. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE LENS AND ADDED HIGH INTENSITY LIGHT BULBS, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND STATED THE LIGHTS WERE NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,125 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000. UPDATED 09/29/2011 *LN *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD MUSTANG. THE REAR AXLE HOUSING WAS CORRODED AND RUSTED WHICH THE CONTACT NOTICED AFTER A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. UPDATED 04/08/11
IN 2004 MY MOM BOUGHT A NEW 2004 FORD MUSTANG WITH THE 3.9 V-6 MOTOR AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS IT STARTED TICKING REAL LOUD WHEN YOU FIRST START IT UP. COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS A PASSENGER SIDE EXHAUST LEAK THAT JUST GOT WORSE, AND AT THE SAME TIME HER ENGINE STARTED MAKING LOUD CHIRPING AND CRAZY NOISES TO FIND OUT IT WAS T…
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IN 2004 MY MOM BOUGHT A NEW 2004 FORD MUSTANG WITH THE 3.9 V-6 MOTOR AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS IT STARTED TICKING REAL LOUD WHEN YOU FIRST START IT UP. COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS A PASSENGER SIDE EXHAUST LEAK THAT JUST GOT WORSE, AND AT THE SAME TIME HER ENGINE STARTED MAKING LOUD CHIRPING AND CRAZY NOISES TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE CAM POSITIONING SENSOR THAT WENT OUT. WELL SHE PAID ABOUT $550.00 TO GET THE SENSOR FIXED BUT SHE COULDN'T AFFORD THE EXHAUST TO.SO STILL TO THIS DAY SHE DRIVES HER NICE LOOKING MUSTANG CAREFULLY AROUND TOWN THAT SOUNDS LIKE ITS READY TO DIE, AND I WOULDN'T TRUST DRIVING THAT THING 10 MILES OUT OF TOWN. IT MIGHT NOT BE AN EYE SORE BUT IT SURE IS AN EAR SORE, AND IS STRESSING YEARS OFF MY OLD BROKE MOTHERS LIFE. WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FORD FAMILY AND MY DAD RETIRED FROM FORD PROVING GROUNDS. BUT THAT IS THE SORRIEST FORD WE'VE EVER SEEN.OH YEAH, PLUS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEVER SHIFTED RIGHT FROM DAY 1, AND SHE HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY ,A PULLEY, THE SERPENTINE BELT ETC.AND IT HAS A LOT OF RATTLES AND ROAD NOISE,AND IT JUST BARELY MADE 60,000 MILES. *TR
CAR STALLING WHILE IDLING AND DECELERATING. *TR
IF YOU RECLINE THE SEAT BACK, AND THE SEATBELT IS THROUGH THE PLASTIC LOOP ATTACHED TO SEAT, IT LOOSES TENSION AND FAILS TO RESTRAIN YOU. THIS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY DURING AN ACCIDENT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 10MPH, A VEHICLE PROCEEDED THROUGH A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED; HOWEVER, SHE STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE DEFECTIVE SINCE THE IMPACT FROM THE CRASH SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THEM TO DEPLOY. THE DEALER H…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 10MPH, A VEHICLE PROCEEDED THROUGH A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED; HOWEVER, SHE STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE DEFECTIVE SINCE THE IMPACT FROM THE CRASH SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THEM TO DEPLOY. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
A FEW WEEKS AGO, I HAD TO DRIVE ACROSS TOWN TO PICK UP MY SISTER FROM WORK (IRONICALLY, SHE WAS HAVING A CAR PROBLEM.) I STOPPED FOR AN ACCIDENT, AND I NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS GETTING DIMMER AND DIMMER. I LOOKED AT THE BATTERY GAUGE AND SAW THAT THE CAR WAS DYING. SINCE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE, I KIND OF OF PANICKED AND SHUT THE…
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A FEW WEEKS AGO, I HAD TO DRIVE ACROSS TOWN TO PICK UP MY SISTER FROM WORK (IRONICALLY, SHE WAS HAVING A CAR PROBLEM.) I STOPPED FOR AN ACCIDENT, AND I NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS GETTING DIMMER AND DIMMER. I LOOKED AT THE BATTERY GAUGE AND SAW THAT THE CAR WAS DYING. SINCE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE, I KIND OF OF PANICKED AND SHUT THE CAR OFF, FIGURING I COULD LET IT SIT WITHOUT RUNNING FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO GIVE IT A CHANCE TO GET IT'S ACT TOGETHER. WHEN I SAW THE TRAFFIC BEGIN TO INCH FORWARD I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON, BUT IT WOULDN'T BUDGE. I DIDN'T EVEN HEAR THE STARTER TURN. IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD! I PUT ON MY BLINKERS, AND THOSE FIZZLED OUT WITHIN MINUTES, TOO. SO I WAS, STUCK ON THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE HIGHWAY WITH A DEAD BATTERY. I TRIED TO GET SOMEONE'S ATTENTION FOR HELP BUT PEOPLE JUST STARED AND INCHED FORWARD WITH THE REST OF THE TRAFFIC. THE RIGHT LANE AND MY LANE STARTED MOVING AT REGULAR SPEED SO NOW THERE WERE CARS AND SEMIS WHIZZING BEHIND AND PAST ME. FINALLY SOME GUY STEPPED OUT AND HELPED ME PUSH MY CAR TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. HE TRIED TO JUMP IT BUT IT STILL WOULDN'T START. A COP PULLED UP AND HELPED ME JUMP THE CAR WITH SOME HEAVY DUTY CABLES. THIS WAS WEEKS AGO AND THE CAR HAS BEEN FINE SINCE. I HAD THE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY AND EVERYTHING ELSE CHECKED AT THE SHOP RIGHT AWAY AND NOTHING WAS WRONG. I'VE ALREADY HAD MY ALTERNATOR REPLACED TWICE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR TWO YEARS AGO, THE LAST TIME BEING IN FEBRUARY. SO IT JUST GIVES OUT WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT. I EVEN HAD THE BELT REPLACED A FEW MONTHS AGO, SO THAT'S NEW TOO. IT'S DOES THIS PERIODICALLY AND ONLY WHEN I'M DRIVING, AND NOBODY CAN FIGURE OUT WHY. *TR
EAGLE LS BACK SIDE RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT SEPARATED FROM THREAD AROUND WHOLE TIRE 4 HOLES IN TIRE SPEED WAS 40MPH THANKS GOD NO RAIN DIDN'T RUN OVER ANYTHING THE THREAD SEPARATED FROM AROUND THE WHOLE TIRE WITH 4 HOLES NO WARNING TIRES IN GREAT SHAPE. *TR
Official recalls
106V108000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
Apr 7, 2006
ON CERTAIN MUSTANG COBRA PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR SURFACE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY COME INTO CONTACT WITH FLOOR CARPETING DURING HEAVY THROTTLE APPLICATION. THE UNIQUE SURFACE PROFILE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY CATCH IN THE CUTOUT ON THE FLOOR CARPETING BEHIND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD INTERFERE WITH THE PEDAL'S ABILITY TO RETURN TO AN IDLE POSITION. UNEXPECTED, CONTINUED THROTTLE APPLICATION AND/OR INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES MAY OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHIELD OVER THE CUTOUT IN THE CARPET BEHIND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 26, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
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
3DP05005 · 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.
EA05014 · Accelerator Pedal Interference
Opened Sep 13, 2005 · Closed Apr 10, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control; Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
ON APRIL 3, 2006, FORD MOTOR COMPANY SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING A DEFECT CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND FLOOR CARPETING IN APPROXIMATELY 19,140 MODEL YEAR 2003 AND 2004 MUSTANG COBRA VEHICLES (FORD RECALL NO. 06S43/NHTSA RECALL 06V-108, COPY ATTACHED).FORD WILL RECALL THE VEHICLES TO INSTALL A SHIELD BENEATH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO PREVENT THE PIVOT PIN ON THE REAR SURFACE OF THE PEDAL FROM COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE FLOOR CARPETING DURING HEAVY THROTTLE APPLICATION.IN THOSE VEHICLES WHERE THE FLOOR CARPETING DOES NOT FIT FLUSH WITH THE SHEET METAL, THE UNIQUE REAR SURFACE PROFILE OF THE MUSTANG COBRA PEDAL MAY ALLOW THE PIVOT PIN OF THE PEDAL TO CATCH IN THE CUTOUT ON THE FLOOR CARPETING BEHIND THE PEDAL, INTERFERING WITH THE PEDAL'S ABILITY TO RETURN; THE RESULT OF WHICH COULD BE UNEXPECTED, CONTINUED THROTTLE APPLICATION.DURING THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS STAGE OF THE INVESTIGATION, ODI ALSO EXAMINED THE POSSIBLITY OF THE SAME PHENOMENA OCCURING IN NON-COBRA MUSTANGS.HOWEVER, THE DIFFERENT DESIGN OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDALS ON THE NON-COBRA MUSTANGS RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN THE POTENTIAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE CARPETING, WITH THE BASE OF THE PEDAL PAD ACTING TO FORCE THE CARPET AWAY FROM THE PIVOT PIN.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAS BEEN CLOSED.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
ON APRIL 3, 2006, FORD MOTOR COMPANY SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING A DEFECT CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND FLOOR CARPETING IN APPROXIMATELY 19,140 MODEL YEAR 2003 AND 2004 MUSTANG COBRA VEHICLES (FORD RECALL NO. 06S43/NHTSA RECALL 06V-108, COPY ATTACHED).FORD WILL RECALL THE VEHICLES TO INSTALL A SHIELD BENEATH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO PREVENT THE PIVOT PIN ON THE REAR SURFACE OF THE PEDAL FROM COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE FLOOR CARPETING DURING HEAVY THROTTLE APPLICATION.IN THOSE VEHICLES WHERE THE FLOOR CARPETING DOES NOT FIT FLUSH WITH THE SHEET METAL, THE UNIQUE REAR SURFACE PROFILE OF THE MUSTANG COBRA PEDAL MAY ALLOW THE PIVOT PIN OF THE PEDAL TO CATCH IN THE CUTOUT ON THE FLOOR CARPETING BEHIND THE PEDAL, INTERFERING WITH THE PEDAL'S ABILITY TO RETURN; THE RESULT OF WHICH COULD BE UNEXPECTED, CONTINUED THROTTLE APPLICATION.DURING THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS STAGE OF THE INVESTIGATION, ODI ALSO EXAMINED THE POSSIBLITY OF THE SAME PHENOMENA OCCURING IN NON-COBRA MUSTANGS.HOWEVER, THE DIFFERENT DESIGN OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDALS ON THE NON-COBRA MUSTANGS RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN THE POTENTIAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE CARPETING, WITH THE BASE OF THE PEDAL PAD ACTING TO FORCE THE CARPET AWAY FROM THE PIVOT PIN.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAS BEEN CLOSED.
Vehicle Speed Control
ON APRIL 3, 2006, FORD MOTOR COMPANY SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING A DEFECT CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND FLOOR CARPETING IN APPROXIMATELY 19,140 MODEL YEAR 2003 AND 2004 MUSTANG COBRA VEHICLES (FORD RECALL NO. 06S43/NHTSA RECALL 06V-108, COPY ATTACHED).FORD WILL RECALL THE VEHICLES TO INSTALL A SHIELD BENEATH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO PREVENT THE PIVOT PIN ON THE REAR SURFACE OF THE PEDAL FROM COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE FLOOR CARPETING DURING HEAVY THROTTLE APPLICATION.IN THOSE VEHICLES WHERE THE FLOOR CARPETING DOES NOT FIT FLUSH WITH THE SHEET METAL, THE UNIQUE REAR SURFACE PROFILE OF THE MUSTANG COBRA PEDAL MAY ALLOW THE PIVOT PIN OF THE PEDAL TO CATCH IN THE CUTOUT ON THE FLOOR CARPETING BEHIND THE PEDAL, INTERFERING WITH THE PEDAL'S ABILITY TO RETURN; THE RESULT OF WHICH COULD BE UNEXPECTED, CONTINUED THROTTLE APPLICATION.DURING THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS STAGE OF THE INVESTIGATION, ODI ALSO EXAMINED THE POSSIBLITY OF THE SAME PHENOMENA OCCURING IN NON-COBRA MUSTANGS.HOWEVER, THE DIFFERENT DESIGN OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDALS ON THE NON-COBRA MUSTANGS RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN THE POTENTIAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE CARPETING, WITH THE BASE OF THE PEDAL PAD ACTING TO FORCE THE CARPET AWAY FROM THE PIVOT PIN.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAS BEEN CLOSED.
PE05038 · Accelerator Pedal Interference
Opened Jul 7, 2005 · Closed Sep 13, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
PE05-038 WAS OPENED ON JULY 7, 2005, WITH 11 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TO ODI ALLEGING INCIDENTS OF THROTTLE STICKING DUE TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL INTERFERENCE WITH THE CARPET.ODI HAS RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL 24 COMPLAINTS SINCE THE PE WAS OPENED.DURING PE05-038, FORD SUPPLIED COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY INFORMATION REGARDING 86 ADDITIONAL INCIDENTS OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL INTERFERENCE IN MODEL YEAR 2003 TO 2004 MUSTANG COBRA VEHICLES.EIGHTY-FIVE OF THESE HAD CONCERNS OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING, 70 OF WHICH WERE ANALYZED AS BEING RELATED TO CARPET INTERFERENCE.ODI IS CONTINUING ITS ANALYSIS OF THE CAUSAL FACTORS IN THE REMAINING 15 INCIDENTS.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.