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2003 Ford Mustang Gt

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Ford Mustang Gt do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 51.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

39 reports with mileage · 12 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

51 reports
28,000 miles · Jun 20, 2006
Unknown Or Other

I OWN A 2003 MACH1 MUSTANG. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT WEAR TO THE CARPET NEXT TO THE GAS PEDAL AND JUST ABOVE THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 36,000 MILES. THE DEALER SAYS THAT IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE AND WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ALSO, THE CARPET HAS FALLEN DOWN ABOVE THE GAS/BREAK/CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY AS WELL AS ON THE…

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I OWN A 2003 MACH1 MUSTANG. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT WEAR TO THE CARPET NEXT TO THE GAS PEDAL AND JUST ABOVE THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 36,000 MILES. THE DEALER SAYS THAT IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE AND WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ALSO, THE CARPET HAS FALLEN DOWN ABOVE THE GAS/BREAK/CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY AS WELL AS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS CAUSED DIFFICULTY IN USING THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY. THE DEALER "REGLUED" THE CARPET. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10160261

Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 2006
Seat Belts

WE HAVE OWNED SEVERAL DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS OF MUSTANGS (2003, 1998, 1996 TO BE EXACT). FOR REASONS UNKNOWN, THE SEAT BELTS FOR THE FRONT BUCKET SEATS BECOME TWISTED AND DO NOT SECURE A PERSON PROPERLY IN THE SEAT. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN ALL THREE OF THESE VEHICLES. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SPECIFIC INCIDENT RELATED TO THIS P…

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WE HAVE OWNED SEVERAL DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS OF MUSTANGS (2003, 1998, 1996 TO BE EXACT). FOR REASONS UNKNOWN, THE SEAT BELTS FOR THE FRONT BUCKET SEATS BECOME TWISTED AND DO NOT SECURE A PERSON PROPERLY IN THE SEAT. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN ALL THREE OF THESE VEHICLES. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SPECIFIC INCIDENT RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IF FORD DOES NOT RESEARCH THIS ONGOING CONCERN, THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS IN THESE CARS. NOTE: THIS PROGRAM REQUIRES A DATE TO BE ENTERED SO I USED TODAY'S DATE EVEN THOUGH THIS DOES NOT REFERENCE A SPECIFIC EVENT. IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10150526

37,800 miles · Jan 16, 2006
SteeringSuspension

TIE RODS (STEERING) WENT BAD ON MY 2003 MUSTANG (IT HAS 37,000 MILES), AND CONVERTIBLE BEZEL CAME LOOSE. VIN#[XXX]. PARTS WERE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $236.00, HOWEVER I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBILITY, AND NOT CONSUMER. ALSO, MY 1988 FORD F350 HAD A STEERING PROBLEM THAT WAS CORRECTED UNDER RECALL IN 1988,…

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TIE RODS (STEERING) WENT BAD ON MY 2003 MUSTANG (IT HAS 37,000 MILES), AND CONVERTIBLE BEZEL CAME LOOSE. VIN#[XXX]. PARTS WERE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $236.00, HOWEVER I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBILITY, AND NOT CONSUMER. ALSO, MY 1988 FORD F350 HAD A STEERING PROBLEM THAT WAS CORRECTED UNDER RECALL IN 1988, HOWEVER, RECALL DIDN'T HOLD, AND LAST YEAR I HAD TO SPEND $800 CORRECTING PROBLEM A SECOND TIME. I ALSO BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY MANUFACTURE. MY 2004 EXPEDITION HAD IT'S RECALL DONE (FOR CRUISE CONTROL). YEARS AGO A NEW FORD OF MINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. WHY DO FORDS SEEM TO HAVE CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH STEERING AND/OR FUEL? *JB UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #10147835

25,400 miles · Nov 11, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

GAS PEDAL STUCK UNDER CARPET. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10142447

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSeat Belts

DT: CONTACT STATES THE VEHICLE SHE OWNS HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR BRAKES, THE SEAT BELTS, AND THE COMPUTER CHIP THAT MADE THE VEHICLE START. NOW, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MALFUNCTIONED. THE REPAIRS WERE BEING MADE AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #10142432

30,500 miles · Sep 29, 2005
Electrical System

I PULLED OUT OF THE BANK PARKING LOT AND WHILE ACCELERATING GENTLY I HEARD A LOUD "POP" NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THE CAR THEN BEGAN TO RUN VERY BADLY AND THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. I PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE ENGINE TO FIND THAT ONE OF MY SPARK PLUGS HAD BEEN FORCEFULLY EJECTED. I CONTINUED HOME WHERE I REMOVED…

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I PULLED OUT OF THE BANK PARKING LOT AND WHILE ACCELERATING GENTLY I HEARD A LOUD "POP" NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THE CAR THEN BEGAN TO RUN VERY BADLY AND THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. I PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE ENGINE TO FIND THAT ONE OF MY SPARK PLUGS HAD BEEN FORCEFULLY EJECTED. I CONTINUED HOME WHERE I REMOVED THE PLUG TO FIND THAT THE PLUG THREADS INSIDE THE CYLINDER HEAD HAD ALL BE DAMAGED AND WOULD NEED FIXED. I FIXED THE PROBLEM MYSELF AS I WAS INFORMED BY THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD COST NEARLY $1,000 TO REPLACE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CERTAIN CYLINDER HEADS DATING BACK TO 1997 AND YET NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10138131

2,392 miles · Aug 4, 2005
Steering

DT: WHEN THE CONSUMER WOULD APPLY THE BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JERK OUT OF CONSUMERS HAND. THE STEERING WOULD PULL TOWARD THE LEFT. THIS OCCURRED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES. THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE ANY ACCIDENTS BECAUSE ONCE HE LET OFF THE BRAKE IT WAS FINE. THE FIRST TIME HE TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP THEY DID NOTHING TO …

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DT: WHEN THE CONSUMER WOULD APPLY THE BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JERK OUT OF CONSUMERS HAND. THE STEERING WOULD PULL TOWARD THE LEFT. THIS OCCURRED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES. THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE ANY ACCIDENTS BECAUSE ONCE HE LET OFF THE BRAKE IT WAS FINE. THE FIRST TIME HE TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP THEY DID NOTHING TO THE VEHICLE. THE SECOND TIME THEY GREASED A BUSHING. THE THIRD TIME THEY TOLD HIM IT WAS TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ,AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR A PART. ALSO, THEY TOLD CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING BROKEN IN THE STEERING AREA, BUT THEY WILL NOT TELL HIM WHAT IT WAS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AS OF YET, IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AS OF YET. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10131612

15,000 miles · Jul 18, 2005
Unknown Or Other

ACCELERATER PETAL STUCK DUE TO CARPET FOLDING OVER AND NO WAY TO SECURE IT.

NHTSA ODI #10129229

25,000 miles · Jul 13, 2005
Unknown Or OtherCrash

DRIVING DOWN PINE TWIST ROAD LOST CONTROL OF 2003 FORD MUSTANG GT ON DOWN HILL CURVE WHEN LEFT TIRES SKIDDED ON GRAVEL - WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH BUT THERE WAS AN ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES. THOUGHT ALL OF THIS WAS MY FAULT UNTIL I SAW THE ARTICLE IN THE LOCAL PAPER ABOUT NHTSA LOOKING AT 2003 MUSTANG G…

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DRIVING DOWN PINE TWIST ROAD LOST CONTROL OF 2003 FORD MUSTANG GT ON DOWN HILL CURVE WHEN LEFT TIRES SKIDDED ON GRAVEL - WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH BUT THERE WAS AN ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES. THOUGHT ALL OF THIS WAS MY FAULT UNTIL I SAW THE ARTICLE IN THE LOCAL PAPER ABOUT NHTSA LOOKING AT 2003 MUSTANG GT'S FOR ACCELERATOR PEDAL INTERFERENCE FRONM THE CARPET SO I DECIDED TO REPORT THIS - CAR WAS TOTALED OUT AND WAS REMOVED TO THE SCRAP YARD IN MAY SO THERE IS NO CAR TO LOOK EXAMINE ON THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10128590

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2005
Parking Brake

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON HILL FOR ABOUT 15 MIN. WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED. WHILE LOOKING AT CAR THROUGH LIVING ROOM WINDOW WE SAW THE CAR JUST START ROLLING AWAY. CHECKED CAR AFTER AND EMERGENCY BRAKE STILL ENGAGED ! !

NHTSA ODI #10126752

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

2

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.

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.