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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

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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
15,000 miles · May 11, 2005
TiresCrashInjury

I BOUGHT A 2003 GT MUSTANG CONV ON FRIDAY APRIL 15, 2005. THE CAR HAD 14432 MILES ON IT AND AS FAR AS I KNOW IT WAS THE ORIGINAL TIRES. ON FRIDAY APRIL 22, 2005 I LEFT FROM WORK. I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-575 TOWARD CANTON WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THEN I HEARD A THUMPING NOISE AND I REALIZED THAT I HAD A FLAT TIRE. I TAPPED ON…

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I BOUGHT A 2003 GT MUSTANG CONV ON FRIDAY APRIL 15, 2005. THE CAR HAD 14432 MILES ON IT AND AS FAR AS I KNOW IT WAS THE ORIGINAL TIRES. ON FRIDAY APRIL 22, 2005 I LEFT FROM WORK. I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-575 TOWARD CANTON WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THEN I HEARD A THUMPING NOISE AND I REALIZED THAT I HAD A FLAT TIRE. I TAPPED ON MY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND GET OVER. I WAS GOING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 65. THEN I HEARD A LOUD POP. AT THAT TIME MY CAR FISHTAILED AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. I RAN INTO THE GUARDRAIL CAUSING ME TO SPIN AROUND LANDING WITH THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AGAINST THE GUARDRAIL. THAT WAS THE TIRE THAT BLEW. I BLACKED OUT DURING THE ACCIDENT. I CAME TOO AND SLAMMED THE DOOR OPEN NOT REALLY REALIZING WHAT HAD HAPPENED. A DAY LATER MY NECK STARTED KILLING ME. I WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM ON SUNDAY APRIL 24. THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD LOST SOME OF THE NATURAL CURVATURE IN MY NECK AND THAT I WAS HAVING MUSCLE SPASMS. THEY PUT ME ON PAIN MEDICINE AND MUSCLE RELAXERS. THE TIRE COMPLETELY SPLIT APART AT THE SIDEWALL. THE SIZE OF THE TIRES WAS P245-45R17. THEY WERE GOODYEAR EAGLE ZR TIRES

NHTSA ODI #10120707

33,000 miles · May 5, 2005
Power Train

I HAVE A 2003 FORD MUSTANG GT THAT DURING COLD WEATHER HAS PROBLEMS SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, IT'S ALMOST AS IF I AM NOT EVEN PUSHING THE CLUTCH IN. I HAVE 700 MILES LEFT ON MY WARRANTY AND IT WILL BE MANY MONTHS BEFORE IT IS COLD AGAIN TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM FOR THE DEALER SO I SUPPOSE I WILL BE EATING IT ON THIS UNLESS …

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I HAVE A 2003 FORD MUSTANG GT THAT DURING COLD WEATHER HAS PROBLEMS SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, IT'S ALMOST AS IF I AM NOT EVEN PUSHING THE CLUTCH IN. I HAVE 700 MILES LEFT ON MY WARRANTY AND IT WILL BE MANY MONTHS BEFORE IT IS COLD AGAIN TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM FOR THE DEALER SO I SUPPOSE I WILL BE EATING IT ON THIS UNLESS FORD OWNS UP TO IP. AFTER RESEARCH ON THE NHTSA SITE I SEE MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND GETTING NO RESULTS FROM THE DEALER.

NHTSA ODI #10119907

12,448 miles · Dec 17, 2004
Power Train

2003 MUSTANG GT CP, PURCHASED FROM PLANET FORD DEALERSHIP 20403 I-45 NORTH, SPRING, TX 77388 (281) 719-3891 ON JUNE 28,2003. I WAS ONE HAPPY CUSTOMER UNTIL I DROVE MY VEHICLE INTO THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT APRIL 10,2004 WHEN ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE ABOUT MY MUSTANG; STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION, REAR END VIBRATION AND DELAYED SHIFT IN …

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2003 MUSTANG GT CP, PURCHASED FROM PLANET FORD DEALERSHIP 20403 I-45 NORTH, SPRING, TX 77388 (281) 719-3891 ON JUNE 28,2003. I WAS ONE HAPPY CUSTOMER UNTIL I DROVE MY VEHICLE INTO THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT APRIL 10,2004 WHEN ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE ABOUT MY MUSTANG; STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION, REAR END VIBRATION AND DELAYED SHIFT IN TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD TO ROTATE MY TIRES, BALANCE TIRES, UPGRADE THE WHEEL BALANCING AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT. ALONG WITH THE PROBLEMS I RECEIVE THREE EMBARRASSMENT; POLICE ESCORTED ME OFF THE PROPERTY BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO PROVE TO BOTH DEALERSHIPS THAT MY PROBLEM WAS NOT MY TIRES. BUT, THEIR WORDS WERE THAT FORD HAS THE BEST MECHANICS. I THEN HAD TO DRIVE MY CAR TO LEADERSHIP FORD IN DALLAS, TX IN ORDER FOR SOMEONE TO PROVIDED WITH THE PROPER CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT I WAS DENIED BY PLANET, TEAM AND RUSSELL & SMITH FORD IN HOUSTON. LEADSHIIP FORD TOOK THE TIME TO LESSON TO THE ISSUES AND TEST DRIVE THE CAR TO VERIFIED THAT I HAD A PROBLEM. THEY DETERMINED THAT VIBRATION THAT I EXPERIENCE WAS CAUSED BY THE TRANSMISSION AND THE REAR END, NOT THE TIRES NOR THE FRONT END. AS A RESULT THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND THE REAREND. I MEET WITH PLANET FORD GENERAL MANAGER - RON EUREN, WHOM APOLOGIZED FOR THE PROBLEM I HAD WITH THE CAR. BUT, HE FOLLOWED HIS APOLOGY WITH THE FOLLOWING WORDS - "SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS FOR THIS DEALERSHIP FOR ANY ADDITION ISSUE YOU MAY HAVE WITH YOUR MUSTANG TAKE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. DO NOT RETURN TO PLANET FORD OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE ARRESTED ON THE SPOT.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10104033

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2004
Seat Belts

THE LAP PORTION OF THE DRIVER SEAT BELT DETACHED FROM THE FRAME AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BE IMPROPERLY RESTRAINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM *JB

NHTSA ODI #10048643

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2004
Fuel System, GasolineStructure

CAR MISFIRES AND JERKS AT SPEED OF 30 TO 50 MPH ALSO SPOTS UNDER CLEAR COAT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10088753

2,100 miles · Aug 19, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

AFTER DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING, ONCE I PARKED I NOTICED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM BOTTOM RADATOR HOSE. DEALER REPLACED COOLING HOSES AND CLAMPS. ALSO THE PAINT WERE THE HOOD SCOOP MEETS THE HOOD STARTED TO CHIP, WATER GETS CAUGHT UNDER THE HOOD SCOOP MAKING IT DIFFICULT THE KEEP IT CLEAN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10088206

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2004
Power Train

TREMEC 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION HAS ERRATIC PERFORMANCE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. MY RESEARCH ON THIS HAS INDICATED THAT THERE IS A SEVERAL YEAR HISTORY OF MANY CARS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION (MUSTAND GT AND COBRA ) THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY FORD DEALER ONCE BUT WITH NO DIFFERENCE AND FORD CONSUMER HE…

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TREMEC 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION HAS ERRATIC PERFORMANCE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. MY RESEARCH ON THIS HAS INDICATED THAT THERE IS A SEVERAL YEAR HISTORY OF MANY CARS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION (MUSTAND GT AND COBRA ) THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY FORD DEALER ONCE BUT WITH NO DIFFERENCE AND FORD CONSUMER HELP LINE HAD YIELDED NO RESULTS. THIS HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY IN WINTER WHEN FLUID IS MORE VISCOUS AND BLOCKING RINGS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY DEALER AS POTENTIAL CAUSE. HAS BEEN HAPPENING CONTIUOUSLY SINCE I HAVE OWNED VEHICLEL FOR OVER A YEAR AND 28,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10081315

6,000 miles · Jul 6, 2004
Power Train

THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT GEARS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COLD. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT IT WAS A COSMETIC PROBLEM, AND THEY WERE AWARE OF IT. HOWEVER, THE RECALL WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL THE FOURTH QUARTER. *AK *NM *SC

NHTSA ODI #10075732

100 miles · May 16, 2004
Power Train

MY 2003 MUSTANG GT WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION (5 SPEED), GRINDS WHEN I GO FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR. THIS GRINDING GOES AWAY AFTER THE CAR IS WARM AND IS MUCH WORSE IN THE WINTER AND COLD DAYS. THIS IS A COMPLAINT THAT ALMOST EVERY MUSTANG OWNER HAS AND IS DOCUMENTED WELL ON WEBSITES SUCH AS STANGNET.NET. THE DEALERS NEV…

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MY 2003 MUSTANG GT WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION (5 SPEED), GRINDS WHEN I GO FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR. THIS GRINDING GOES AWAY AFTER THE CAR IS WARM AND IS MUCH WORSE IN THE WINTER AND COLD DAYS. THIS IS A COMPLAINT THAT ALMOST EVERY MUSTANG OWNER HAS AND IS DOCUMENTED WELL ON WEBSITES SUCH AS STANGNET.NET. THE DEALERS NEVER FIX THIS PROBLEM AND TELL YOU THAT IT IS NORMAL OR IS NOT REPRODUCEABLE. FORD IS NOT OWNING UP TO A PROBLEM WITH THEIR CAR, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT NHTSA HELPS WITH OR DO I NEED TO CONTACT SOMEONE ELSE? MIKE HAMILTON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10072696

20,000 miles · Mar 9, 2004
Power Train

UNDER HEAVY ACCELERATION TRANSMISSION MAKES CHATTERING/RATTLING SOUND. THE SOUND IS VERY PRONOUNCED. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY REPLACED THE CLUTCH, REAR DIFF FLUID, OUTPUT SHAFT SEAL AND SEVERAL BEARINGS IN THE TRANS WITH NO LESSENING OF THE EFFECT. DEALER STATED NO REPAIR WAS POSSIBLE. TRANS STILL LEAKS FROM THE OUTPU…

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UNDER HEAVY ACCELERATION TRANSMISSION MAKES CHATTERING/RATTLING SOUND. THE SOUND IS VERY PRONOUNCED. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY REPLACED THE CLUTCH, REAR DIFF FLUID, OUTPUT SHAFT SEAL AND SEVERAL BEARINGS IN THE TRANS WITH NO LESSENING OF THE EFFECT. DEALER STATED NO REPAIR WAS POSSIBLE. TRANS STILL LEAKS FROM THE OUTPUT SHAFT SEAL, AND STILL MAKES A NASTY RATTLE UNDER ACCELERATION LOADS. POST REPAIR, IT IS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR WHEN BEFORE THE TRANS HAS WARMED UP. AFTER A BIT OF WARM UP, THE HARD SHIFT GOES AWAY, THE RATTLE NEVER DOES.

NHTSA ODI #10060839

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.