← New search

2000 Ford Mustang

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Mustang years

Owner complaints for the 2000 Ford Mustang are substantially higher than the model-year median of 81.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

97 reports with mileage · 214 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

56 crash reports9 fire reports30 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

42 reports
Clear category filter
11 miles · Jun 27, 2020
Air BagsUnknown Or OtherInjury

I WAS MAKING A NORMAL ORDER DELIVERY DROP OFF GOING OFF MY GPS I CAME TO A NARROW ROAD WHERE NO SIGNS OF A DIP AHEAD. CAME TO A DIP AHEAD THAT YOU COULDN'T TELL IT WAS A DIP AND I WASN'T GOING NO MORE THAN 11 TO13 MILES WHEN I WAS COMING OVER IT AND MY AIRBAGS BUSTED OUT OF MY STEERING WHEEL HITTING MY HAND AND MY ARM LEAVING BU…

Read full complaint

I WAS MAKING A NORMAL ORDER DELIVERY DROP OFF GOING OFF MY GPS I CAME TO A NARROW ROAD WHERE NO SIGNS OF A DIP AHEAD. CAME TO A DIP AHEAD THAT YOU COULDN'T TELL IT WAS A DIP AND I WASN'T GOING NO MORE THAN 11 TO13 MILES WHEN I WAS COMING OVER IT AND MY AIRBAGS BUSTED OUT OF MY STEERING WHEEL HITTING MY HAND AND MY ARM LEAVING BURN MARKS. I COULDN'T STAY ON THE ROAD SO I WAITED 30 MINS BEFORE I DROVE SLOWLY BACK TO MY HOUSE CAUSE THEN MY TIRE STARTED GOING LOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11331191

193,550 miles · Jun 14, 2017
Air BagsSeat Belts

AS I WAS PULLING INTO A FRIEND'S DRIVE WAY, MY AIRBAGS JUST WENT OFF. THE SEAT BELTS DON'T RETRACT

NHTSA ODI #10995246

51,000 miles · Apr 24, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE VEHICLE HIT A GUARD RAIL AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED A FEW DAYS AFTER THE CRASH AND THEY FILED A REPORT. THE CONTACT HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE DEALER DID…

Read full complaint

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE VEHICLE HIT A GUARD RAIL AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED A FEW DAYS AFTER THE CRASH AND THEY FILED A REPORT. THE CONTACT HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE DEALER DID NOT WANT THE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN. THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND SOMEONE OUT TO DIAGNOSE IT. NO ONE HAS GONE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER. THERE WERE MAJOR INJURIES, THE DRIVER SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND SPRAINED HIS SHOULDER. THE WINDSHIELD AND FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WERE HEAVILY DAMAGED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51000. UPDATED 05/18/09. *LJ THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED AS WELL. UPDATED 05/20/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10266652

42,000 miles · Apr 23, 2008
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. SHE SUSTAINED INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42,000. UPDATED 5/19/08 *CN THE SEAT BELT DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRA…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. SHE SUSTAINED INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42,000. UPDATED 5/19/08 *CN THE SEAT BELT DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE CONSUMER. UPDATED 05/19/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10225475

100,000 miles · Nov 22, 2006
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrash

FORD MUSTANG 2000 WAS TOTALED IN A FRONTAL CRASH AFTER ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK BUT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAPITAL FORD AT 4222 OLEANDER DRIVE IN WILMINGTON, NC REPAIRED THE AIR BAGS IN 2002. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10174044

100,000 miles · Nov 20, 2006
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrash

BACKED UP CAR (2000 FORD MUSTANG), THEN SHIFTED FORWARD WHERE CAR ACCELERATED FULL THROTTLE BY ITSELF AND CRASHED INTO 2 PARKED CARS. CAR APPEARS TO BE TOTALED BUT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10173841

74,000 miles · Aug 11, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury

MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE FRONT END COLLISION. SHE HIT A FIRE HYDRANT AFTER A 90 DEGREE SPIN AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 30 MPH. THE CAR SUSTAINED $6000 IN DAMAGE AND WAS TOTALED. NEITHER THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I QUESTIONED THE BODY SHOP IF THEY SHOULD HAVE, EVERYONE I TALKED TO FEELS THEY SHOULD HA…

Read full complaint

MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE FRONT END COLLISION. SHE HIT A FIRE HYDRANT AFTER A 90 DEGREE SPIN AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 30 MPH. THE CAR SUSTAINED $6000 IN DAMAGE AND WAS TOTALED. NEITHER THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I QUESTIONED THE BODY SHOP IF THEY SHOULD HAVE, EVERYONE I TALKED TO FEELS THEY SHOULD HAVE. ISN'T THIS WHAT THEY ARE DESIGNED TO DO?

NHTSA ODI #10165286

45,100 miles · Jul 15, 2005
Air Bags

ON MAY 30, 2005, OUR DAUGHTER WAS EXITING A PARKING LOT IN HER 2000 FORD MUSTANG. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE EXITS WEREN''T CLEARLY MARKED, SHE DROVE OVER THE SIDEWALK, RESULTING IN APPROXIMATELY A FOUR INCH DROP OFF. AFTER WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO CLEAR, SHE ACCELERATED TO EXIT THE PARKING LOT AND BOTH OF HER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. S…

Read full complaint

ON MAY 30, 2005, OUR DAUGHTER WAS EXITING A PARKING LOT IN HER 2000 FORD MUSTANG. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE EXITS WEREN''T CLEARLY MARKED, SHE DROVE OVER THE SIDEWALK, RESULTING IN APPROXIMATELY A FOUR INCH DROP OFF. AFTER WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO CLEAR, SHE ACCELERATED TO EXIT THE PARKING LOT AND BOTH OF HER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SHE WAS FORTUNATE THAT A POLICE OFFICER WITNESSED THIS INCIDENT. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE OFFICER, I WAS ASSURED THAT SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR. I ALSO REVIEWED PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE AREA TO VIEW TO SEE THE DROP-OFF AND CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT WAS THE EQUIVALENT OF A ''HIGHWAY POT-HOLE'', WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE PREMATURE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS.

NHTSA ODI #10128956

Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS INVOLVED IN A ONE CAR ACCIDENT WHERE I LOST CONTROL AND JUMPED A CURB. MY CAR WAS A 2000 V6 MUSTANG COUPE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN THE CAR MADE CONTACT WITH THE CURB. BUT I WAS THEN AIRBORN IN THE CAR FOR ABOUT 12 FEET AND BY THE TIME MY CAR HIT THE GROUND MY AIR BAGS HAD DEFLATED, CAUSING MY PASSENGER TO HIT HER HEA…

Read full complaint

I WAS INVOLVED IN A ONE CAR ACCIDENT WHERE I LOST CONTROL AND JUMPED A CURB. MY CAR WAS A 2000 V6 MUSTANG COUPE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN THE CAR MADE CONTACT WITH THE CURB. BUT I WAS THEN AIRBORN IN THE CAR FOR ABOUT 12 FEET AND BY THE TIME MY CAR HIT THE GROUND MY AIR BAGS HAD DEFLATED, CAUSING MY PASSENGER TO HIT HER HEAD ON THE DASHBOARD. SHE HAD HER SEATBELT ON, AND BE KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. ALSO... WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED THEY CAME OUT WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT KNOCKED MY HANDS OFF THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO STEER THE CAR .SCARED THAT IF THE TIRES WEREN'T STRAIGHT WHEN WE WOULD TOUCH DOWN THAT WE WOULD FLIP. THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED 2 DAYS AGO WHEN MY FRIEND WRECKED HIS 20'01 GT. HE HAD LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CLIPPED A TELEPHONE POLL DOING ABOUT 50MPH. HE THEN JUMPED A DITCH... WENT AIRBORN... AND WRAPPED HIS CAR AROUND A TREE. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED,BUT HAD DEFLATED BY THE TIME HE HAD ANY REAL CONTACT. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHEN HE CLIPPED THE TELEPHONE POLL... BUT WHEN HE NEEDED IT MOST IT HAD ALREADY DEFLATED... CAUSING HIM TO HIT HIS HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN HAVING HIS HEAD GO THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. AIRBAGS DO NOT NEED TO DEFLATE SO QUICKLY. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. THANK YOU!*AK

NHTSA ODI #10118699

56,000 miles · Nov 30, 2004
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND SUDDENLY THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER STOPPED SUDDENLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE BEHIND TO BE INVOLVED IN A CRASH. MANUFACTURER TOLD CONSUMER TO REPORT INCIDENT TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10101830

Official recalls

2

00V349000 · Parking Brake:conventional

Oct 30, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. IF A VEHICLE IS PARKED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE NOT FULLY APPLIED AND NOT IN FIRST GEAR, AS DIRECTED IN THE OWNER GUIDE, AND THE SELF ADJUSTMENT PAWL SUBSEQUENTLY SKIPS ONE OR TWO TEETH, THE VEHICLE COULD MOVE ON SOME GRADES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL AND INSTALL A PLATE OR OVER-BRACKET TO THE CONTROL TO LOCK THE SELF ADJUST MECHANISM IN POSITION FOLLOWING ADJUSTMENT.

99V250000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Sep 20, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE A PIN SHAFT IN THE SWITCHABLE ELR/ALR MECHANISM THAT IS INCORRECTLY FORMED. IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SWITCHING MECHANISM COULD BECOME NONFUNCTIONAL, PREVENTING THE SEAT BELT WEBBING FROM BEING EXTRACTED FROM THE RETRACTOR. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT MALFUNCTION OF THE MECHANISM COULD PREVENT THE BELT FROM BEING SWITCHED INTO THE ALR MODE. THE ELR MECHANISM IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONS AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE WEBBING TO BE EXTRACTED, THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT COULD NOT BE WORN BY A VEHICLE OCCUPANT. IN THE EVENT THAT THE MECHANISM DOES NOT ALLOW THE ALR MODE TO BE ENGAGED, THE OPERATOR MAY BE UNABLE TO PROPERLY INSTALL A CHILD SEAT IN THAT SEATING POSITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLIES. ASSEMBLIES WITH JULIAN DATE CODES OF 200 THROUGH 223 ARE SUSPECT AND WILL BE REPLACED.

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.