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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

Electrical System complaints

17 reports
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71,500 miles · Apr 20, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineFire

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WITNESSES SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE CAR WAS TRYING TO START ITSELF. TOTAL LOSS. DAMAGE WAS WORST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CENTERED IN THE AREA IN FRONT OF THE WHEEL. SECURITY CAMERA OF INCIDENT SHOWS SMOKE THEN FIRE STARTING AT THE F…

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VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WITNESSES SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE CAR WAS TRYING TO START ITSELF. TOTAL LOSS. DAMAGE WAS WORST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CENTERED IN THE AREA IN FRONT OF THE WHEEL. SECURITY CAMERA OF INCIDENT SHOWS SMOKE THEN FIRE STARTING AT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10583844

17,000 miles · Mar 21, 2009
Electrical System

1. THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND IT WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE IGNITION. 2. THE CAR HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND COMPONENTS REPLACED. 3. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS APPROXIMATELY $1,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10262644

69,990 miles · Dec 29, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2000 FORD 3.8 LITER MUSTANG. IT HAS A VIBRATION AND COVERT FORD SAYS ITS NEEDS NEW MOTOR. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW, TOOK GREAT CARE OF MOTOR, IT JUST TURNED 70,000 MILES. COVERT SAYS IT HAS EXCESSIVE END PLAY ON THE CRANKSHAFT DUE TO WEAR. I THINK I HAVE AN AMERICAN-MADE PROBLEM. 70,000 MILES???? THANKS FOR ANY…

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I HAVE A 2000 FORD 3.8 LITER MUSTANG. IT HAS A VIBRATION AND COVERT FORD SAYS ITS NEEDS NEW MOTOR. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW, TOOK GREAT CARE OF MOTOR, IT JUST TURNED 70,000 MILES. COVERT SAYS IT HAS EXCESSIVE END PLAY ON THE CRANKSHAFT DUE TO WEAR. I THINK I HAVE AN AMERICAN-MADE PROBLEM. 70,000 MILES???? THANKS FOR ANY HELP THAT YOU CAN GIVE ME. THEY WANT $4,600.00. I THINK FORD OWES ME MOST OF THAT AT THE VERY LEAST BECAUSE I SURE CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT. YOU KNOW ITS FUNNY ALSO BECAUSE UP TO THIS POINT THAT CAR HAD NEVER BROKEN DOWN AND HAD NEVER BEEN IN THE SHOP . THIS IS OTHER THAN 15 OIL CHANGES TWO BATTERIES AND TWO SETS OF TIRES... I JUST THINK ITS NOT NORMAL. PLEASE HELP WITH SUGGESTION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10146352

64,700 miles · Aug 1, 2004
Electrical System

WHILE CLEANING MY SPARK PLUGS, I NOTICED THE NUMBER #3 SPARK PLUG HAD OIL ON THE SPARK PLUG THREAD. WHEN I PUT MY FINGER INTO THE NUMBER #3 CYLINDER HOLE OIL SHOWED ON MY FINGER. THE NUMBER #3 PLUG WAS ALSO FOULED COMPARED TO THE OTHER NEW PLUGS. THIS COULD LEAD TO ENGINE DAMAGE OR A FIRE IN THE ENGINE AREA. I HEARD THAT FORD HA…

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WHILE CLEANING MY SPARK PLUGS, I NOTICED THE NUMBER #3 SPARK PLUG HAD OIL ON THE SPARK PLUG THREAD. WHEN I PUT MY FINGER INTO THE NUMBER #3 CYLINDER HOLE OIL SHOWED ON MY FINGER. THE NUMBER #3 PLUG WAS ALSO FOULED COMPARED TO THE OTHER NEW PLUGS. THIS COULD LEAD TO ENGINE DAMAGE OR A FIRE IN THE ENGINE AREA. I HEARD THAT FORD HAD A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO SERVICE BULLETIN ON MY CAR FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY MANY OWNERS THAT FORD HAD A VALVE COVER BUFFLE TO PCV VALVE PROBLEM ON 1999 AND 2000 MUSTANG 3.8, BUT THEY WILL NOT DO ANY THING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD MY MANY OWNERS THAT THEY MOD. AND REMOVED THE PCV VALVE AND REPLACED IT WITH FILTERS TO STOP OIL GETTING INTO THE CYLINDERS. THIS WOULD MAKE IT ILLEGAL AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED PROPERLY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE 2001 VALVE COVERS AND UP CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10083080

25,851 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Electrical SystemPower Train

I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED ON MAY 03, 2003 FROM RAMEY FORD IN TAZEWELL, VA AND UNDER THE TERMS THAT THEY WOULD CHECK THE CLUTCH FOR VIBRATION. UPON CHECKING THE CLUTCH, I WAS ADVISED THAT THE CLUTCH ROD NEEDED REPLACED AND THIS WAS COMPLETED. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK THE FIRST TIME, I HAVE GONE THROUGH AN ONGOING PROBLEM WI…

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I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED ON MAY 03, 2003 FROM RAMEY FORD IN TAZEWELL, VA AND UNDER THE TERMS THAT THEY WOULD CHECK THE CLUTCH FOR VIBRATION. UPON CHECKING THE CLUTCH, I WAS ADVISED THAT THE CLUTCH ROD NEEDED REPLACED AND THIS WAS COMPLETED. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK THE FIRST TIME, I HAVE GONE THROUGH AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH MAKING A VIBRATION/RATTLE TYPE NOISE THAT COMES AND GOES EVEN AFTER THE PRESSURE PLATE, THROW-OUT BEARING, AND FLY-WHEEL WERE REPLACED. ALSO, FOR 3 1/2 TO 4 MONTHS THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WOULD COME ON PERIODICALLY AND START BLINKING AND THEN GO OFF, THIS HAS FINALLY STOPPED AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS AT FIXING THE PROBLEM, AFTER THE PCM WAS REPROGRAMMED AND A COIL PACK WAS CHANGED. FOR A CAR THAT LOOKS BRAND NEW INSIDE AND OUT, THESE CONSTANT PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN VERY TROUBLESOME AND AGGRAVATING ESPECIALLY AFTER 6 REPAIR ATTEMPTS (GOING ON 7).

NHTSA ODI #10071022

61,000 miles · Oct 22, 2003
Electrical SystemFire

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WIRE HARNESS CAUSED FIRE. 2000 FORD MUSTANG ONLY HAS 61,000 MILES ON IT. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10043358

29,459 miles · Jul 22, 2003
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2000 FORD MUSTANG V6, AND I HAVE AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER (MAGIC FORD, IN VALENCIA CA ITS BEEN IN THE DEALER FOUR TIMES) CANT FIX AND CANT FIND OUT WHATS WRONG WITH THE CAR. WHENEVER I DROVE THE CAR AND IT GETS HOT AND WHEN I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND TRY RESTARTING THE CAR, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START, I HA…

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I HAVE A 2000 FORD MUSTANG V6, AND I HAVE AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER (MAGIC FORD, IN VALENCIA CA ITS BEEN IN THE DEALER FOUR TIMES) CANT FIX AND CANT FIND OUT WHATS WRONG WITH THE CAR. WHENEVER I DROVE THE CAR AND IT GETS HOT AND WHEN I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND TRY RESTARTING THE CAR, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START, I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE ENGINE COOL OFF, THEN THE CAR WOULD START, IT HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I STOPPED AT THE GROCERY STORE, AND TRY STARTING THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START, SAME THING WHEN I STOPPED AT THE GASOLINE STATION, I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT GETS COOL OFF BEFORE THE WOULD START AGAIN. HERE ARE THE HISTORY OF THE ONGOING PROBLEM, THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER THE WARRANTY, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY DONT KNOW THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE COMPUTER WOULD NOT GIVE OUT ANY CODE, SO THEY CANT FIX THE CAR, BUT THEY KNOW THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. SECOND TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS THE KEY, AND THE IGNITION, SO THEY HAVE TO REPROGRAM THE KEY TO SEND SIGNAL TO THE IGNITION, (I HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY, WHEN THEY COULD HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST TIME.) THIRD TIME I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THE FUEL PUMP WAS LOOSE AND THE BATTERY CABLE WAS LOOSE (I DONT THINK SO) A WEEK LATER, FOURTH TIME I TOOK THE CAR BACK, STILL DOESNT KNOW WHATS WRONG WITH THE CAR, ITS BEEN IN THE DEALER FOR 3 DAYS NOW. I DONT KNOW WHAT IM GOING TO DO WITH THIS CAR. PLEASE ADVICE.

NHTSA ODI #10028910

Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2002
Electrical SystemFire

MY 2000 FORD MUSTANG LOST ALL ITS POWER AFTER I JUST PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT. I THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON THE PASSENGER SITE. ABOUT 1-2 MINUTES LATER I SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE SAME PLACE. AS I EXITED THE CAR AND CLOSED THE DOOR ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND A HORRID NOISE CAME FROM THE F…

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MY 2000 FORD MUSTANG LOST ALL ITS POWER AFTER I JUST PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT. I THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON THE PASSENGER SITE. ABOUT 1-2 MINUTES LATER I SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE SAME PLACE. AS I EXITED THE CAR AND CLOSED THE DOOR ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND A HORRID NOISE CAME FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BUT BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED 10-15 FOOT HIGH FLAMES WERE SHOOTING IN THE AIR FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR [THIS ALL STARTED TO HAPPEN INCREDIBLY FAST] AND THERE ALSO WAS LOTS OF BLACK SMOKE. ONE OF THE FIREMEN/LADIES TOLD ME THAT IT LOOKED LIKR THE FIRE HAD STARTED IN THE WIRING. ALL OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR BURNED OUT INCLUDING THE HOOD AND SOMEOF THE DASH INSIDE MELTED AND THE FRONT WINDSHILD STARTED TO CRACK FROM THE HEAT OF THE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #10000661

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2002
Electrical SystemFire

CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND CLOSING THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR THERE WAS A FIRE THAT STARTED IN THE DOOR PANEL MELTING WIRES AND OTHER PARTS. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER NOTED THAT THERE WAS SOME SHORTAGE IN THE WIRING.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8013254

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 2001
Electrical SystemFire

CAR CAUGHT FIRE ABOUT 3 HOURS AFTER DRIVING IT FOR 30 MIN.-CAR IS "TOTALED"*AK

NHTSA ODI #754426

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.