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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.

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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

Power Train complaints

40 reports
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105,000 miles · Oct 30, 2025
Power TrainCrash

The contact owns a 1965 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle unintendedly reversed on an incline of a parking lot and struck another parked unoccupied vehicle. There was no injury sustained. The contact stated that the vehicle was not designed with air bags. The vehicle sustained fenders, …

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The contact owns a 1965 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle unintendedly reversed on an incline of a parking lot and struck another parked unoccupied vehicle. There was no injury sustained. The contact stated that the vehicle was not designed with air bags. The vehicle sustained fenders, bumpers, and paint damage. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had unintendedly shifted from park(P) to reverse(R). The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI #11696521

116,000 miles · Jun 9, 2018
EnginePower TrainService Brakes

IS A BIG PROBLEM SHIFTING IN A GEAR AFTER IN FIRST GEAR STARTS TO SPUTTER AND SHAKE BELIEVE IT'S THE TRANSMISSION MANUAL 5-SPEED ALSO ENGINE OVERHEATING AND KNOCKING SOUNDS VIBRATIONS COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SHAKY EVEN IF APPLIED SLOWLY AND SOFTLY

NHTSA ODI #11100693

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2014
Power Train

I HAVE PURCHASED A USED 2000 FORD MUSTANG AND TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR UNLESS I REV THE RPMS UP VERY HIGH AND I AM INTERESTED IN KEEPING THIS VEHICLE SO I LOOKED ON LINE AND FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, I HAVE WENT FROM SITE TO SITE, I DON'T MIND PAYING FOR THE REPAI…

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I HAVE PURCHASED A USED 2000 FORD MUSTANG AND TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR UNLESS I REV THE RPMS UP VERY HIGH AND I AM INTERESTED IN KEEPING THIS VEHICLE SO I LOOKED ON LINE AND FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, I HAVE WENT FROM SITE TO SITE, I DON'T MIND PAYING FOR THE REPAIR IF NEED BE, BUT THIS IS DANGEROUS, I DON'T WANT TO INJURY MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE. I HAVE FOUND THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS THE SOLUTION AND CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10651559

194,000 miles · Dec 28, 2011
Power Train

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT DETECTED A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN OR STATIONARY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO EXPRESSED CONCERNS TO THE CONTACT OF A POTENTIAL FIRE AS A RESULT OF THE FA…

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TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT DETECTED A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN OR STATIONARY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO EXPRESSED CONCERNS TO THE CONTACT OF A POTENTIAL FIRE AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD POSSIBLY NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,000. KMJ

NHTSA ODI #10441451

79,000 miles · Mar 25, 2009
Power TrainStructure

HARD TO SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR OF NEUTRAL FROM A STOPPED POSITION ON THE V6 MANUAL TRANSMISSION ON THE 2000 FORD MUSTANG, ALSO PAINT IS BUBBLING AND CRACKING ON ROOF IN MULTIPLE SPOTS, HAVE SEEN SAME PROBLEM WITH PAINT POSTED FOR ALL MODELS FORD FROM 2000-20005. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10263000

64,306 miles · Jun 21, 2004
Power Train

I BOUGHT A 2000 FORD MUSTANG AND THREE DAYS LATER I NOTICED THE SHIFT INDICATOR POSITION MARKER ON THE FLOOR WAS NOT SHOWING WHAT GEAR THE CAR WAS IN. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DURING DAY AND MOST LIKELY DURING NIGHT DRIVING AND COULD ALSO CAUSE TRANMISSION PROBLEMS NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE THE GEAR SHIFT POSITION. I TOOK IT TO …

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I BOUGHT A 2000 FORD MUSTANG AND THREE DAYS LATER I NOTICED THE SHIFT INDICATOR POSITION MARKER ON THE FLOOR WAS NOT SHOWING WHAT GEAR THE CAR WAS IN. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DURING DAY AND MOST LIKELY DURING NIGHT DRIVING AND COULD ALSO CAUSE TRANMISSION PROBLEMS NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE THE GEAR SHIFT POSITION. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY INSTALLED A NEW BEZEL ASY-TRANSMISSION AND IT WORKS FINE NOW, BUT A CAR THAT'S ONLY FOUR YEARS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT THE SHIFT INDICATOR MARKER HAS BROKEN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10078576

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

40,000 miles · Dec 10, 2003
Power Train

AS I WAS DRIVING AND REACHED 30 MPH IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFTING TO THE NEXT GEAR. IT MADE A SCREECHING NOISE AND WOULD NOT PASS 30 MPH MEAN WHILE THE RPM WAS TO 8. THEN IT JUMPED AND PASSED 30 MPH. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME IT REACHED 30 MPH. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS SLOW TO SHIFT. THIS 2000 MUSTANG …

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AS I WAS DRIVING AND REACHED 30 MPH IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFTING TO THE NEXT GEAR. IT MADE A SCREECHING NOISE AND WOULD NOT PASS 30 MPH MEAN WHILE THE RPM WAS TO 8. THEN IT JUMPED AND PASSED 30 MPH. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME IT REACHED 30 MPH. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS SLOW TO SHIFT. THIS 2000 MUSTANG ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES!!- AND I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DAMAGED--ON TOP OF THAT THE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE $1,600 COST. I'VE HEARD A LOT OF THE SAME COMPLAINT ABOUT FORD MUSTANG 'S TRANSMISSION. FOR A 3 YEAR OLD MUSTANG WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A DEFECTED TRANSMISSION !!!!EVEN THOUGHT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED -- FORD SHOULD HELP COVER THE COST. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10049525

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2003
Power Train

VEHICLE HAS 24000 MILES ON IT. AT APPROX. 12000 MILES THE CLUTCH LOST TRAVEL DISTANCE, AND COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED USING THE MANUAL ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE. CLUTCH FROZE ONE MORNING AFTER A VERY COLD SUB-ZERO NIGHT. UPON STARTING VEHICLE WITH CLUTCH PARTIALLY ENGAGED, CLUTCH BURNED. THEN FELL OUT OF 4TH GEAR WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH…

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VEHICLE HAS 24000 MILES ON IT. AT APPROX. 12000 MILES THE CLUTCH LOST TRAVEL DISTANCE, AND COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED USING THE MANUAL ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE. CLUTCH FROZE ONE MORNING AFTER A VERY COLD SUB-ZERO NIGHT. UPON STARTING VEHICLE WITH CLUTCH PARTIALLY ENGAGED, CLUTCH BURNED. THEN FELL OUT OF 4TH GEAR WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH. DEALER CLAIMS IT IS A WEAR ITEM AND BAD DRIVING RESULTED IN PRESSURE PLATES BEING UNUSUALLY WORN, A PROBLEM WITH THE LINKAGE WAS ALSO NOTED BUT NOT ASSESSED AS CONTRIBUTING TO THE WORN PLATES. CUSTOMER CONTENDS THE LINKAGE FAILED AND CAUSED CONTINUOUS RUBBING OF PRESSURE PLATES INSIDE TRANSMISSION ULTIMATELY LEADING TO FAILURE, AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY MANUFACTURER. PREMATURE WEAR OF THE PLATES IS MOST LIKELY LINKED TO THE FAILURE IN THE LINKAGE AND THE FAILURE OF THE SELF ADJUSTING CLUTCH TO IN EFFECT, SELF ADJUST WHEN THE PEDAL IS PULLED UP AND PUSHED DOWN AS RECOMMENDED IN THE MANUAL. SUSPECT THIS MAY ALSO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE PARTS ORIGINAL TO VEHICLE. TS

NHTSA ODI #10005073

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2003
Power Train

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED DURING WARM WEATHER AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ODI #10002363

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.