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2004 Ford Mustang

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Ford Mustang do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 81.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

89 reports with mileage · 27 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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

20 crash reports0 fire reports8 injury reports

What owners actually said

116 reports
12,000 miles · Jun 29, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

2004 FORD SVT COBRA MUSTANG THE THROTTLE PEDAL WILL HANG UP ON THE CARPET WHEN AT FULL THROTTLE. WHEN THE THROTTLE HANGS, THE ENGINE WILL REV UNTIL REDLINE, AND THEN THE REV LIMITER WILL SET IN. TO STOP THE CAR, THE DRIVER MUST KILL THE IGNITION SWITCH (BEING CARFUL NOT TO TURN IT SO FAR AS TO LOCK THE STEERING WHEEL) AND B…

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2004 FORD SVT COBRA MUSTANG THE THROTTLE PEDAL WILL HANG UP ON THE CARPET WHEN AT FULL THROTTLE. WHEN THE THROTTLE HANGS, THE ENGINE WILL REV UNTIL REDLINE, AND THEN THE REV LIMITER WILL SET IN. TO STOP THE CAR, THE DRIVER MUST KILL THE IGNITION SWITCH (BEING CARFUL NOT TO TURN IT SO FAR AS TO LOCK THE STEERING WHEEL) AND BRING THE CAR TO A STOP WITHOUT POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. WITH OVER 390HP IN THE SVT COBRA, A STUCK THROTTLE WILL CAUSE THIS VEHICLE TO APPROACH OTHERS AT A VERY RAPID PACE. TO FIX THE PROBLEM, A 3"X3" PIECE OF CARPET MUST BE CUT FROM THE FLOOR BENEATH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

NHTSA ODI #10126983

12,500 miles · Jun 23, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury

I HAD A DEER ACCIDENT ON MY WAY TO WORK & WRECKED MY 2004 FORD MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE & THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY & I TOOK THE ENTIRE FORCE OF THE ACCIDENT. I FLIPPED END OVER END & ROLLED IT ONCE OR TWICE & HIT THE RIGHT FRONT BUMPER ON A CONCRETE SLAP & FLIPPED BACK ON THE WHEELS & DESTROYED THE FRONT END & COMPLETELY TOTALED …

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I HAD A DEER ACCIDENT ON MY WAY TO WORK & WRECKED MY 2004 FORD MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE & THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY & I TOOK THE ENTIRE FORCE OF THE ACCIDENT. I FLIPPED END OVER END & ROLLED IT ONCE OR TWICE & HIT THE RIGHT FRONT BUMPER ON A CONCRETE SLAP & FLIPPED BACK ON THE WHEELS & DESTROYED THE FRONT END & COMPLETELY TOTALED THE CAR! I HAVE SEVERE HEAD TRAMA, WHIPLASH, INJURED BACK, NECK & SHOULDERS & AM IN PHYSICAL THERAPY 3X'S A WEEK & LOTS OF PAIN & INFLAMATION RX'S. FORD MOTOR DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO GIVE ME ANY ANSWERS & I'VE CONTACTED 4 DIFFERENT LAWYERS & NONE OF THEM WANT TO TAKE FORD ON TO INVESTIGATE WHAT HAS HAPPENED & I CAN'T GET ANY HELP SO I THOUGHT I'D ASK FOR YOUR HELP & ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN PROVIDE ME WITH WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

NHTSA ODI #10126419

9,000 miles · Jun 17, 2005
Fuel System, Other

SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED...THROTTLE PEDAL STUCK UNDER CARPET OF VEHICLE CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE CONTINUOUSLY, AND HIT REV LIMITER WHILE I WAS HEADING TOWARDS STOPPED TRAFFIC. CUT ENGINE TO STOP THROTTLE, BUT WITHOUT POWER BRAKES AND STEERING IT WAS MORE THAN FRIGHTENING. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND HAD TO FORCE CARPET UP…

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SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED...THROTTLE PEDAL STUCK UNDER CARPET OF VEHICLE CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE CONTINUOUSLY, AND HIT REV LIMITER WHILE I WAS HEADING TOWARDS STOPPED TRAFFIC. CUT ENGINE TO STOP THROTTLE, BUT WITHOUT POWER BRAKES AND STEERING IT WAS MORE THAN FRIGHTENING. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND HAD TO FORCE CARPET UP IN ORDER TO FREE THROTTLE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED "OH, WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THESE WITH COBRAS".

NHTSA ODI #10125569

3,850 miles · Jun 16, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON DRAGSTRIP AND THE GAS PEDAL STUCK UNDERNEATH THE CARPET AT FULL THROTTLE I AM NOT REFERRING TO A MAT, THE ACTUAL CARPET I CALLED MY FORD DEALER AND THEY HAVE NO SPECFIC FIX I AM CUTTING A SLIT IN THE CARPET AND GLUEING IT DOWN IF THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, WHO KNOWS?

NHTSA ODI #10125548

2,000 miles · Jun 5, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

A STUCK WIDE OPEN THROTTLE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 FORD SVT COBRA MUSTANG... FORTUNATELY I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER WITH SOME AUTO RACING IN MY BACKGROUND... I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY PUSH IN THE CLUTCH(ENGINE WAS BOUNCING OFF THE REV LIMITER AT THIS POINT), AND TURN OFF THE KEY... THE COBRA MUSTANG HAS HYDRO-BOOST POWER BRA…

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A STUCK WIDE OPEN THROTTLE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 FORD SVT COBRA MUSTANG... FORTUNATELY I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER WITH SOME AUTO RACING IN MY BACKGROUND... I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY PUSH IN THE CLUTCH(ENGINE WAS BOUNCING OFF THE REV LIMITER AT THIS POINT), AND TURN OFF THE KEY... THE COBRA MUSTANG HAS HYDRO-BOOST POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING SO AT THIS POINT, STEERING EFFORT AND BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT "WENT THROUGH THE ROOF"(WERE VERY HIGH). SINCE I AM AN ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORTER AND BUYER OF FORD PRODUCTS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL ON THIS VERY COMMON PROBLEM... BEFORE SOME ONE LESS EXPERIENCED GETS KILLED!!! THESE ARE VERY POWERFUL CARS!!! THINGS HAPPEN EXTREMELY FAST WHEN THE PEDAL IS DOWN!!! THE CAUSE OF THIS STUCK THROTTLE IS A PARTIAL BENDING OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AND THE CONTACT WITH AND STICKING UNDER OF THE CARPET BY THE PEDAL. A STUCK WIDE OPEN THROTTLE IN ANY CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS!!! A STUCK WIDE OPEN THROTTLE IN THIS PARTICULAR CAR IS INSANE!!! TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AS SOON AS I ARRIVED HOME I TRIMMED THE CARPET THAT WAS CONTACTING THE THROTTLE WHEN DOWN... SO THAT IT WOULD NO LONGER TOUCH AT ALL. PLEASE NOTE---> AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT THE FLOOR MAT HAD CAUSED THE PROBLEM. I WAS WRONG... WHILE STILL POSSIBLE IF DISLODGED FROM IT'S ANCHOR POINT... IT WAS NOT WHAT WAS STICKING THE PEDAL... IT WAS THE CARPET, WHICH WAS SHAPED POORLY AND RETAINED EVEN WORSE IN THAT CRITICAL THROTTLE AREA. PLEASE NOTIFY THE PROPER AUTHORITIES AS TO THE POTENTIAL FOR EXTREME CONSEQUENCES THIS DEFECT PRESENTS. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DATE IN THE DATE FIELD IS A GUESS SINCE THIS OCCURRED OVER A YEAR AGO... I AM FILING NOW BECAUSE I HAVE READ ABOUT NUMEROUS OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS OCCURRING AND I FIND IT VERY TROUBLING.

NHTSA ODI #10124246

11,345 miles · Jun 4, 2005
Unknown Or Other

THE GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK UNDER THE CARPET CAUSING THE CAR TO REV AT HIGH RPM'S AND SHUTTING THE CAR OFF WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #10124193

13,000 miles · Jun 3, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

GAS PEDAL GETS CAUGHT ON THE CARPET AND STICKS AT FULL THROTTLE.

NHTSA ODI #10124154

1,200 miles · Jun 3, 2005
Unknown Or Other

WHILE ACCELLERATING CAR, GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK UNDER CARPET, SO I IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, CAR BEGAN TO BOUNCE OFF OF REV. LIMITER UNTIL I FINALLY GOT GAS PEDAL UNSTUCK.

NHTSA ODI #10124052

7,000 miles · Jun 3, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

I OWN A 2004 FORD MUSTANG COBRA. ON THE DAY LISTED BELOW, I ENTERED A VERY BUSY FREEWAY IN PHOENIX AND HAD TO GIVE FULL THROTTLE IN THIRD GEAR IN ORDER TO MERGE INTO AN OPENING. WHEN I WENT TO RELEASE THE THROTTLE AS I MOVED INTO THE OPENING, THE THROTTLE STAYED AT THE WIDE OPEN POSITION WITH THE PEDAL STILL TO THE FLOOR. I H…

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I OWN A 2004 FORD MUSTANG COBRA. ON THE DAY LISTED BELOW, I ENTERED A VERY BUSY FREEWAY IN PHOENIX AND HAD TO GIVE FULL THROTTLE IN THIRD GEAR IN ORDER TO MERGE INTO AN OPENING. WHEN I WENT TO RELEASE THE THROTTLE AS I MOVED INTO THE OPENING, THE THROTTLE STAYED AT THE WIDE OPEN POSITION WITH THE PEDAL STILL TO THE FLOOR. I HAD TO PUSH THE CLUTCH IN, HIT THE BRAKES HARD, AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IT WAS CLOSE. THEN I HAD TO NEGOTIATE A SAFE EXIT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHAT I FOUND WAS THE THROTTLE PEDAL WAS STUCK UNDER A PIECE OF THE CARPETING. I HAVE FOUND THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON OCCURANCE IN THIS MODEL. (MUSTANG) I CAN PROBABLY GIVE YOU THE NAMES OF 25 PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE!! THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. AGAIN, THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DIRECT YOU TO A FORUM WHERE YOU CAN SEE MANY INSTANCES OF THIS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10124049

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2005
Steering

I WAS MAKING A TURN AROUND A CORNER FROM A STOP GOING AT APPROXIMATELY 7-10 MPH WHEN MY 2004 FORD MUSTANG STARTED GOING OUT OF CONTROL, PULLING TO THE RIGHT INTO ANOTHER LANE AND HEADING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE CURB, I TRIED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE PULLING FROM THE BACK, IT EVENTUALLY ENDED …

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I WAS MAKING A TURN AROUND A CORNER FROM A STOP GOING AT APPROXIMATELY 7-10 MPH WHEN MY 2004 FORD MUSTANG STARTED GOING OUT OF CONTROL, PULLING TO THE RIGHT INTO ANOTHER LANE AND HEADING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE CURB, I TRIED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE PULLING FROM THE BACK, IT EVENTUALLY ENDED UP DOING A 180 DEGREE TURN INTO THE OTHER LANE , FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC IN THAT LANE. ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY AND NORMAL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER CONTACTING THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY ADDRESSING THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFINITE PROBLEM, AS THIS WAS THE THIRD SUCH INCIDENT OF THE VEHICLE LOSING CONTROL. IN THE FIRST TWO INCIDENTS THE VEHICLE HAD STARTED AGAIN GOING OUT OF CONTROL FROM AROUND A CORNER, BUT THE CONDITION WAS WET SO I IGNORED IT. I FEARED THAT THERE WAS A GREATER PROBLEM HOWEVER, WHEN GOING AROUND A CURVE AT BELOW THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT IT ALSO STARTED PULLING FROM THE BACK HEADING INTO THE OTHER LANE. FORTUNATELY IN THE OTHER TWO INCIDENTS I WAS ABLE TO PREVENT THE VEHICLES FROM TOTALLY LOSING CONTROL AND DOING WHAT IT HAD DONE ON THIS DAY. THE FORD GILLESPIE DEALERSHIP LOCATED AT 7111 N.W LOOP 410 SAN ANTONIO TEXAS SAID THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AFTER 12 MILES OF DRIVING AND HAVE SAID THAT THEREFORE THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE HANDLING AROUND CURVES AND CORNERS, AND THIS IS A REAL AND LEGITIMATE SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME.

NHTSA ODI #10121676

Official recalls

1

06V108000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Apr 7, 2006

ON CERTAIN MUSTANG COBRA PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR SURFACE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY COME INTO CONTACT WITH FLOOR CARPETING DURING HEAVY THROTTLE APPLICATION. THE UNIQUE SURFACE PROFILE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY CATCH IN THE CUTOUT ON THE FLOOR CARPETING BEHIND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD INTERFERE WITH THE PEDAL'S ABILITY TO RETURN TO AN IDLE POSITION. UNEXPECTED, CONTINUED THROTTLE APPLICATION AND/OR INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES MAY OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHIELD OVER THE CUTOUT IN THE CARPET BEHIND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 26, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

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

3

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.

EA05014 · Accelerator Pedal Interference

Opened Sep 13, 2005 · Closed Apr 10, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control; Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

ON APRIL 3, 2006, FORD MOTOR COMPANY SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING A DEFECT CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND FLOOR CARPETING IN APPROXIMATELY 19,140 MODEL YEAR 2003 AND 2004 MUSTANG COBRA VEHICLES (FORD RECALL NO. 06S43/NHTSA RECALL 06V-108, COPY ATTACHED).FORD WILL RECALL THE VEHICLES TO INSTALL A SHIELD BENEATH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO PREVENT THE PIVOT PIN ON THE REAR SURFACE OF THE PEDAL FROM COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE FLOOR CARPETING DURING HEAVY THROTTLE APPLICATION.IN THOSE VEHICLES WHERE THE FLOOR CARPETING DOES NOT FIT FLUSH WITH THE SHEET METAL, THE UNIQUE REAR SURFACE PROFILE OF THE MUSTANG COBRA PEDAL MAY ALLOW THE PIVOT PIN OF THE PEDAL TO CATCH IN THE CUTOUT ON THE FLOOR CARPETING BEHIND THE PEDAL, INTERFERING WITH THE PEDAL'S ABILITY TO RETURN; THE RESULT OF WHICH COULD BE UNEXPECTED, CONTINUED THROTTLE APPLICATION.DURING THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS STAGE OF THE INVESTIGATION, ODI ALSO EXAMINED THE POSSIBLITY OF THE SAME PHENOMENA OCCURING IN NON-COBRA MUSTANGS.HOWEVER, THE DIFFERENT DESIGN OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDALS ON THE NON-COBRA MUSTANGS RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN THE POTENTIAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE CARPETING, WITH THE BASE OF THE PEDAL PAD ACTING TO FORCE THE CARPET AWAY FROM THE PIVOT PIN.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAS BEEN CLOSED.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

ON APRIL 3, 2006, FORD MOTOR COMPANY SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING A DEFECT CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND FLOOR CARPETING IN APPROXIMATELY 19,140 MODEL YEAR 2003 AND 2004 MUSTANG COBRA VEHICLES (FORD RECALL NO. 06S43/NHTSA RECALL 06V-108, COPY ATTACHED).FORD WILL RECALL THE VEHICLES TO INSTALL A SHIELD BENEATH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO PREVENT THE PIVOT PIN ON THE REAR SURFACE OF THE PEDAL FROM COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE FLOOR CARPETING DURING HEAVY THROTTLE APPLICATION.IN THOSE VEHICLES WHERE THE FLOOR CARPETING DOES NOT FIT FLUSH WITH THE SHEET METAL, THE UNIQUE REAR SURFACE PROFILE OF THE MUSTANG COBRA PEDAL MAY ALLOW THE PIVOT PIN OF THE PEDAL TO CATCH IN THE CUTOUT ON THE FLOOR CARPETING BEHIND THE PEDAL, INTERFERING WITH THE PEDAL'S ABILITY TO RETURN; THE RESULT OF WHICH COULD BE UNEXPECTED, CONTINUED THROTTLE APPLICATION.DURING THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS STAGE OF THE INVESTIGATION, ODI ALSO EXAMINED THE POSSIBLITY OF THE SAME PHENOMENA OCCURING IN NON-COBRA MUSTANGS.HOWEVER, THE DIFFERENT DESIGN OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDALS ON THE NON-COBRA MUSTANGS RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN THE POTENTIAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE CARPETING, WITH THE BASE OF THE PEDAL PAD ACTING TO FORCE THE CARPET AWAY FROM THE PIVOT PIN.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAS BEEN CLOSED.

Vehicle Speed Control

ON APRIL 3, 2006, FORD MOTOR COMPANY SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING A DEFECT CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND FLOOR CARPETING IN APPROXIMATELY 19,140 MODEL YEAR 2003 AND 2004 MUSTANG COBRA VEHICLES (FORD RECALL NO. 06S43/NHTSA RECALL 06V-108, COPY ATTACHED).FORD WILL RECALL THE VEHICLES TO INSTALL A SHIELD BENEATH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO PREVENT THE PIVOT PIN ON THE REAR SURFACE OF THE PEDAL FROM COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE FLOOR CARPETING DURING HEAVY THROTTLE APPLICATION.IN THOSE VEHICLES WHERE THE FLOOR CARPETING DOES NOT FIT FLUSH WITH THE SHEET METAL, THE UNIQUE REAR SURFACE PROFILE OF THE MUSTANG COBRA PEDAL MAY ALLOW THE PIVOT PIN OF THE PEDAL TO CATCH IN THE CUTOUT ON THE FLOOR CARPETING BEHIND THE PEDAL, INTERFERING WITH THE PEDAL'S ABILITY TO RETURN; THE RESULT OF WHICH COULD BE UNEXPECTED, CONTINUED THROTTLE APPLICATION.DURING THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS STAGE OF THE INVESTIGATION, ODI ALSO EXAMINED THE POSSIBLITY OF THE SAME PHENOMENA OCCURING IN NON-COBRA MUSTANGS.HOWEVER, THE DIFFERENT DESIGN OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDALS ON THE NON-COBRA MUSTANGS RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN THE POTENTIAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE CARPETING, WITH THE BASE OF THE PEDAL PAD ACTING TO FORCE THE CARPET AWAY FROM THE PIVOT PIN.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAS BEEN CLOSED.

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.