Ford MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE problems and owner complaints

AT UNPREDICTABLE MOMENTS, USUALLY BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE WILL REV UP AND CAUSE THE CAR TO LUNGE FORWARD, INSTEAD OF STAYING AT IDLE AS IT SHOULD WHILE COMING TO A STOP. I KNOW THIS SEEMS INCREDIBLE, AND MAY BE AN INACCURATE OBSERVATION ON MY PART, BUT IT SEEMS THAT THE HARDER THAT I PUSH DOWN ON THE BRAKE IN THESE SITUATIONS, THE STRONGER THE ENGINE PULLS. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, ABOUT FOURTEEN MONTHS AGO, I JUST ABOUT HAD A "HEART ATTACK" AND ALMOST RAN INTO A BUILDING, AS I WAS…

Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010606 at NHTSA ↗

SUFFERED COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR APPROACHING TRAFFIC AT A RED LIGHT. I HAD TO JUMP THE CURBS AND DRIVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH THE STOPPED CARS. I WAS ABLE TO DOWN SHIFT AND USE THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR AND LIMP TO A REPAIR SHOP (AT SLOW SPEED USING THE PARKING BRAKE). THEY FOUND A SPIT IN THE STEEL BRAKE LINE JUST BELOW THE RADIATOR THAT LED TO THE CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF BRAKES.

Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10811747 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 1994 FORD MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE WITH 3.8L V6. DESPITE USING THE BEST MOTOR OIL AND REGULAR SERVICE, THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 78,500 MI. AND THIS CAUSED A RAPID ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE. SUBSEQUENTLY, I LEARNED THAT PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE IS SO COMMON TO FORD 3.8L V6S THAT THEY CONDUCTED A VOLUNTARY ENGINE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS PROGRAM AND NOW FORD IS TELLING ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN/WILL DO TO DEFRAY THE COST OF MY ENGINE/TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. I FEEL THAT THE ENGIN…

Owner-reported narrative. 78,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039379 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 10-30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED, BUT THE RADIO REMAINED ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT WAITED FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AUTOMATICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,200. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF

Owner-reported narrative. 50,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10210241 at NHTSA ↗

SVT COBRA IS INTERMITTENTLY STALLING WHILE THE CLUTCH IS FULLY DEPRESSED AND DECELERATING TO A STOP. THIS INTERMITTENT STALLING OCCURS MOST FREQUENTLY AT IDLE. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED AT LEAST TEN TIMES IN THE FIRST 1174 MILES OF OWNERSHIP. OCCURS WITH GREATER FREQUENCY IN WARM WEATHER WHILE THE ENGINE IS HOT. TWO SERVICE DEPARTMENTS CHECKED THE ENGINE AND ONE RESET THE IDLE CONTROLLER. THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE CONDITION, HOWEVER, THE STALLING PERSISTS WITH NO CHANGE IN SYMPTOMS. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE RESTARTS IMMEDIATELY, THE CON…

Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000934 at NHTSA ↗

FILLING CAR UP WITH FUEL FUEL FILLER NECK GASKET/SEAL LEAKING FUEL FROM GAS TANK ONTO EXHAUST COULD HAVE CREATED FIRE EXPLOSION. REPLACE GASKET, NOTED THAT ON MULTIPLE FORUMS THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS FILLER NECK SEAL/GASKET FAILURE. I WAS LUCKY I CAUGHT IT, SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10136305 at NHTSA ↗

MY 1997 MUSTANG HAS RUSTED THROUGH THE TRUNK FLOOR. THE FRAME BELOW IS ALSO RUSTING. THE FRAME SUPPORTS THE REAR BUMPER,WHICH PROTECTS THE GAS TANK.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033053 at NHTSA ↗

IN SEPTEMBER OF 2005 I WAS UNDERNEATH MY 1994 MUSTANG GT CONVERTIBLE AND FOUND THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SPRING BROKEN. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN STEERING LEFT FOR NO APPARENT REASON FOR SOME TIME AND WAS CHECKED WITH NO RESULTS. THE END OF THE SPRING WAS RUSTY, SO IT WAS NOT A RECENT BREAK. I ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE SPRINGS, BUT HAVE RUN INTO PROBLEMS WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THE FORD DESIGN DIVISION HAS PULLED ALL OF THE SPRINGS OUT OF INVENTORY AND ARE REDESIGNING AND REMANUFACTURING THE SPRINGS FOR THE 1994 THROUGH 1997 MUSTANGS. APPARENTLY …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10147828 at NHTSA ↗

1. I WAS DRIVING FROM SAN DIEGO TO FRESNO, ON I-5. ABOUT 70 MPH. I STRETCHED, AND LEANED BACK INTO THE SEAT, WHEN THE SEAT FLIPPED BACKWARDS FAR ENOUGH TO CAUSE ME TO LOOSE SIGHT OF THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY, I WAS HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTLY ENOUGH TO RAISE MYSELF QUICKLY AND REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*AK 2. A METAL BRACKET THAT CONNECTS THE SEAT TO THE FLOOR TRACK BROKE, CAUSING A LOSS OF RIGIDITY OF THE SEAT. 3. I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE PART, OR GET IT WELDED, IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE SAFELY DRIVEN.

Owner-reported narrative. 155,720 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074598 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO BLINK AND THEN SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. WAITED FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND TURNED THE LIGHTS BACK ON FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES BEFORE THEY SHUT OFF AGAIN. THE LIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS WAS FOUND TO BE MELTED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT AT THE CONNECTOR. LATER I FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY MUSTANG OWNERS. MY HEADLIGHT SYSTEM AND WIRING IS COMPLETELY STOCK INCLUDING THE FUSES (WHICH NEVER BLEW). THIS PROBLEM PRESENTS TWO PROBLEMS, COMPLETE LOSS OF LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING AND ELECTRICAL …

Owner-reported narrative. 47,856 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459630 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ERUPTED IN FLAMES WHILE PARKED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS OR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS USED EARLIER IN THE DAY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO THE SCENE AND DETERMINED THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD IN THE AREA OF SOME ELECTRICAL WIRING. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALSO RESPONDED AND TOOK A REPORT. THE INSURANCE AGENCY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS.

Owner-reported narrative. 74,814 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156964 at NHTSA ↗