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2002 Ford MUSTANG GT problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

48 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

46,383 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 41 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 48 complaints (14.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1122.9%
Steering behavior612.5%
Transmission and shifting36.3%
Electrical and battery issues36.3%
Fuel system concerns36.3%
Engine operation24.2%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
7
Engine
5
Engine And Engine Cooling
5
Seat Belts
5
Electrical System
3
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
2
Fuel System, Gasoline
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine7
Engine5
Engine And Engine Cooling5
Seat Belts5
Electrical System3
Power Train:Clutch Assembly3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline2
Fuel System, Gasoline2

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Engine: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Seat Belts: 5; Electrical System: 3; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
13
25,000 to 49,999
9
50,000 to 74,999
6
75,000 to 99,999
6
100,000 to 149,999
7
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00013
25,000 to 49,9999
50,000 to 74,9996
75,000 to 99,9996
100,000 to 149,9997
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 7 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2003
8
2004
4
2005
5
2006
8
2007
2
2008
2
2009
3
2010
4
2011
1
2012
1
2013
2
2014
3
2015
2
2016
2
2018
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20038
20044
20055
20068
20072
20082
20093
20104
20111
20121
20132
20143
20152
20162
20181

2003: 8; 2004: 4; 2005: 5; 2006: 8; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 4; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 3; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2018: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10002131 · 2003-01-06 (January 6, 2003)

CONSUMER STATES ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE FUNCTIONS. DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. PH

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002131 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10005819 · 2003-02-13 (February 13, 2003)

I WAS ALMOST KILLED YESTERDAY (2-12-03) AS I DROVE MY 2002 FORD MUSTANG IN BUSY TRAFFIC. SUDDENLY THE CAR LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. I PRACTICALLY WRENCHED MY BACK AS I FORCIBLY STEERED THE CAR AND USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO PULL SAFELY TO THE CURB. FORD ROADSIDE SERVICE ARRIVED AND DISCOVERED THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD COMPLETELY COME OFF AND WAS DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. GALPIN FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BELT BUT SAID NOTHING ABOUT POSSIBLE DEFECTS TO THE BELT OR THE CAR. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR - WHAT HAPPENS IF THE BE…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005819 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10056475 · 2004-02-03 (February 3, 2004)

2002 FORD MUSTANG 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE TREMEC 3650 TRANSMISSION HAS A FLAW TERMED "COLD GEAR CLASH" WHICH RESULTS IN GRINDING, HARD SHIFTS. HUNDREDS OF MUSTANG OWNERS ARE GETTING THE RUN AROUND BY FORD. WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT THIS IS "NORMAL." "NO EFFECT ON PERFORMANCE OR DURABILITY." *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056475 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10112482 · 2005-03-03 (March 3, 2005)

I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF SUDDEN THE CAR LOST ALL POWER WHICH I COULD NOT TURN OR BRAKE AND I ALMOST HIT THE PILLAR OF A BRIDGE. TOOK IT TO FORD AND SAID THEY DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT BECAUSE OF GRINDING IN TRANSMISSION. IT WAS BUILT 10,000 MILES AGO, IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN. ALSO I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER MUSTANG OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WHERE THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CODES ARE BEING THROWN FROM THE COMPUTER. NOBODY HAS FIGURED IT OUT YET. I TOOK THE CAR TO FORD, THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIND WHAT…

Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112482 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10027108 · 2003-07-11 (July 11, 2003)

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN ,LEAVING THE CONSUMER WITH NO STEERING POWER OR BRAKE POWER TO HANDLE THE CAR.DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND HAS ASKED THE CONSUMER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP TO BE SEEN. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 35,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10027108 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10197488 · 2007-07-25 (July 25, 2007)

WIPER BLADE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILS. WIPERS FAIL IN INTERMITTENT MODE, FOLLOWED BY COMPLETE FAILURE OF WIPER BLADE FUNCTION. FAILURE HAS RECURRED 5 TIMES AFTER REPAIR WORK. REPAIR WORK INCLUDED REPLACING WIPER MOTOR, REPLACING RELAYS, AND REPLACING ENTIRE RELAY BOX HOUSING. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197488 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10015923 · 2003-04-15 (April 15, 2003)

THE VEHICLES FUEL PUMP FAILED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE PUMP WAS REPLACED ONCE PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. *NLM.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015923 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10274008 · 2009-06-16 (June 16, 2009)

PASSENGER SEAT BELT NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT TIGHTEN UP WHEN BUCKLED OR RETRACT. SECOND PROBLEM. GASOLINE TANK HAS A BROKEN GASKET/SEAL THAT GOES FROM THE FILLER NECK TO THE GAS TANK. GAS TANK IS LEAKING GAS WHILE PARKED OR DRIVING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10274008 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10161338 · 2006-07-03 (July 3, 2006)

I WAS TRAVELING HOME FROM WORK ON JUNE 30, 2006, IN MY 2002 FORD MUSTANG GT DURING A HEAVY RAIN STORM. UPON TURNING INTO A SUBDIVISION NEAR MY HOUSE I WENT THROUGH SOME WATER IN THE STREET THAT WAS HIGHER THAN USUAL, BUT NOT HIGH ENOUGH TO STALL MY CAR'S ENGINE OR TO SPRAY UP OVER THE WHEEL WELLS. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE STEERING AND BRAKES OF MY CAR QUIT WORKING. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW THAT THE DRIVE BELT WAS MISSING. THE NEXT DAY I HAD MY CAR TOWED AND THE PERSON TOWING THE CAR INDICATED THAT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE HAPPENED FREQUENTLY. ACCOR…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,656 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161338 at NHTSA ↗