2004 Ford MUSTANG problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
116 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
13,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 89 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 26 of 116 complaints (22.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 23 | 19.8% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 11.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 6.0% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 1.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 26 |
| Unknown Or Other | 15 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Tires | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
| Suspension | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 26; Unknown Or Other: 15; Air Bags: 5; Tires: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Air Bags:Frontal: 4; Suspension: 4; Engine: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 59 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 59; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 4
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (59). 27 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 58 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2003: 1; 2004: 10; 2005: 58; 2006: 9; 2007: 5; 2008: 4; 2009: 4; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 5; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 3; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2024: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 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 10056619 · 2004-02-05 (February 5, 2004)
REAR BRAKES 2004 MAKES A NOISE WHEN WET IDLE IS TO HIGH WHEN YOU PUSH IN CLUTCH. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 33 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10106576 · 2005-01-18 (January 18, 2005)
(1) COLD WEATHER IN MICHIGAN. DRY CAR, NO ADDITIONAL FROZEN WATER ON VEHICLE. (2) PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT RELEASE WHEN FREEZING TEMPERATURES EXIST. UNABLE TO MOVE IN REVERSE WITHOUT HEAVY ACCELERATION. FREE PLAY IN PARKING BRAKE HANDLE EVENTUALLY GOES AWAY AFTER SITTING ( 3 - 10 MINUTES ), OR DRIVING FORWARD WITH THE VEHICLE FOR ROUGHLY .5 MILE. (3) DEALER COULD NOT VERIFY CONCERN, I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT AGAIN TO LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM, BUT WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE APPOINTMENT. NO SERVICE BULLETINS IN REGARD TO THIS PROBLEM. I AM NOT CURR…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,425 miles reported. Look up ODI 10106576 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059455 · 2004-02-20 (February 20, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED HEARD A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE NOISE SOUNDED LIKE THERE WAS NO FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR WHEN IT WAS ACTUALLY FULL. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND CLAIMED THAT THE STEERING WAS WORKING NORMALLY. *AK POWER STEERING WILL LOCK UP AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STEER VEHICLE, THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, PROBLEM WITH REAR DEFROSTER. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OF ALL VEHICLES 1999 AND UP. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 13,892 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059455 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107250 · 2005-01-12 (January 12, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING 5-60 MPH STEERING WHEEL WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 11,016 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107250 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116832 · 2005-04-12 (April 12, 2005)
I HAVE MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHEN YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE IT WOULD NOT GO BACKWARD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK, SECOND GEAR GRINDED VERY BADLY. I DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM WHEN I INITIALLY TOOK THE CAR IN. THEY KEPT TELLING ME TO DRIVE THE CAR AND IT WOULD WORK, IT WAY OUT. IT DID NOT WORK ITS WAY OUT, AND I TOOK IT BACK IN FOR REPAIRS. THEY HAD THE CAR 9 DAYS. AFTER I PICKED THE CAR UP, A FEW DAYS LATER I REALIZED THE REVERSE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A FUSE . A FEW WEEKS L…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116832 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10124052 · 2005-06-03 (June 3, 2005)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10124052 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144570 · 2005-12-06 (December 6, 2005)
WHEN ACCELERATING AT FULL THROTTLE ACCELERATOR PEDAL GETS STUCK. THIS CAN BE A BIG PROBLEM SINCE SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO EXCESSIVE ENGINE RPM'S CAN OCCUR AND CAN CAUSE COLLISION DUE TO CAR ACCELERATING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE ONLY WAY TO CONTROL THIS WAS SHUTTING OFF THE IGNITION BUT THAT IN ITSELF CAN BE A DANGER SINCE SHUTTING OFF THE IGNITION CAUSES LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND HYDRAULIC BRAKES WHICH CAN MAKE THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND BRAKE, POTENTIALLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 16,079 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144570 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145381 · 2005-12-06 (December 6, 2005)
2004 FORD GT MUSTANG WOULD NOT START AFTER SHORT TRIPS OR AFTER IT HAD BEEN SITTING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO SUDDENLY STALL WHILE BEING DRIVEN. AFTER THE VEHICLE SAT FOR ABOUT 10-15 MIN IT COULD BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ANTI THEFT DEVICE. AFTER THAT REPAIR THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT SINCE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THEY DIDN'T FIX ANYTHING…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,714 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145381 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10275107 · 2009-06-27 (June 27, 2009)
A FEW WEEKS AGO, I HAD TO DRIVE ACROSS TOWN TO PICK UP MY SISTER FROM WORK (IRONICALLY, SHE WAS HAVING A CAR PROBLEM.) I STOPPED FOR AN ACCIDENT, AND I NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS GETTING DIMMER AND DIMMER. I LOOKED AT THE BATTERY GAUGE AND SAW THAT THE CAR WAS DYING. SINCE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE, I KIND OF OF PANICKED AND SHUT THE CAR OFF, FIGURING I COULD LET IT SIT WITHOUT RUNNING FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO GIVE IT A CHANCE TO GET IT'S ACT TOGETHER. WHEN I SAW THE TRAFFIC BEGIN TO INCH FORWARD I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON, BUT IT WOULDN'T BU…
Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10275107 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10358377 · 2010-09-30 (September 30, 2010)
IN 2004 MY MOM BOUGHT A NEW 2004 FORD MUSTANG WITH THE 3.9 V-6 MOTOR AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS IT STARTED TICKING REAL LOUD WHEN YOU FIRST START IT UP. COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS A PASSENGER SIDE EXHAUST LEAK THAT JUST GOT WORSE, AND AT THE SAME TIME HER ENGINE STARTED MAKING LOUD CHIRPING AND CRAZY NOISES TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE CAM POSITIONING SENSOR THAT WENT OUT. WELL SHE PAID ABOUT $550.00 TO GET THE SENSOR FIXED BUT SHE COULDN'T AFFORD THE EXHAUST TO.SO STILL TO THIS DAY SHE DRIVES HER NICE LOOKING MUSTANG CAREFULLY AROUND TOWN THAT SOUN…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10358377 at NHTSA ↗