1996 Ford Mustang complaints

THE FIRST HEAD GASKETS BLEW AT 40,000 MILES AND WERE REPLACED AT MY COST, AND NOW, AGAIN, AT 80,000 MILES HEAD GASKETS ARE GOING BAD. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT'S PURCHASE, ALTHOUGH THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST FRUSTRATING AND COSTLY. THERE IS DEFINATELY A PROBLEM HERE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY FORD. THEY HAVE, THUS FAR, TURNED A DEAF EAR TO THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *AK

I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE HAS BEEN MANY OTHER LISTINGS REGUARDING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK

ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID ABS UNIT WAS NOT WORKING.*AK

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 OF THESE TIRES AT A COST OF 685 DOLLARS TO MYSELF. THE TIRES ARE COMING APART AT WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL MUCH THE SAME AS THE FIRESTONE TIRES THAT ARE BEING RECALLED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO PAULS TIRES IN MARION INDIANA AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THEM BECAUSE FINCANNON FORD DID NOT BUY THE WARRANTY. I THEN TOOK THEM TO ANOTHER KELLY DEALER HERE IN MUNCIE. THEY CALLED KELLY AND KELLY DENIED ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS AND I WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPLACEMNET OF THE TIRES. THE FIRST ONES TO GO BAD WERE THE FRONT TIRES. NOW THE PASSENGER REAR IS DOING THE SAME THING. I WOULD THINK THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE AWARE THAT FIRESTONE IS NOT THE ONLY MANUFACTURER HAVING THIS SEPARATION PROBLEM. HAD I NOT HAVE BEEN PUTTING BRAKES ON THIS CAR I WOULD NOT HAVE EVEN NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WERE SEPARATING. MOST PEOPLE DO NOT LOOK AT THE TIRES ON THEIR CAR. (TIRESIZE: P255/40R17)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/40R17 )

APPEARS THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SUFFERED A COOLANT LEAK. IS THERE A RECALL AND WHAT ARE THE DETAILS. *AK

DEALER FIXED "HIDDEN RECALL" GASKET AFTER HEAD GASKET REPAIR - FRONT COVER GASKET - NO CHARGE FOR "HIDDEN RECALL" GASKET REPLACEMENT. I WONDER IF THE HEAD GASKET WAS REALLY THE PROBLEM OR IF THEY MADE A MISTAKE, FIXED THE WRONG THING AND THEN FIXED THE RIGHT THING FOR FREE. )AK

THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR BUMPER AND WHEEL WELL (MICHELIN AMERICAN GOLD TOUR PLUS, P205/65R15, TIRE MILEAGE 5,000). NLM

TEMPETURE SHOWS OVERHEATING & ENGINE STALLS WITH OR WITHOUT A/C

TRANSMISSON NEEDS TO BE OVERHAULED(REBUILT) DUE TO A MALFUNCTION INTERNALLY THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN.*AK

VERY UNHAPPY WITH CAR AND SERVICE PROVIDED BY FREDERICK MOTOR CO. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK

ENGINE STALLED AND BEGAN SMOKING FROM UNDER HOOD. ALL COOLANT LOST FROM COOLING SYSTEM. REPAIR SHOP SAID THERE IS A CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD MADE FROM PLASTIC. HAS REPAIRED 3 IN PAST 6 MONTHS. FORD DEALER IN THE AREA KEEPS 15 OF THIS EXPENSIVE PART IN STOCK BECAUSE IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM.

PURCHASED CAR USED WITH 28,232. TODAY, 9/5 AFTER RETURNING FROM VACATION, TRAVELLING AT LEAST 280 MILES - GOING THRU 1-1/2 TANKS OF GAS, CAR REGISTERS 28,332. TRIP ODOMETER ONLY 7 (RESET AT FILL-UP). NOTICED TRIP HAD SAID 90 AT LAST FILL-UP. THAT'S WHEN NOTICED A PROBLEM AND WATCHED. CARFAX REPORT SHOWS LAST MILEAGE 24,143 8/99 THEN REGISTERED IN ALABAMA 10/99 - NO MILEAGE. BACK IN CA 8/00 WHERE I PURCHASED IT. HAVE NOT CONTACTED DEALER YET. WANT TO KNOW OPTIONS FIRST.

I ORDERED THIS CAR AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF MODEL YEAR AND REQUESTED TO PAY FOR AN UPGRADE TO PREMIUM TIRES INSTEAD OF WHAT CAME ON THE CAR. SARASOTA FORD SAID THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE UNLESS I PAID FOR 2 FULL SETS. THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, GUARANTEED FOR 45000 WORE OUT AT 13,500 MILES SO POORLY AND UNEVENLY THAT I JUST REPLACED THEM BECAUSE THEY SCARED ME. NOW I FEEL THERE WAS MORE TO MY PROBLEM AND I COULD HAVE HAD A BLOWOUT IN A CONVERTIBLE FROM DEFECTIVE TIRES. THE SERVICE MGR AT THE TIRE STORE COULD NOT BELIEVE THE TIRES HAD ONLY GONE 13000 MILES. I DON'T KNOW IF THE TIRE INFO IS ON THE ORIGINAL SALES RECEIPT FOR THE CAR. I TRULY FEEL THOSE TIRES I WAS FORCED TO BUY WERE DEFECTIVE.( DOT NUMBER: 0 TIRE SIZE: 16 )

THE TIRE EXPLODED THOUGH MY BACK BUMPER AND HIT MY INTERTIA SWITCH IN THE CARS TRUNK TURNING OFF THE GAS. I WAS STRANDED 1 HOUR EAST OF DES MOINES, IOWA. WHEN I TRIED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER THEY IGNORED ME AND STATED THE THE TIRES WERE FINE ONLY THE WILDERNESS TRIRES HAS A PROBLEM. I STILL HAVE THE TIRE, THE TRED BLEW OFF AND IT NEVER DID GO FLAT.( DOT NUMBER: 479664199 TIRE SIZE: SS10 )

WHILE DRIVING THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP AND LOSS OF CONTROL (ACCIDENT), AS A RESULT THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR BROKE. *ET

ENGINE OVERHEATS WITH AC ON HEADGASKET BLOW AND HEAD WARPED AND HEADS NEED SHAVING HEADGASKETS REPLACED AND HEAD BOLTS REPLACED OUT OF POCKET COST 1500.00 OR BETTER. *AK

N0 SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

ON A SERVICE ROAD AT A RED LIGHT ALL OF SUDDEN BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK

VEHICLE STALLED & THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT DUE TO ENGINE HEAD GASKET DEFECT. CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS USED. DEALER WOULDN'T COVER THE COST OF REPAIR. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY HOOD FLEW OFF AND BUSTED HEADLIGHTS AND THE GRILL ON FRONT OF THE CAR. CONSUMER STATES THAT HOOD HAS TWO PARTS AND THE BOTTOM PART, WHERE IT LATCHES, WAS STILL ON THE CAR, BUT THE TOP FLEW OFF. *AK

AFTER FILLING UP THE COOLANT CONTAINER, SOMEHOW IT BECAME EMPTY WITHOUT ANY LEAKS VISIBLE. A TECHNICIAN MENTIONED A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET. *AK

WATER PUMP IS LEAKING. YH

THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FOR BOTH FRONT SEATS JAM. THEY JAM WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO PULL THEM OUT TO HOOK THEN TOGETHER. THIS DOES NOT ENABLE YOU TO BE ABLE TO HOOK UP YOUR SEAT BELTS. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS SOMETIMES IN 1997. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER. THEY TOOK THE COVER OFF OFF THE RETRACTOR AND STRAIGHTENED OUT THE BELT SO IT WOULD WORK. THIS HAS BEEN DONE SEVERAL TIMES BY THE DEALER AND BY THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE BELT IS EASILY TWISTED AND JAMS IN THE RETRACTOR. THE RETRACTOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER 0N SEPTEMBER 21, 1998. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED, AND THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AGAIN ON JUNE 2, 1999 AND THE RETRACTOR WAS REPLACED AGAIN. WE HAVE BEEN IN NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND IT STILL IS UNRESOLVED AS TO THE RETRACTOR JAMMING. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS DESIGN DEFECT WHICH THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD CORRECT IMMEDIATELY. THE CAR CANNOT LEGALLY OR SAFELY BE DRIVEN WITH A DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE OVERHEATED. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND CAR STARTED SMOKING. DROVE CAR HOME. THEN TOOK IT TO DEALER. DEALER SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON VEHICLE'S MAKE/MODEL, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK

THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH OTHER CARS LIKE MINE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKETS, THEY TOLD ME AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MESS THAT IT WOULD BE COVERED AND NOW THEY WILL NOT AND WANT TO CHARGE ME $1300 TO REPAIR. I BELIEVE TH. *AK

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (I/C) HOOD INSUFFICIENT TO PREVENT LOWER I/C LIGHTS FROM REFLECTING IN WINDSHIELD WITH TALL DRIVERS. CREATES VERY DISTRACTING REFLECTIONS IN DRIVERS FIELD OF VIEW. *AK

I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS MY LOCAL FORD DEALER (CHARLIE HILLARD FORD-FORT WORTH). THEY BOTH TELL ME THAT THE HEAD GASKET ON A 1995 FORD WINSTAR HAS BEEN RECALLED. THIS VEHICLE HAS VIRTUALLY THE SAME 3.8L V6 ENGINE AS MY 1996 FORD MUSTANG. MY LOCAL FORD COMPANY TELLS ME THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IN THE TWO ENGINES IS THAT ONE VEHICLE IS FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE, AND THE OTHER REAR-WHEEL DRIVE. THE HEAD GASKETS SHOULD BE MANUFACTURED THE SAME ON THESE TWO VEHICLES. HOWEVER, FORD TELLS ME THEY CANNOT HELP ME PAY FOR THIS REPAIR - WHICH WAS A FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET. ADDITIONALLY, MY MECHANIC SAYS HE AND OTHER MECHANICS HE KNOWS HAVE SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM FREQUENTLY ON FORD MUSTANGS AND FORD THUNDERBIRDS WITH THIS SAME 3.8L V6 ENGINE. *AK

THE PLASTIC INTAKE? CRACKED FORD RECALL REPAIRED IT. 1ST DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED WAYNE MORRIS FORD IN PERRY, GA WOULD NOT HELP AT ALL. 2ND DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED WARNER ROBINS FORD FOUND THE RECALL AND REPAIRED IT A NO CHARGE. ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING/SHAKING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. I HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS WHICH HAS HELPED A LITTLE. BUT CAN NOT GET ANY ANSWERS OR A RESOLUTION FROM ANY MECHANIC TO DATE.

PLASTIC GASKET NOT ABLE TO HANDLE TO WITH STAND THE PRESSURE FROM THE COOLANT SYSTEM. MOST CARS DO NOT HAVE PLASTIC CYLINDER HEAD.

I HAVE HAD THE TOP REPLACED AND IT WAS NEVER ALLIGNED CORRECTLY, SO WHEN IT WENT DOWN IT WOULD GO DOWN AT AN ANGEL

THE MENTIONED GASKETS FAILED ON MY CAR ON 10-25-99 AND ON MY HUSBAND'S FORMER 1996 MUSTANG ON 2-2-99. I ALSO FOUND A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT IN YOUR FILES ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM (ODI ID# 544839 DATED 2-15-99). I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHEN I REALIZED I WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT MY HUSBAND'S CAR HAD, AND WAS TOLD FORD WOULD NOT OFFER ME ASSISTANCE WITH THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I AM 12,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY AND DO NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I TOLD THEM THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE AND ASKED TO SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR. I AM STILL WAITING FOR THEIR RETURN CALL. EVEN THE DEALER I TOOK IT TO (HOLLY FORD-HOLLY,MICHIGAN) SAID THAT THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO MY CAR W/THAT MILEAGE. I DON'T BELIEVE FORD IS GOING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITHOUT ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FROM ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS YOURSELF. I HAD TO PAY $489.00 TO REPAIR THESE DEFECTS, AND I WANT A FULL REFUND. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. YOU HAVE DOCUMENTATION FROM ONE CUSTOMER WITH THIS PROBLEM, AND I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH DOCUMENTATION THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH MY MUSTANG AND MY HUSBAND'S MUSTANG. HOPEFULLY YOU WILL BE ABLE TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER TO PROVE THIS DEFECT.

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED & LEAKED/STEAMED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $400. (PARTS & LABOR INCLUDED). I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL CARS & HAVE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GOING OUT AT THIS LOW MILEAGE. I ASKED THE DEALER SERVICE MGR @ MOYER FORD IN FOLEY, AL IF THIS HAD BEEN A PROBLEM & HE SAID, "NOT ON THIS MODEL, THE POLICE CARS HAVE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH IT THOUGH". THIS ISN'T RIGHT & IT MAKES ME WANT TO GO BACK TO ANOTHER MAKE OF CAR THAT IS MORE RELIABLE.

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD RUPTURED UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE COOLANT SYSTEM. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS (85-DEGREES F), BUT THERMOSTAT WAS MOST LIKELY STILL CLOSED. CAR HAD BEEN STARTED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2- TO 3-MINUTES. UPON INSPECTION OF THE CRACK, IN THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD, THE FISSURE APPEARS NEAR THE INJECTION MOLD 'SEAM'. THE CRACK DID NOT APPEAR NEAR THE GASKET SURFACES. THE CRACK WAS LOCATED ON THE BOTTOM-CENTER OF THE FORWARD SECTION OF THE MANIFOLD, RUNNING PERPENDICULAR TO THE DRIVESHAFT. THE HAIRLINE CRACK IS ABOUT 3/4-INCH LONG. TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD, IT COST ME $520 IN PARTS AND LABOR. MY MECHANIC FELT THAT THIS CRACK WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, AS A RESULT OF POOR ENGINEERING/MANUFACTURE. MY PERSONAL SUBJECTIVE ANALYSIS IS THAT A PLASTIC IS INHERENTLY WEAK (CHEAP CRAP). *AK

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE & FELT TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. HAD RETURNED TO DEALER WHO REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. LATER HAD CRUISE CONTROL ON & VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. APPLIED BRAKES SHUT IT OFF, BUT DID NOT STOP IT. TURNED VEHICLE OFF & RESTARTED IT. VEHICLE HAS NO AIR BAGS. VEHICLE HAD A 1998 FRONT REPAIR DONE, BUT NO ACCIDENT HAD HAPPENED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 4O MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPENED, AND DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

ENGINE OVERHEATS AFTER MANUFACTURER TSB KIT INSTALLED,DEALER KEPT CAR 1 MTH AFTERWARD, NO FURTHER UPDATES, NO REPAIR, CAR STILL RUNS HOT

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 40 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPENED, AND DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

SEAT BELT ON DRIVERS SIDE IS VERY WORN AND FRAYING.IT IS FRAYING DUE TO A PLASTIC GUIDE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP SAFETY BELT IN PLACE.I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR AND FEEL IF I WERE TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THE SEAT BELT WOULD RIP AND CAUSE ME TO BE THROWN FORWARD WITH THE IMPACT.

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS ENGINE CUTS OFF, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE 4 TIMES AND STILL NO SOLUTION. *AK

FUEL LINE CRACKED, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK WHICH RESULTEDIN A FIRE. THIS WAS DETERMINED BY FORD AND THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR, AND FORD WAS WILLING TO PAY FOR THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

REFERENCE NHTSA 35-99. ONE BRAKE LINE FAILURE (LEFT FRONT) OCCURRED AS DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT, THE SECOND FAILURE (RIGHT FRONT) OCCURRED LATER WHILE BLEEDING THE SYSTEM IN MY GARAGE. THE AUTOMOBILE WAS A 96 MUSTANG GT WITH COBRA BRAKE UPGRADE WHICH INCLUDED NEW BRAKE LINES.

FUEL TANK LEAKING ON THE FRONT LEFT CORNER WHERE THE 2 HALFS OF THE TANK ARE MATED TOGETHER. IT IS LEAKING FROM BETWEEN THE TANK HALFS

THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE COOLANT SYSTEM WHICH IS NOT ADEQUATE FOR THE SIZE OF THE ENGINE, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND STALL UNEXPECTEDLY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER WILL INSTALL A NEW COOLANT SYSTEM AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK

DRIVING AT APPROX 35 MPH ,UNEXPECTADLY THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL SNAPPED IN TWO, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT . *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO PARK, TURNED OFF ENGINE . WITHIN 2 MIN VEHICLE POPPED OUT OF GEAR FROM PARK INTO NEUTRAL CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL OFF THE DRIVEWAY HITTING A POWER TRANSFORMER LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET.

THE RUBBER SEALS KEEPS POPPING OFF DUE TO IMPROPER ALIGNMENT OF WINDOWS AND DOORS.

CAR HAS HAD SERIOUS BRAKING, TRANSMISSION AND COOLING PROBLEMS SINCE THE DATE PURCHASED. HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THESE REPAIRS MORE THEN 12 TIMES. DEALER & FORD HAVE SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE READ 33 PAGES OF COMMENTS OF 1996 MUSTANG OWNERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME SERIOUS DEFECTS THAT I HAVE. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE! *AK

BOB ALLEN FORD AND THE REGIONAL FORD REPRESENTATIVE REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE'S COOLING SYSTEM WAS NOT UPGRADED TO THE SPECIFICATIONS OUTLINED IN THE SERVICE BULLETINS PUBLISHED BY FORD WHICH ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM IN THE COOLING SYSTEMS FOR 1996 MUSTANG COBRAS. *AK

AFTER SETTING THE CRUISE CONTROL ON VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO PICK UP MORE SPEED,AND VEHICLE WAS GOING MORE THAN SPED INDICATED. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK