1997 Ford Mustang complaints

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FLUID. CONSUMER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD BROKE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WITH 60,000 MILES ON VEHICLE HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMERS EXPENSE BY DEALERSHIP. THEN 4,000 MILES LATER, TIMING GASKET BLEWOUT WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER SERVICE PROGRAM. THEN, WITH 68,000 MILES ON VEHICLE, IT STARTED VIBRATING WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, AND REVVED TO OVER 6000 RPM. CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE OF ROAD WHERE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING. 3.8 LITER V6 ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF COMPLETE FAILURE. *AK AIR CONDITIONER WOULD LOSE POWER AFTER 45 MINUTES OF OPERATION, DEALER STATED AN ACCUMULATER AND ORIFICE TUBE WAS NEEDED. THE CONNECTOR TO THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM WAS CRACKED ALMOST IN HALF CAUSING THE CABLE TO DISENGAGE FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. *SLC

FRONT SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RESTRAT AFTER BEING RELEASED. HAVE CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY SERVICE MANAGER THAT RETRACTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ABS WILL TAKE LONGER TO ACTIVATE, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC, AND THERE IS NO FIX. *AK

ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. PEOPLE WITH 97 MUSTANGS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS ALL OVER THE INTERNET WITH THERE HEAD GASKETS CRACKING AND ENGINE LIGHTS COMING ON DUE TO ENGINE PROBLEMS. MINE ONLY HAS 44,900 MILES! DO SOMETHING. *AK

SEATBELT RESTRAINT HAS COMPLETELY BROKEN AFTER BEING DIFFICULT TO RETRACT.*AK

THE VEHICLE WANDERS WHEN HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD, CONSUMER ALSO STATES THERE IS A SQUEAKY NOISE ON LEFT SIDE, COULD POSSIBLY BE SUSPENSION RELATED. NLM

THE TRANSMISSION DEVELOPED A LEAK WHILE DRIVING HOME ONE DAY. I ESTIMATE 1 QUART OF FLUID WAS LOST. I FILLED IT UP BUT MAJOR GEAR WEAR HAD ALREADY HAPPENED (COULD HEAR WHINE FROM THEN ON). THE LEAK COULD NOT BE FOUND AND SEALED ITSELF. MONTHS LATER THE MAIN INPUT SHAFT EXPLODED WHILE CRUISING AT 40 MPH RENDERING THE TRANSMISSION UNDRIVABLE. THE REAR SWAY BAR SNAPPED ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHILE ENTERING MY DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BOTH OF THESE ARE COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR BUT THE CLOSE PROXIMITY AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED DISTURBS ME.*AK

DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE AS RESULT OF REAR END COLLISON. *AK

REAR SWAY BAR SNAPPED AT 32000 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

FRONT TIMING GASKET FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT FROM 3.8L V6 ENGINE. DEALER NOTIFED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ERUPTED AND LOST ALL COOLANT WITHIN 30 SECONDS WHILE TRAVELLING THE SPEED LIMIT, UPHILL. A LARGE CLOUD OF COOLANT/MIST ENVELOPED THE CAR FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND BLOCKED VISION OF THE VEHICLE BEHIND OURS. *AK

SEAT BELT JAMS IN GUIDE OVER DRIVERS SHOULDER BY FOLDING OVER AND BECOMMING TOO WIDE FOR THE GUIDE SLOT. THIS RENDERS THE SEATBELT USELESS IN A CRASH. FORD MOTOR CO AND DEALER HAVE IGNORED MY REQUESTS TO MAKE THE REPAIR. IT IS VERY DANGEROIUS.

AIR BAG LIGHT WON'T GO OFF ANDBEPS FOR NO REASON I KNOW OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM. *AK

PAINT PEELS OFF DOWN TO BARE METAL AND WILL RUST IF NOT REPLACED. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED.

ANTIFREEZE DRIPS OUT FROM DEFECTIVE TIMING COVER, AND STARTS CAUSING A BURNING SMELL, AND SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE. CONSUMER FEELS FUMES ARE DANGEROUS. *AK

1/11/98 PARKING BRAKE FAILED WHILE PARKED ON INCLINE AND IN FIRST GEAR. CAR ROLLED DOWN DRIVEWAY INTO LAWN AND HIT MAILBOX. WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND DEALER COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR DAMAGES TO BUMPER AND TO MAILBOX. 12/1/2000 RECIEVED SAFETY RECALL 00S37 WHICH DESCRIBES THIS SITUATION EXACTLY. CONTACTED FORD REP KATHY ALLEN, " WILL NOT SEND A INVESTIGATOR, THE INCIDENT IS TOO OLD" THUS DENIED THE CLAIM THAT THE CAR ROLLING IS RELATED TO THE RECALL. I AM NOW LOOKING FOR OTHERS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES TO FORM OR JOIN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD. *AK

FRONT SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT BACK TO ORIGINAL POSITION AFTER USEAGE. TOOK TO DEALER , AND MECHANIC INDICATED NOTHING WAS WRONG AFTER PUTTING BELTS BACK. HAS SINCE REAPPEARED A WEEK LATER. *AK

PARKING BRAKE FAILED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR PANEL, SPOILER, AND BUMPER, CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE OF RECALL 00V349, AND PAID FOR THE REPAIRS HIMSELF, CAUSING THE TRADE IN VALUE OF THE VEHICLE TO GO DOWN. *SLC THE VEHICLES TIRE TREAD APPEARED TO BE SEPARATING. NLM

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR A FAULTY EMERGENCY BRAKE ACCORDING TO YOUR RECORDS, BUT THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO CONTACT ME TO INFORM ME OF THIS FACT. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

SEAT BELT HAS ALWAYS HAD A PROBLEM WITH RETRACTING. IT HAS NOW BEEN PULLED OUT ALL THE WAY AND WILL NOT GO BACK IN. IT CANNOT BE USED IN THIS CONDITION AS IT POSES A SAFETY PROBLEM. DEALER HAS SAID A NEW SEAT BELT RETRACTING UNIT IS REQUIRED AND IT IS $90 PLUS $127.50 TO INSTALL. *AK

A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1987-1993 MUSTANG GT'S, WHEN DRIVING WITH THE FOG LIGHTS ON, THE WIRING AT THE HEADLAMP SWITCH CAN NOT HANDLE THE POWER, AND WILL MELT DOWN CAUSING A POTENTIAL RISK OF FIRE. THE PROBLEM IS SO COMMON THAT AFTERMARKET SUPPLIERS CARRY A PLUG AND PIGTAIL FOR THESE VEHICLES. HERE WE HAVE A 1997 MUSTANG GT, WHILE DRIVING WITH THE FOG LIGHTS ON THE WIRING AT THE HEADLAMP SWITCH OVERHEATED , MELTING THE PLUG TO THE HEADLAMP SWITCH. ALSO I NOTICED BURN RESIDUE ON THE SWITCH ITSELF. BEING AWARE OF THE PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE OLDER CARS I KNEW TO SUT THE FOG LIGHTS OFF. THIS IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE GAUGE CLUSTER LIGHTS BACK ON. I TURNED THE HEADLAMP SWITCH OFF AND THE SMOKE BEGAN TO CLEAR. THIS IS A VERY POPULAR CAR WITH A PROBLEM THAT I AM FINDING IS FAR MORE COMMON ON THE SN95 MODEL MUSTANG THAN THOUGHT. I WAS SUPRISED THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER NHTSA COMPLAINT REGARDING THE VEH. I CALLED AND CHECKED. MY FRIENDS 1995 DID THE SAME THING WITH LESS THAN 36 THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND FORD REPAIRED IT AT NO COST. I HAVE EMAILED WEB SITES ASKING ANY OTHER OWNERS TO FILE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH NHTSA AND FORD SO THAT CONSUMERS CAN BE NOTIFIED. IF NOT FOR ANY OTHER REASON THAN AT LEAST TO HAVE PEOPLE NOTIFIED NOT TO USE THE FOG LIGHTS UNTIL THIER CAR CAN BE INSPECTED. IT IS A COUPLE OF SCREWS AND THE REMOVAL OF THE HEADLAMP KNOB TO INSPECT THE SWITCH AND THE WIRING. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL MY FRIEND BOBBY SILVA AT 480-961-7433. HE IS ALSO AN OWNER AND WORKS FOR A

CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING AND WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, DRIVER WAS KILLED IN ACCIDENT ALONG WITH 1 OTHER INJURY, FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT EXPERIENCE DEPLOYMENT, CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY AN ATTORNEY THAT IF AIR BAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED, THE DRIVER MAY NOT HAVE BEEN KILLED. *SLC

SEAT BELT BADLY WORN FROM SHARP PLASTIC COVER AND SHARP SPRING ROLLER, NOT APPARANT UNLESS BELT PULLED OUT (DIRVER WOULD NOT NORMALLY NOTICE). *AK

I PURCHASED THE FORD MUSTANG COBRA DURING JULY, 1997, AND CURRENTLY HAVE 16,850 MILES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT HAS WORN AT THE POING WHERE IT RETRACTS INTO THE FLOOR SUCH THAT IT MAY BREAK AT ANY TIME, ESPECIALLY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. BECAUSE OF THE WEAR LOCATION ON THIS SEATBELT, IT WOULD NOT NORMALLY BE NOTICED BY THE DRIVER. I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS UNSAFE BELT UNTIL SOMEONE OUTSIDE THE CAR WHILE THE DOOR WAS OPEN, AND WHILE I HAD MY SEAT BELT FASTENED, POINTED OUT THIS UNSAFE CONDITION. I HAVE NOTIFIED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER BY LETTER DATED OCTOBER 30, 2000, REQUESTING GUIDANCE. FORD HAS NOT RESPONDED TO MY INFORMATION AND REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE. *AK

RECALL IS FOR MUSTANGS MADE PRIOR TO DEC. 31, 1996 ALTHOUGH LATER MORE RECENT MODELS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

I FEEL THAT THE MOUNTING BRACKET WHERE THE TEETH ON THE HAND/PARKING BRAKE MESH IS TOO THIN. THUS THE AMOUNT OF FRICTION CAUSED BY THE WEIGHT OF THE FUEL IN THE FUEL TANK SWAYS ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE PARKING BRAKE TO DISLODGE AND BECOME DISENGAGED. *AK

EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS NOT HELD SINCE FIRST BOUGHT CAR AUG 99, I THOUGHT IT WAS MY FAULT NOT GETTING INTO PLACE. TWO WEEKS AGO IT DID IT AGAIN HERE AT WORK. I HAVE NOW IN SHOP, BUT WAS TOLD TODAY FORD DOESN'T HAVE PARTS MANUFACTURED TO FIX IT SO I CAN COME GET IT TILL THE DEALER HEARS FROM FORD.*AK

EMERGENCY BRAKE SLIPS REGULARLY. HAD IT ADJUSTED ONCE, BUT STILL SLIPS. MUST KEEP CAR IN GEAR TO ENSURE IT DOESN'T ROLL AWAY.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION WHEEL BECAME UNDONE, ROLLED OFF VEHICLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

AT COMPLETE STOP - HIT FROM BEHIND - MECHANIC DOING REPAIRS STATED THERE ARE NO SAFETY BRACKETS UNDER THE CAR - THE CAR & DOORS BUCKLED ON IMPACT. DO CONVERTIBLES HAVE TO HAVE EXTRA SAFETY BRACKETS INSTALLED UNDER THE FRAME?( DOT NUMBER: )

USED WRONG KEY IN IGNITION AND IT BLEW UP THE IGNITION SYSTEM. HAD KEY MADE AT A LOCAL HARDWARE STORE. AFTER 4 WEEKS OF FORD PROMISING ASSISTANCE-THEY DENIED IT. TRYING A WRONG KEY SHOULD NOT CAUSE THE MODULE AND TRANSCEIVER TO GO BAD. FOLLOWED RECOVERY PROCEDURE IN OWNERS MANUAL BUT CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. THIS COULD BE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. FORD SHOULD RECALL OR AT VERY LEAST PUT WARNING ON IGNITION.

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR VIBRATION WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE DEALER THAT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. THEY ADVISED THAT WOULD ON TURN THE ROTORS INSTEAD OF REPLACING. APROX. 7000 MILES LATER THE VIBRATION RETURNED.IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 7 DAYS AND THAT FORD WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE REPAIR. VEHICLE HAD APPROX. 32000 MILES AT THIS TIME.

WE ARE AWARE OF YOU PREVIOUS RELEASE REGARDING THE FORD SVT BRAKE LINES AND WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR INVESTIGATION AND IF IT WAS A THIRD PARTY EVALUATING

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE WITH THE GEAR INDICATOR STILL IN PARK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN INTO THE HOUSE. *AK

THIS WAS RENTAL CAR FROM HERTZ, THAT HAD ONLY 2000 MILES AT TIME OF RENTAL, ON FEB 2, 1997. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TIRES TO HERTZ THE FIRST DAY OF RENTAL BECAUSE THE TIRES COULD BARELY DRIVE WHEN THE GROUND WAS WET. I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON MARCH 9, 1997 AND THE POLICE REPORT REFLECTS THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO DAMAGED TIRES WHICH WERE FIRESTONES. I WROTE FORD TO REPORT THE TIRES IN 1997 AND 1998 TO EVERY BOARD DIRECTOR WITH A RESPONSE OF TO NOT WRITE THEM AGAIN, STILL HAVE COPIES. I WROTE THE VP OF HERTZ AND WAS TOLD THAT I CHANGE THE TIRES AND ACCUSE ME OF LYING AND IGNORING THE POLICE REPORT. I STILL HAVE OVER $60,000 IN MEDICAL BILLS AND OVER $200, 000 IN LOSS WAGES. MY TWO DAUGHTERS STILL SUFFER FROM BACK PAIN AND ANOTHER WITH HER TONGUE THAT NEEDED 8 STITICHES AND STILL HAS A HOLE IN THE TONGUE. I SUFFER WITH BACK PAIN. NY NO-FAULT ONLY PAID $37,000 TOWARD MEDICINE, DOCTOR BILLS AND LOSS WAGES. I LOSS EVERYTHING AND STILL SUFFERING. FORD TOOK A REPORT AND AFTER GIVING THEM THE VEHICLE ID THEY CONFIRM THAT THE TIRES WERE FIRESTONE, I DID THIS ON 8/23/00. THE POLICE OFFICER TOLD ME AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT THAT IF MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF HAD NOT BEEN WEARING SEAT BELTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT IT WOULD HAD BEEN FATAL. WE HIT A TREE THAT TOTALED THE CAR. I HAVE COLOR PICTURES OF THE TIRES AND OTHER DOCUMENTATION. FORD TOLD ME TO CONTACT FIRESTONE BUT THE PERSON I TALKED TO THERE WAS NOT VERY COOPERATIVE, HIS NAME IS TOM SALOR AT 1.800.465.1904 WHO WAS RUDE AND GAVE ME

TRANSMISSION GRINDS GOING INTO 2ND GEAR AND POPS OUT OF REVERSE ALMOST ALL COBRA OWNERS I HAVE TALKED WITH HAS THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE T-45 TRANSMISSION DEALER CAN'T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM SO NO FIX IS POSSIBLE

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS, TIMING GASKET CAP, AND ENGINE ITSELF ALL FAILED ON A 1997 FORD MUSTANG LX COUPE

1. SPARK PLUG WIRE CLAMPS NOT STAYING CONNECTED TO SPARK PLUGS CAUSING ARCING AND DAMAGE TO 5 SPARK PLUG WIRES. 2. RUPTURE OF COOLANT CROSSOVER TUBE ON FRONT OF INTAKE MANIFOLD RESULTED IN ALMOST TOTAL LOSS OF COOLANT ON ABOUT A ONE BLOCK LENGTH OF ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH. RECALL 97M91 HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY INVESTIGATED (FEB. 1999) WITH NO DAMAGE FOUND. FAILURE OCCURRED IN DEC. 1999.

BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN RAINING AND/OR ROAD IS WET. DEALERSHIP WHERE SERVICED SAYS "THIS IS NORMAL". *AK

VEHICLE BROKE DOWN FROM ENGINE STALLING. CONSUMER FOUND OUT THROUGH THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 99B29. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE TIMING GASKET COVER. *AK

TIMING COVER IS ALSO LEAKING AND SAW ON THE INTERNET THAT THAT CAN ALSO CAUSE MAJOR DAMAGE. *AK

THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING COOLANT DUE TO THE FAULTY TIMING VALVE GASKET. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING A COOLANT LEAK. NLM

SUSPENSION-SWAY BAR - THE BOLT FOR THE SWAY BAR HAS SHEARED OFF. I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THIS OCCURRED EXCEPT THAT I WAS STOPPED, TURNED TO MAKE A U-TURN AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. AFTER THAT I BEGAN TO HEAR THIS NOISE HITTING MY CAR I THOUGHT IT WAS A TIRE OR JACK IN THE TRUNK. I HAVE FOUND IT TO BE THE SWAY BAR. GAS LEAKING - WHEN MY CAR IS IDELING I START TO GET GAS FUMES FILLING MY CAR, ESPECIALLY WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON. I TOOK IT TO FORD LAST SUMMER, THEY CHARGED ME $300 TO FIX BUT THAT HAS NOT WORKED. MY CAR FILLS UP WITH GAS FUMES AND NOW THAT I AM USING THE AIR CONDITIONER AGAIN, ITS BACK AT MY ATTENTION BECAUSE THE FUMES ARE VERY STRONG AND I GET SICK, HEADACHES, DIZZY AND LIGHTHEADED. *AK

PAINT CRACKING AND DELAMINATION ON HORIZONTAL SURFACES, MOSTLY HOOD. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY.*AK

EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. YH