Ford Mustang Complaints (2003)

231 consumer complaints on file.

#10136505September 14, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2003 FORD MUSTANG COBRA CONVERTIBLE IN PLACENTIA, CA AND WAS VERY EXCITED TO HAVE MY FIRST MUSTANG. I AM 32 AND MARRIED WITH TWO CHILDREN AGES 13 AND 5 SO OUR OTHER CAR IS A MINIVAN. IN THE END, AS YOU WILL SEE IN THIS DESCRIPTION, THIS WAS THE WORST PURCHASE I HAVE EVER MADE IN REGARDS TO A VEHICLE. AFTER AROUND 7,000-9,000 MILES ( I WOULD HAVE TO PULL THE PAPERWORK AS I AM AT WORK NOW) THE CAR OVER-HEATED ON THE FREEWAY AND DURING THE OVERHEATING THE CAR SHUT DOWN FORCING ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND THE CAR BEGAN TO DRIFT LEFT IN TO THE OTHER LANE. I PUMPED THE CLUTCH SEVERAL TIMES AND SUCCESSFULLY WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR RUNNING JUST FAR ENOUGH TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND CALL A TOW TRUCK. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE SINCE TRAFFIC WAS MOVING AROUND 65-70 MPH. THE CAR WAS SENT TO FRITTS FORD IN RIVERSIDE, CA AND I FOUND OUT THAT NOT ONLY WAS THE RADIATOR CAP CRACKED AS WELL AS THE RADIATOR BUT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER (I KNOW MY SPELLING IS WRONG HERE) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR SOME REASON. I BELIEVE THEY SAID IT HAD A HOLE IN IT WHICH I CAN'T BELIEVE AFTER ONLY 7K-9K MILES. I ALSO BELIEVE THEY REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. IT WAS TOO LONG AFTER I RECEIVED THE CAR BACK (ABOUT 3K-5K MILES) THAT THE OVERHEATING HAPPENED AGAIN, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN, ETC AND I WAS FORCED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND AGAIN LUCKILY WAS NOT HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. THE CAR WAS BACK AT THE DEALER AND THE RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT WERE REPLACED I BELIEVE. SINCE THEN I HAVE MOVED TO TEXAS AND THE SAME THING HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. EACH TIME (WELL THE FIRST TWO SINCE THE LAST ONE JUST HAPPENED LAST NIGHT) I WAS TOLD THE THERMOSTAT WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I GUARANTEE NOW THAT THE CAR IS AT BOB TOMES FORD IN MCKINNEY TEXAS FOR THE 3RD TIME WITH ONLY 22,000 TOTAL MILES THAT THE THERMOSTAT WAS BAD AGAIN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138790September 6, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR
2003 FORD MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE REAR WHEELS WOULD BOUNCE UP AND DOWN WHEN GOING AROUND CORNERS AND WHEN PULLING OFF FAST.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS ON OR OFF. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE WHEEL HOPPING WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE AND SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSUMER GO TO AN AFTER MARKET SUPPLIER. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134917August 31, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
I WAS HEADING WEST ON COLISEUM BLVD AND WENT TO ACCELERATE TO PASS A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE WHEN MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK ON THE CARPETING!!! THE ENGINE WAS BOUNCING OFF THE REV LIMITER BEFORE I EVEN REALIZED WHAT WAS GOING ON. THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC LIKE THIS SINCE THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT WITH THE CARPETING SINCE ALL OF MY FRIENDS WITH 03 COBRA'S HAVE ALL HAD THE SAME INCIDENT OCCUR. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO GET PEOPLE KILLED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134403August 27, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
PURCHASED A 2003 FORD MUSTANG WITH 22,000 MILES ON IT IN FEB 2005. HAD A TICKING/TAPPING SOUND COMING OUT OF ENGINE BAY AREA AT 30,720 MILES. TOOK IT TO GERVAIS FORD IN MA, TECH LOOKED AT IT QUICKLY OUT IN THE LOT AND SAID IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT BUT I COULD MAKE AN APPOINTMENT IF I WOULD LIKE TO. MADE AN APPOINTMENT THE FOLLOWING WEEK, HAD 2 TECH'S LOOK AT AND THEY BOTH SAID IT WAS NORMAL AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. WELL TO MY SURPRISE AT 37,000 MILES 1,000 MILES AFTER THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED THE ENGINE FAILS. TOOK IT BACK TO GERVAIS FORD AND WAS TOLD BOTH HEAD GASKETS BLEW AND IT WILL COST ME CLOSE TO $2,000 TO REPAIR. POSSIBLY MORE IF ANY INTERNAL DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS ON A VEHICLE THAT IS NEW AND THE ISSUE COULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLY RESOLVED EARLIER IF THAT FORD DEALER PROPERLY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134179August 25, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON 4 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FIRST TIME MY MACHANIC CLEARED P0460 CODE. 2ND TIME FORD CLEARED P0460 CODE 3 RD TIME I UNHOOKED NEGETIVE BATTERY POST AND CLEARED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133855August 23, 2005
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
WHEN THE REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTS, AND IT HAS A TWIST IN THE BELT MATERIAL (WEBBING), THE RETRACTING MECHANISM WILL LOCK PREVENTING THE BELT FROM BEING PULLED BACK OUT. THIS LOCK IS SIMILAR TO THE LOCKING WHICH THE RETRACTOR DOES, AS IT IS DESIGNED TO DO, DURING RAPID DECELERATION. THE BELT (WEBBING) "GUIDE" ALLOWS THE BELT TO RETRACT WITH ONE OR MORE TWISTS IN THE WEBBING JUST AS EASILY AS IT DOES WHEN THERE IS NO TWISTS. IN OTHER WORDS, THE "GUIDE" DOESN'T PREVENT THE BELT FROM RETRACTING WHEN THERE IS A TWIST IN THE WEBBING, AND THUS DOESN'T PREVENT THE RETRACTOR LOCK UP PROBLEM. THE RETRACTOR LOCKS WITH THE BELT IN THE FULLY RETRACTED POSITION (THE WEBBING IS FULLY WOUND UP INTO THE RETRACTOR). WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THIS PROBLEM MAKES THE SEAT BELT UNAVAILABLE FOR USAGE BY THE PASSENGER (CHILD) IN THAT SEAT POSITION. THIS LEAVES THIS PASSENGER (CHILD) WITH NO SEAT BELT TO USE, AND OF COURSE, NOW LEAVES THEM VULNERABLE FOR SERIOUS INJURY IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS NOT A UNIT FAILURE, BUT AN UNFORTUNATE SIDE EFFECT OF THE (POOR) DESIGN. SOMETIMES YOU CAN "TEASE" THE RETRACTING MECHANISM INTO RELEASING THE LOCK. HOWEVER, MANY TIMES YOU NEED TO DISASSEMBLE THE MECHANISM TO RELEASE THE LOCK. AGAIN, THIS MAKES THE SEAT BELT UNAVAILABLE FOR USAGE UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT THE DISASSEMBLY CAN BE SCHEDULED AND COMPLETED. IN OTHER WORDS, UNTIL THE UNIT CAN BE REPAIRED. SEAT BELTS SHOULD ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE FOR USAGE. ANYTHING OTHER THAN 100% AVAILABILITY FOR A SEAT BELT IS UNACCEPTABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132990August 16, 2005
STRUCTURE
CONVERTIBLE TOP IS LEAKING CAUSING WATER DAMAGE ON INSIDE OF CAR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132900August 15, 2005
TIRES:SIDEWALL
I WAS DOING SOME ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON MY 2003 JACK ROUSH EDITION SVT COBRA COUPE WHEN I NOTICED SOMETHING REALLY SCARY. THE INSIDE SIDEWALL SEAM OF A FRONT AND REAR TIRE WAS SPLITTING AROUND ITS CIRCUMFERENCE. I'M CERTAIN THAT HAD I BEEN DRIVING AT SPEED OR ON A HOT ROAD SURFACE THAT PRESSURES WOULD HAVE BUILT TO THE POINT OF CAUSING A BLOW-OUT. I HAD A SIMILAR TIRE DEFECT, COINCIDENTALLY, WITH ANOTHER SET OF BFG-KD'S THAT WERE ON MY ROUSH CONVERTIBLE. UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME THAT TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD FROM THE PORT IN FLORIDA TO MY NEW DUTY STATION IN TEXAS. ANYWAY, I GOT IN TOUCH WITH BF GOODRICH CORPORATE AND INITIALLY ONLY OFFERED 50% REIMBURSEMENT OF ALL FOUR TIRES. LATER THAT CHANGE TO 75% THEN THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THEM WITH 4 NEW BFG-KDS IN MY ROUSH-OEM SIZES. THEY CLAIM THAT DUE TO TREAD WEAR THEIR WARRANTY ALLOWS FOR THAT COMPENSATION. MY POSITION WAS THAT I SHOULD RECEIVE 100% REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE WHETHER OR NOT THE TIRES HAD X% OF TREAD REMAINING OR WERE NEW, THE FACT REMAINS THAT THEY WERE STILL DEFECTIVE. THE FIRST TIME I WAS UNLUCKY BECAUSE THE TIRE BLEW-OUT RIGHT I WAS GOING TO PUT MORE AIR IN IT. THIS TIME I CAUGHT THE DEFECT BEFORE THE TIRES COULD BLOW-OUT. ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE RESULT IF A BLOW-OUT OCCURRED ESPECIALLY IF IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AT MY "NORMAL" SPEEDS. SINCE THIS CLAIM I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT OTHER OWNERS OF BFG TIRES HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WHICH HAS RESULTED IN TIRE FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY THE BFG TIRE DISTRIBUTOR IN MY AREA (T.O. HAUS, OMAHA NE) CONFIRMED THAT THEY TOO HAVE SEEN THESE FAILURES BEFORE IN MY EXACT TYPE OF TIRE. BFG CORPORATE KNOWS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND HAS CHOSEN TO IGNORE IT AND ONLY OFFERS PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR LOSS. I'M CERTAIN THAT IT WILL TAKE MORE TRAGEDIES AND FATALITIES BEFORE THEY ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132784August 14, 2005
TIRES:SIDEWALL, TIRES
I WAS DOING SOME ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON MY 2003 JACK ROUSH EDITION SVT COBRA COUPE WHEN I NOTICED SOMETHING REALLY SCARY. THE INSIDE SIDEWALL SEAM OF A FRONT AND REAR TIRE WAS SPLITTING AROUND ITS CIRCUMFERENCE. I'M CERTAIN THAT HAD I BEEN DRIVING AT SPEED OR ON A HOT ROAD SURFACE THAT PRESSURES WOULD HAVE BUILT TO THE POINT OF CAUSING A BLOW-OUT. I HAD A SIMILAR TIRE DEFECT, COINCIDENTALLY, WITH ANOTHER SET OF BFG-KD'S THAT WERE ON MY ROUSH CONVERTIBLE. UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME THAT TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD FROM THE PORT IN FLORIDA TO MY NEW DUTY STATION IN TEXAS. ANYWAY, I GOT IN TOUCH WITH BF GOODRICH CORPORATE AND INITIALLY ONLY OFFERED 50% REIMBURSEMENT OF ALL FOUR TIRES. LATER THAT CHANGE TO 75% THEN THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THEM WITH 4 NEW BFG-KDS IN MY ROUSH-OEM SIZES. THEY CLAIM THAT DUE TO TREAD WEAR THEIR WARRANTY ALLOWS FOR THAT COMPENSATION. MY POSITION WAS THAT I SHOULD RECEIVE 100% REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE WHETHER OR NOT THE TIRES HAD X% OF TREAD REMAINING OR WERE NEW, THE FACT REMAINS THAT THEY WERE STILL DEFECTIVE. THE FIRST TIME I WAS UNLUCKY BECAUSE THE TIRE BLEW-OUT RIGHT I WAS GOING TO PUT MORE AIR IN IT. THIS TIME I CAUGHT THE DEFECT BEFORE THE TIRES COULD BLOW-OUT. ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE RESULT IF A BLOW-OUT OCCURRED ESPECIALLY IF IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AT MY "NORMAL" SPEEDS. SINCE THIS CLAIM I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT OTHER OWNERS OF BFG TIRES HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WHICH HAS RESULTED IN TIRE FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY THE BFG TIRE DISTRIBUTOR IN MY AREA (T.O. HAUS, OMAHA NE) CONFIRMED THAT THEY TOO HAVE SEEN THESE FAILURES BEFORE IN MY EXACT TYPE OF TIRE. BFG CORPORATE KNOWS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND HAS CHOSEN TO IGNORE IT AND ONLY OFFERS PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR LOSS. I'M CERTAIN THAT IT WILL TAKE MORE TRAGEDIES AND FATALITIES BEFORE THEY ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128704August 12, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR STUCK ON 2003, FORD MUSTANG. CONSUMER WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT WHEN HE PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND BACKED UP. THE MOTOR STARTED RACING , AND THE ACCELERATOR STUCK WHILE THE DRIVER WAS BACKING, AND HE CRASHED INTO A MOVING CAR. THE POLICE CAME AND WROTE THE CONSUMER A TICKET FOR IMPROPER BACKING, BUT DID NOT WRITE A POLICE REPORT ON THE ACCIDENT. THE OWNER HAD NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT THE OWNER HAS ONLY OWNED THE CAR SINCE APRIL 10.. CONSUMER WAS STILL DRIVING THE CAR. THE OWNER HAS NOT HAD THE CAR CHECKED FOR ANY MALFUNCTION. CONSUMER HAS NOT TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP, OR THE MANUFACTURER. ALSO, HERE WAS NO INSURANCE REPORT ON THE ACCIDENT. THE OWNER WAS TRAVELING AT A 10 MPH WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. OWNER PLANNED TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT TODAY FOR COSMETIC DAMAGES, AND THE ACCELERATOR CHECKED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO REPORT. *AK *TT
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131612August 4, 2005
STEERING:COLUMN
DT: WHEN THE CONSUMER WOULD APPLY THE BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JERK OUT OF CONSUMERS HAND. THE STEERING WOULD PULL TOWARD THE LEFT. THIS OCCURRED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES. THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE ANY ACCIDENTS BECAUSE ONCE HE LET OFF THE BRAKE IT WAS FINE. THE FIRST TIME HE TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP THEY DID NOTHING TO THE VEHICLE. THE SECOND TIME THEY GREASED A BUSHING. THE THIRD TIME THEY TOLD HIM IT WAS TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ,AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR A PART. ALSO, THEY TOLD CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING BROKEN IN THE STEERING AREA, BUT THEY WILL NOT TELL HIM WHAT IT WAS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AS OF YET, IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AS OF YET. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130044July 26, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECORDED IN THE CURRENT NTSA INVESTIGATION NUMBER PE05038 WHERE ACCELLATOR PEDAL STUCK WIDE OPEN DUE TO CARPET INTERFERENCE FOR FORD 2003 MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE GT. THIS HAPPENED ON 7/22/05 AND 7/13/05 AND ONCE IN 2004 ON 8/17/04
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129408July 20, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR, SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
SECOND TIME FOR CONTROL ARMS NEEDING REPLACED. IN LESS THAN 4,000 HAD REAR CONTROL REPLACED AND NOW 4,000 MILES LATER NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN.HEARD A SCREECHING NOISE IN REAR OF CAR AND GARAGE COULDN'T HEAR THE PROBLEM TWICE BEFORE SO ITS NOTICABLE NOW. THEY ORDERED THE NEW PARTS FOR MONDAY 25 TO BE REPLACED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129048July 18, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ACCELLERATOR PEDAL STICKS DOWN (AT FULL THROTTLE) BECAUSE IT GETS ENTANGLED IN FACTORY CARPETING THAT IS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED OR ATTACHED AT TIME OF MANUFACTURE OF VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129229July 18, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ACCELERATER PETAL STUCK DUE TO CARPET FOLDING OVER AND NO WAY TO SECURE IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128840July 15, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR MATT IS CAUSING THE GAS PEDAL TO STICK AT FULL THROTTLE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128708July 14, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
I HAVE A 2003 FORD MUSTANG COBRA THAT HAD THE THROTTLE GET STUCK IN A WIDE OPEN MODE THAT COULD ONLY BE STOPPED BY TURNING THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION. THIS WAS EXTREMELY SCARY AS I ALMOST REAR END ANOTHER CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128584July 13, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
GAS PEDAL STUCK UNDER CARPET
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128590July 13, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVING DOWN PINE TWIST ROAD LOST CONTROL OF 2003 FORD MUSTANG GT ON DOWN HILL CURVE WHEN LEFT TIRES SKIDDED ON GRAVEL - WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH BUT THERE WAS AN ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES. THOUGHT ALL OF THIS WAS MY FAULT UNTIL I SAW THE ARTICLE IN THE LOCAL PAPER ABOUT NHTSA LOOKING AT 2003 MUSTANG GT'S FOR ACCELERATOR PEDAL INTERFERENCE FRONM THE CARPET SO I DECIDED TO REPORT THIS - CAR WAS TOTALED OUT AND WAS REMOVED TO THE SCRAP YARD IN MAY SO THERE IS NO CAR TO LOOK EXAMINE ON THIS ISSUE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128611July 13, 2005
EQUIPMENT
I AM WRITING THIS BECAUSE OF THE RESEARCH REGARDING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL INTERFERANCE WITH THE CARPET WITH MY 2003 FORD MUSTANG. THE CARPET FREES ITSELF FROM THE HOLDER AND LODGES ITSELF BETWEEN THE PEDALS. TO DATE THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY DAMAGES OCCURED BY THIS, HOWEVER IT DOES INTEREFERE WITH THE GAS PEDAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Ford Mustang