1998 Ford Mustang GT Problems

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND LEAKED COOLANT ONTO THE ENGINE AND OTHER RELATED COMPONENTS. CAR DIED ON FREEWAY. THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKS. THE COOLANT WILL LEAK ONTO THE TOP OF THE BLOCK AND THEN DOWN THE BACK OF THE ENGINE. THIS INTAKE DESIGN IS A KNOWN DEFECT BY FORD. BELOW IS AN "OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER" FROM FORD: 97M91 APRIL, 1999 FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS PROVIDING A NO-CHARGE SERVICE PROGRAM NUMBER 97M91, TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN 1996 THROUGH 1998 CROWN VICTORIA TAXI, TOWN CAR LIMO PREP & DELIVERY PACKAGE, 1996 AND 1997 THUNDERBIRD, COUGAR AND MUSTANG VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.6L SOHC ENGINES. THIS SERVICE PROGRAM PROVIDES ADDITIONAL COVERAGE FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. REASON FOR THIS PROGRAM FATIGUE CRACKS MAY DEVELOP IN SOME OF THE COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLDS USED ON THE 4.6L SOHC ENGINES INSTALLED IN THE AFFECTED CARS. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN ENGINE COOLANT LEAKAGE WHICH, IF NOT DETECTED OR IGNORED, WILL CAUSE ENGINE OVERHEATING. COMPLETE LOSS OF COOLANT MAY RESULT IN ENGINE DAMAGE OR ENGINE FAILURE. WHAT WE WILL DO IF THE ENGINE OF YOUR CAR SHOULD DEVELOP A COOLANT LEAK AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CROSS OVER COOLANT PASSAGE, LOCATED DIRECTLY BEHIND THE ALTERNATOR, YOUR DEALER WILL VERIFY THE CONDITION. IF THE COOLANT LEAKAGE IS FROM THE LOCATION DESCRIBED ABOVE, YOUR DEALER WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THIS NO CHARGE COVERAGE IS AVAILABLE FOR 7 YEARS FROM THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY START DATE (NO MILEAGE LIMITATION) AND IS AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERRED TO SUBSEQUENT OWNERS. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT MY MUSTANG DID NOT LEAK AT THE GIVEN 7 YEARS AND NOW FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. EVERYONE WHO OWNS THESE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE A REPLACEMENT MADE AVAILABLE TO THEM REGARDLESS OF WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS STATED IN ABOVE LETTER FROM FORD. *KB

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65MPH, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, SPRAYING COOLANT AND STEAM FROM THE HOT ENGINE OUT THE BACK OF THE HOOD. THIS COVERED THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING ME TO LOSE ALL VISIBILITY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, HAD THERE BEEN SOMETHING IN FRONT OF ME, I WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I SEE THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS RECALLS FOR THE SAME PART/ENGINE ON OTHER YEARS AND VEHICLES. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACES IT, WITH AN UPDATED VERSION TO AVOID FAILURE, AT A COST OF $900.00. IF IT IS RECALLED ON ONE CAR, WHY NOT THE REST. IT IS THE SAME PART NUMBER AND THE SAME ENGINE, IT SHOULDN'T MATTER WHAT MODEL VEHICLE IT IS IN. SOMEDAY THERE WILL BE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS. *TR

PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILING EXTENDED AND LOCKED. UNUSABLE *TR

SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT BACK INTO NORMAL POSITION, CAUSING IT TO BE HARD TO PULL AND RELEASE FOR MORE ROOM, CONSUMER WILL BE FORCED NOT TO HAVE A SEAT BELT ON. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

MY COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO THE 05N04 RECALL ON MY MOTHERS 1998 FORD MUSTANG. LAST FRIDAY MY 80 YEAR MOTHER GOT LOST AND I SENT MY NIECE TO PICK HER UP, AND ON THEIR WAY HOME THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND DIED, MY NIECE THINKING QUICKLY TURNED THE CAR INTO FIRE STATION AND WAS ABLE TO GET HELP FAST. I THANK GOD MY MOTHER WAS NOT DRIVING WHEN THE HOOD FIRE STARTED, SHE WOULD HAVE WRECKED FOR SURE. I THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED TO WALT'S AUTO CARE THE NEXT DAY, WHICH WAS ON SATURDAY AND TESTS WERE RUN TO FIND THE REASON WHY THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF PRIOR WARNING FROM THE CAR OBC. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THEN WE WERE INFORMED OF THE RECALL NOTICE AND TOLD THAT IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL NOTICE. HOWEVER, WE RECEIVED A CALL MONDAY FROM WALT'S STATING THAT THEY COULD NOT DO THE WORK AND THAT THEY HAD THE CAR TOWED TO ANOTHER SERVICE STATION NAMED RENTON AUTO REPAIR. I WAS CONTACTED BY THEM TO FIND OUT WHO WOULD BE PAYING FOR THE SERVICE REPAIRS AND IT WAS THEN I INFORMED HIM WITH THE SAME INFORMATION THAT WAS RELATED TO ME BY THE FIRST SERVICE STATION. UPON LOOKING IT UP, I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DO THE WORK AND I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A AUTHORIZED FORD REPAIR CENTER. I THEN CONTACTED SOUND FORD, THE PLACE OF PURCHASE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS TOO LATE TO MAKE A CLAIM FOR REPAIRS, BECAUSE THE CAMPAIGN HAD CLOSED FOR OUR CAR YEAR IN 2006 AND IT WOULD HAVE HAD TO FAIL BEFORE THAT TIME. I THEN EXPLAINED THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIRS IN 2004 AND WE WERE NEVER INFORMED OF ANY SUCH ON-GOING REPAIRS, PART REPLACEMENTS OR RECALLS NOTICES. I TRULY FEEL THIS IS NOT JUST OR FAIR TREATMENT TO CONSUMERS AND CUSTOMERS. BECAUSE, WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THE RECALL AND THE PART FAILED AFTER THEIR CUT OFF DATE, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO INCUR THE COST, SPECIALLY WHEN THEY (FORD) HAD FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM BUT FAILED TO INFORM US ABOUT THE DEFECT PART WHICH COULD HAVE KILL MY MOTHER IF SHE WERE DRIVING AT THAT TIME. *JB

I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HOPE YOU WILL LET ME KNOW. I OWN A 1998 FORD MUSTANG GT. IT HAS 48,620 MILES ON IT. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE CRUISE CONTROL AND INSIDE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT IN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS SOME KIND OF SENSOR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I DO NOT REMEMBER SPECIFICS. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE ABOUT $500.00 PLUS TO FIX IT. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO FIX. LAST MONTH THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON IN THE CAR. I TOOK IT IN LAST WEEK AND THEY TOLD ME THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT WAS BAD. IT WOULD BE $992.00 PLUS TO FIX IT. I SPENT $115.00 JUST SO THEY COULD TELL ME THIS. I AM FINANCIALLY STRAPPED, I DO NOT HAVE THIS KIND OF MONEY. THE CAR IS IN MINT CONDITION. YES, IT IS ABOUT 8 YEARS OLD BUT, AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE MILES IT HAS HARDLY BEEN DRIVEN. FORD DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I DO NOT THINK ALL OF THESE SENSORS AND OTHER THINGS SHOULD BE GOING WRONG WITH IT. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ERROR AND PROBLEMS ON FORDS END. I THINK THEY SHOULD BE FIXING THESE THINGS. I COULD SEE IF MY CARD HAD MORE MILES ON IT AND I HAD THESE PROBLEMS BUT, NOT AT 48,620 MILES. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF THE ABS UNIT IS NOT REPLACED. THE FORD DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT GO INTO DETAILS. SO, COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR ME. *NM

I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HOPE YOU WILL LET ME KNOW. I OWN A 1998 FORD MUSTANG GT. IT HAS 48,620 MILES ON IT. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE CRUISE CONTROL AND INSIDE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT IN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS SOME KIND OF SENSOR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I DO NOT REMEMBER SPECIFICS. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE ABOUT $500.00 PLUS TO FIX IT. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO FIX. LAST MONTH THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON IN THE CAR. I TOOK IT IN LAST WEEK AND THEY TOLD ME THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT WAS BAD. IT WOULD BE $992.00 PLUS TO FIX IT. I SPENT $115.00 JUST SO THEY COULD TELL ME THIS. I AM FINANCIALLY STRAPPED, I DO NOT HAVE THIS KIND OF MONEY. THE CAR IS IN MINT CONDITION. YES, IT IS ABOUT 8 YEARS OLD BUT, AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE MILES IT HAS HARDLY BEEN DRIVEN. FORD DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I DO NOT THINK ALL OF THESE SENSORS AND OTHER THINGS SHOULD BE GOING WRONG WITH IT. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ERROR AND PROBLEMS ON FORDS END. I THINK THEY SHOULD BE FIXING THESE THINGS. I COULD SEE IF MY CARD HAD MORE MILES ON IT AND I HAD THESE PROBLEMS BUT, NOT AT 48,620 MILES. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF THE ABS UNIT IS NOT REPLACED. THE FORD DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT GO INTO DETAILS. SO, COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR ME. *NM

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION (00V349000) CONSUMER STATES APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCED, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT READY BECAUSE THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE, CONSUMER IS NOT SATISIFED WITH THE WAY SITUATION WAS HANDLED BECAUSE APPOINTMENT WAS MADE IN ADVANCE AND HE FEELS PART SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN THERE. *JB

THE TIRES EXPERIENCED PREMATURE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND NOT THE TIRES. *JB

ROAD HUGGER RAGE TIRES, MFG. BY KELLY SPRINGFIELD, SIZE 245/45/17, HAVE DEVELOPED SUBSTANTIAL CIRCUMFERENTIAL SIDEWALL CRACKS ON LOW MILEAGE, HIGH TREAD TIRES. SAME CRACKS PRESENT IN 3 OF THE 4 TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS IS THE SAME AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL 98T002 ON SIMILAR TIRES BY SAME MFG. CONTACTED KELLY SPRINGFIELD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE TIRES. LATER FAILURE OF ONE TIRE RESULTED IN LOW-SPEED ACCIDENT. *PH

PAINT ON THE 1998 FORD MUSTANG GT CONVERTIBLE IS STARTING TO PEEL RIGHT DOWN TO THE SHEET METAL. LOOK LIKE A 5 INCH PUZZLE PIECE MISSING FROM THE PAINT ON THE PASSENGER UPPER REAR QUARTER PANEL. *JB

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65MPH, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, SPRAYING COOLANT AND STEAM FROM THE HOT ENGINE OUT THE BACK OF THE HOOD. THIS COVERED THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING ME TO LOSE ALL VISIBILITY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, HAD THERE BEEN SOMETHING IN FRONT OF ME, I WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I SEE THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS RECALLS FOR THE SAME PART/ENGINE ON OTHER YEARS AND VEHICLES. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACES IT, WITH AN UPDATED VERSION TO AVOID FAILURE, AT A COST OF $900.00. IF IT IS RECALLED ON ONE CAR, WHY NOT THE REST. IT IS THE SAME PART NUMBER AND THE SAME ENGINE, IT SHOULDN'T MATTER WHAT MODEL VEHICLE IT IS IN. SOMEDAY THERE WILL BE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS. *TR

MY COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO THE 05N04 RECALL ON MY MOTHERS 1998 FORD MUSTANG. LAST FRIDAY MY 80 YEAR MOTHER GOT LOST AND I SENT MY NIECE TO PICK HER UP, AND ON THEIR WAY HOME THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND DIED, MY NIECE THINKING QUICKLY TURNED THE CAR INTO FIRE STATION AND WAS ABLE TO GET HELP FAST. I THANK GOD MY MOTHER WAS NOT DRIVING WHEN THE HOOD FIRE STARTED, SHE WOULD HAVE WRECKED FOR SURE. I THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED TO WALT'S AUTO CARE THE NEXT DAY, WHICH WAS ON SATURDAY AND TESTS WERE RUN TO FIND THE REASON WHY THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF PRIOR WARNING FROM THE CAR OBC. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THEN WE WERE INFORMED OF THE RECALL NOTICE AND TOLD THAT IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL NOTICE. HOWEVER, WE RECEIVED A CALL MONDAY FROM WALT'S STATING THAT THEY COULD NOT DO THE WORK AND THAT THEY HAD THE CAR TOWED TO ANOTHER SERVICE STATION NAMED RENTON AUTO REPAIR. I WAS CONTACTED BY THEM TO FIND OUT WHO WOULD BE PAYING FOR THE SERVICE REPAIRS AND IT WAS THEN I INFORMED HIM WITH THE SAME INFORMATION THAT WAS RELATED TO ME BY THE FIRST SERVICE STATION. UPON LOOKING IT UP, I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DO THE WORK AND I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A AUTHORIZED FORD REPAIR CENTER. I THEN CONTACTED SOUND FORD, THE PLACE OF PURCHASE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS TOO LATE TO MAKE A CLAIM FOR REPAIRS, BECAUSE THE CAMPAIGN HAD CLOSED FOR OUR CAR YEAR IN 2006 AND IT WOULD HAVE HAD TO FAIL BEFORE THAT TIME. I THEN EXPLAINED THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIRS IN 2004 AND WE WERE NEVER INFORMED OF ANY SUCH ON-GOING REPAIRS, PART REPLACEMENTS OR RECALLS NOTICES. I TRULY FEEL THIS IS NOT JUST OR FAIR TREATMENT TO CONSUMERS AND CUSTOMERS. BECAUSE, WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THE RECALL AND THE PART FAILED AFTER THEIR CUT OFF DATE, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO INCUR THE COST, SPECIALLY WHEN THEY (FORD) HAD FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM BUT FAILED TO INFORM US ABOUT THE DEFECT PART WHICH COULD HAVE KILL MY MOTHER IF SHE WERE DRIVING AT THAT TIME. *JB

WHILE FUELING CAR...GAS POURED OUT OF CAR..CAUSED BY DAMAGED "O" RING AROUND FUELING NOZZLE FROM NECK TO TANK...SIGNIFICANT FUEL SPILL...DANGEROUS AMOUNT OF FUEL LOST AND LEAKING...HAVE OWNED SEVERAL VEHICLES....NEVER HAVE KNOWN THIS TO HAPPEN...HAZARD TO AREA WHILE FUELING DUE TO FUEL SPILL. WENT TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE CORRECT PART FOR REPLACEMENT. POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD-IF NOT EXPLOSION CAPABILITY IF IGNITED WHILE FUELING. PERHAPS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ""O" RING. PURCHASED CAR IN 1998,, WONDERS...SHOULD THIS PART HAVE WORN OUT IN THIS MANNER? *NLM

I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HOPE YOU WILL LET ME KNOW. I OWN A 1998 FORD MUSTANG GT. IT HAS 48,620 MILES ON IT. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE CRUISE CONTROL AND INSIDE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT IN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS SOME KIND OF SENSOR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I DO NOT REMEMBER SPECIFICS. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE ABOUT $500.00 PLUS TO FIX IT. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO FIX. LAST MONTH THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON IN THE CAR. I TOOK IT IN LAST WEEK AND THEY TOLD ME THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT WAS BAD. IT WOULD BE $992.00 PLUS TO FIX IT. I SPENT $115.00 JUST SO THEY COULD TELL ME THIS. I AM FINANCIALLY STRAPPED, I DO NOT HAVE THIS KIND OF MONEY. THE CAR IS IN MINT CONDITION. YES, IT IS ABOUT 8 YEARS OLD BUT, AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE MILES IT HAS HARDLY BEEN DRIVEN. FORD DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I DO NOT THINK ALL OF THESE SENSORS AND OTHER THINGS SHOULD BE GOING WRONG WITH IT. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ERROR AND PROBLEMS ON FORDS END. I THINK THEY SHOULD BE FIXING THESE THINGS. I COULD SEE IF MY CARD HAD MORE MILES ON IT AND I HAD THESE PROBLEMS BUT, NOT AT 48,620 MILES. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF THE ABS UNIT IS NOT REPLACED. THE FORD DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT GO INTO DETAILS. SO, COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR ME. *NM