2000 Ford Mustang GT Engine Problems

MY 2000 MUSTANG GT OVERHEATED WHILE I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME, ON A TEN MILE JOURNEY A COUPLE DAYS AGO. UNTIL THIS INCIDENT, MY MUSTANG HAD NEVER OVERHEATED. I BOUGHT THE CAR LAST SEPT. I USED HOSE WATER AT GAS STATION TO COOL IT FIRST ON HOOD THEN ONCE MY ENGINE LOOKED COOLER, I FILLED THE RADIATOR (THINKING WE'D FLUSH THE COOLING SYSTEM WHEN I GOT IT HOME) WATER EMPTIED AS FAST AS I POURED IT IN, FROM INTAKE MANIFOLD BEHIND WHAT LOOKS LIKE THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING. MY CAR IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION. NOW I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO. BECAUSE I USED ALL MY MONEY TO BUY THIS CAR. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS. MY SITUATION APPEARS IDENTICAL TO SEVERAL ON YOUR SITE, SUCH AS THIS ONE I JUST COPIED FROM ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS POSTED:OCT 08, 2013 - LEXINGTON, SC - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. STEAM ROLLED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DISCOVERED CRACK IN MANIFOLD WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THERMOSTAT HOUSING. COOLANT DRIPPING ON THE ENGINE; I DO NOT KNOW IF INTERNAL COMPONENTS ARE DAMAGED.

NHTSA ID

11098136

Incident

May 23, 2018

Mileage

1,854,635 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JAN JA SERVICE CENTER (5771 MAIN STREET TRUMBULL, CT, 06611 PHONE: 203-261-3249), BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S VOLUNTARY RECALL (0S34) FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ID

11010458

Incident

Jul 23, 2017

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ENGINE OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE OIL FILTER ADAPTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE OIL FILTER ADAPTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA ID

10640090

Incident

Sep 28, 2014

Mileage

59,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. STEAM ROLLED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DISCOVERED CRACK IN MANIFOLD WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THERMOSTAT HOUSING. COOLANT DRIPPING ON THE ENGINE; I DO NOT KNOW IF INTERNAL COMPONENTS ARE DAMAGED. RESEARCHED IT ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS MODEL AND THAT FORD CORRECTED THIS IN SUBSEQUENT MODELS BY CHANGING MANIFOLD TO ALUMINUM FROM THE PLASTIC. FORD WILL NOT HONOR RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. THEY ARE CLAIMING THAT MY VEHICLE ISN'T ON THE RECALL DESPITE THE FACT THAT MY CAR CONTAINS THE SAME PART THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10547309

Incident

Oct 7, 2013

Mileage

140,000 mi

THE IAC ON MY NEW MUSTANG WENT BAD. AT FIRST FORD WOULDN'T COVER IT BUT THE CAR WAS LESS THAN 90 DAYS OLD. THE ONE THEY INSTALLED WENT BAD AFTER 10 DAYS ALSO AND SO DID THE FOLLOWING ONE AFTER 90 DAYS. THE LAST ONE WENT BAD JUST BEFORE THE WARRANTY WENT UP AND NOW I KEEP A SPARE AND CHANGE IT ABOUT ONE EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10478719

Incident

Aug 7, 2000

Mileage

1,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE PLASTIC TRANSITION PIECE BETWEEN THE THERMOSTAT AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED CAUSING COOLANT TO FILL FOUR OF THE SPARK PLUG WELLS AND CAUSING THE CAR TO MISS VERY BADLY. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE INTAKES AND A RECALL IS IN PLACE FOR SOME OF THEM. MINE IS THE SAME PART NUMBER AS THE RECALLED ONES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALLED ONES BUT NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10447142

Incident

Feb 6, 2012

Mileage

100,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG GT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND STEAM WAS ESCAPING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC RISER ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE MANIFOLD AND THE HEATER HOSE WERE FRACTURED AND WATER WAS LEAKING FROM THE HEATER HOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO ATTACH THE HOSE BACK ONTO THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE INTAKE GASKET WAS LEAKING ANTI FREEZE AND WATER WHERE THE MANIFOLD WAS ATTACHED TO THE CYLINDER HEADS. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10435959

Incident

Aug 8, 2011

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE SPARK PLUG IS POPPING OUT OF THE SOCKET , THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT I HAVE REPLACE ONCE ALREADY WITH IN THE YEAR. ALSO THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE ROOF ON THE CAR. I HAVE SEEN THAT THERE HAS BEEN OTHER FORD CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM , WHY IS IT THAT NO ONE CAN SEE THAT THIS IS A ON GOING PROBLEM. SOMEONE HAS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH FORD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10425291

Incident

Sep 13, 2011

SON DROVE HIS 2000 FORD MUSTANG IN MORNING (NO PROBLEMS) WENT OUT THAT NIGHT TO GO OUT AND THE CAR SOUNDED LIKE A LAWN MOWER. HE SHUT IT OFF IMMEDIATELY. HAD VEH TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD THAT IT HAS A BLOWN SPARK PLUG AND THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR HAD A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND FILL 6 OF THE 8 CYLINDERS WITH FUEL. ENGINE WITH 87000 MILES ON IT IS COMPLETELY SHOT. NEEDS A NEW MOTOR. VEH STILL AT DEALERSHIP TORN DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10358429

Incident

Sep 10, 2010

Mileage

87,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE WHEN STARTED SMELLING ANTIFREEZE. THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. ALL GAUGES WERE FINE WITH NO INDICATION OF AN ENGINE PROBLEM. I DROVE FOR SEVERAL MILES BEFORE I BEGAN TO NOTICE ENGINE TROUBLE. BY THIS POINT ALL THE WATER HAD BEEN PUMPED OUT OF THE MOTOR. ALL ENGINE GAUGES CONTINUED TO READ FINE. AFTER PULLING OFF SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM I DISCOVERED THAT THE HEATER HOSE OUTLET ON TOP OF FORDS PLASTIC INTAKE HAD BROKE OFF. IN ORDER TO FIX THIS ISSUE YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE INTAKE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE AS WHEN I STOPPED I COULD HAVE BEEN BURNED, ALSO WHEN I FINALLY NOTICED IT WAS MY CAR SMOKE WAS FILLING THE INTERIOR THROUGH THE HEATER VENTS. I STILL DON'T KNOW IF THE MOTOR IS ALRIGHT AS IT SEVERELY OVERHEATED. BARE MINIMUM IS OVER 800 TO FIX IF THERE IS NO MOTOR DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10352987

Incident

Aug 25, 2010

Mileage

127,000 mi

I HAD A SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT ON MY WAY TO WORK ON MY 2000 GT MUSTANG 4.6L ENGINE. FORD CHARGED ABOUT $350 FOR PARTS/REPAIR AND SAID IT WAS RARE BUT I HAVE BEEN READING WHERE OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10293018

Incident

Nov 20, 2009

Mileage

96,600 mi

MY 2000 MUSTANG GT BLEW OUT A SPARKPLUG WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR. THIS ENGINE HAS ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS BOUGHT DIRECTLY FROM FORD TO REPLACE MORE FIRST ENGINE AFTER 160,000 MILES. THIS IS THE 2ND ENGINE FORD SENT TO REPLACE MY OLD ENGINE. THE 1ST REPLACEMENT ENGINE BLEW OUT A SPARKPLUG ON INITIAL STARTUP IN THE REPAIR SHOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10276733

Incident

Jul 13, 2009

Mileage

40,000 mi

MY 2000 MUSTANG GT, WITH THE 4.6 ENGINE AND WITH 80,000 MILES, EXPERIENCED A BLOWN OUT A SPARK PLUG WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH. JUST THE SOUND OF THIS (A BIG "BANG!" WHEN THE PLUG HITS THE INSIDE OF THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE NOW MISFIRING, RUNNING ON 7 CYLINDERS) IS ENOUGH TO DISTRACT THE BEST DRIVER AND ALONG WITH THE LOST OF POWER IS AN ACCIDENT JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN. AFTER BEING ALMOST REAR ENDED, FORTUNATELY THERE WAS A PARKING LOT NEARBY THAT MY CAR BARELY COASTED TO. THE PLUG CAME COMPLETELY OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD AND WAS LAYING ON THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE WITH THE COIL STILL ATTACHED. I UNDERSTAND FROM FORD, THERE IS ONLY 3 TO 4 THREADS, IN THE CYLINDER HEAD, THAT HOLD THE SPARK PLUG IN. AS ANYONE WITH ANY ENGINEERING OR ENGINE KNOWLEDGE WOULD KNOW, 3 - 4 THREADS ARE NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TO SECURE A SPARK PLUG IN A CYLINDER HEAD WITH THE COMPRESSION PRESSURE OF THE PISTON. THIS IS CLEARLY A ENGINEERING DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE DISASTROUS EFFECTS IF MY CAR WAS UNABLE TO MOVE OFF THE HIGHWAY. THIS TIME LUCK PLAYED INTO IT (WITH A PARKING LOT NEARBY), BUT WHAT ABOUT THE NEXT TIME? AM I SUPPOSE TO STOP ON THE HIGHWAY AND TAKE MY CHANCES? A PLUG BLOWS OUT AND THERE ISN'T ANYWHERE TO PARK AND/OR THE PLUG ALSO TAKES OUT THE FUEL RAIL RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE FIRE. AS I STATED ABOVE: AN ACCIDENT JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I'VE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON FORD V8 ENGINES MADE FROM 1997-98 TO 2003. I'M REALLY CONFUSED AS TO WHY THERE HASN'T ALREADY BEEN A RECALL INVOLVING THESE ENGINES. IF I MAKE A MISTAKE, I'M HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT MISTAKE. WHY SHOULDN'T FORD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR FAILURES THAT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH? THE NHTSA SHOULD IMMEDIATELY ISSUE A RECALL INVOLVING THESE FORD ENGINES. ANY NHTSA ACTION SHORT OF A RECALL IS JUST PLAIN IRRESPONSIBLE. THE NHTSA IS A GOVERNMENT AGENCY CHARGED WITH PROTECTING THE PUBLIC. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS FORD ENGINE DEFECT. THE AMERICAN PUBLIC DESERVES NOTHING LESS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10239891

Incident

Jul 7, 2008

Mileage

80,000 mi

SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT ON MY 2000 FORD MUSTANG GT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10226572

Incident

May 1, 2008

Mileage

125,000 mi

PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 2000 FORD MUSTANG GT CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING COOLANT. PART WAS REPLACED BY SANDERSON FORD IN GLENDALE AZ ON AUGUST 3, 2007 AT A COST OF $1406.01. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD IN REGARDS TO THESE DEFECTIVE MANIFOLDS BUT I AM OUTSIDE OF THE PERIOD OF WHICH IT WAS IN FORCE, BUT I FEEL THAT PERIOD WAS TOO SHORT AS MY VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON NOVEMBER 18, 1999 AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10199299

Incident

Aug 3, 2007

Mileage

146,440 mi

FAULTY PARTS THAT WAS PART OF A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT THAT FORD NEVER NOTIFIED ALL INVOLVED...THEREFORE, THEY HID FROM TELLING SO THAT THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL THE CARS WITH THIS FAULTY PART...PER FORDS CUSTOMER SERVICE, THE NOTICES ONLY WENT TO THE ORIGINAL OWNERS...NOT TRUE MY OTHER FORD HAD A RECALL AND I REC'D THAT INFO AND I WASN'T THE FIRST OWNER...THEY ARE HIDING FROM THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES...*JB

NHTSA ID

10196892

Incident

Apr 23, 2007

Mileage

105,000 mi

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT ON THE 2000 FORD MUSTANG GT 4.6L MODULAR ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER, BACK FIRE, AND HAD A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL / OIL. HAD TO TOW VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP. 91000 MILES ON ENGINE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON FORD MODULAR ENGINES 1999-2003. *AKI

NHTSA ID

10190698

Incident

May 13, 2007

Mileage

91,000 mi

MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING ON I-95 SOUTH OF LUMBERTON NORTH CAROLINA. WHEN THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD CAUSING SUCH A LOUD NOISE WE SWERVED INTO ANOTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC .I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A EXTREME SAFETY PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS ON A 2000 FORD MUSTANG GT 4.6L ENGINE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10160134

Incident

Jun 17, 2006

Mileage

96,000 mi

(1)NORMAL DRIVING NO RACING JUST NORMAL DRIVING (2)MY SPARK PLUG STRIPPED OUT THE THREADS IN MY HEAD OF MY 2000 MUSTANG GT NOW I NEED TO REPLACE CYLINDER HEAD OR HAVE IT HELICOILED. THE DESIGN OF THE HEAD IS AT FAULT IN MY OPINION, THERE ISN'T ENOUGH THREADS ON THE CYLINDER HEAD TO PROPERLY HOLD THE SPARK PLUG IN PLACE. (3) HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR DUE TO COST. *NM

NHTSA ID

10144796

Incident

Nov 4, 2005

Mileage

57,054 mi

IF THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE MOVING IT WILL LOSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10110005

Incident

Dec 16, 2004

Mileage

49,000 mi

E FAILED TO START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS; VEHICLE COULD ONLY BE OPERATED WITH FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AT ALL TIMES TO ALLOW FUEL TO VEHICLE AIR FLOW; VEHICLE ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE COMING TO A STOP AT RED LIGHT WHEN ENGINE STALLED; VEHICLE WOULD NOT CONTINUE IDLING ON A COLD START. PER DEALER, THE IAC VALVE NEEDS REPLACING...EXPECTED ON FORD AUTOMOBILES(MUSTANGS AND EXPLORERS, SPECIFICALLY). 2000 MUSTANG GT OWNERS NEED A RECALL ON THIS SITUATION BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED WITH A VEHICLE THAT CAN NOT BE CONTROLLED WHEN THE HYDRAULICS FAIL BECAUSE OF A STALLED ENGINE. I LIVE IN A LARGE METRO AREA WITH A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF FAST DRIVERS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10063860

Incident

Feb 9, 2004

Mileage

43,000 mi

PLASTIC TIMING BELT GUIDE BROKE, CAUSING TIMING BELT TO RUB AGAINST ENGINE, PUTTING METAL THROUGH THE ENGINE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10023684

Incident

Jun 22, 2003

VEHICLE STALLING WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR TURNING. CLUTCH IS NOT ENGAGED. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. IT OCCURRED IN OCT. OF 2002 AND IN APRIL 2003.

NHTSA ID

10020610

Incident

May 28, 2003

ROUGH OR ROLLING IDLE. VEHICLE STALLS AT STOPS OR WHEN CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED FOR GEAR-DOWN IN CURVES OR TURNS. LOSS OF STEERING/BRAKING CONTROL HAS RESULTED IN REPEATED OCCURRENCES OF TRAVEL LEFT OF CENTER. MANUFACTURER HAS NO DIAGNOSIS FOR CONCERN. PCM RE-PROGRAM ATTEMPTS ARE SHORT-TERM "FIX". PROBLEM RECURS.*JB

NHTSA ID

10010106

Incident

May 31, 2001

Mileage

4,000 mi