RoadVitals

2001 Ford Mustang GT Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest May 15, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
25%
of 59 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Ford Mustang GT submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceEngine
Filed May 15, 2014

DRIVING ON FREEWAY SUDDENLY CAR GOT HOT SO I SLOWED DOWN GOT INTO SLOW LANE THEN SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART ENGINE SEIZED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10588468
Incident
May 6, 2014
Mileage
155,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 15, 2014

WHILE ON FREEWAY CAR STARTED SMOKING SO I EXITED FREEWAY WHEN CAR STALLED AND WOULDN'T RESTART. HAD TO TOW BACK TO CAR LOT WHERE I PURCHASED CAR 3 DAYS PRIOR. PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD A CRACK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10588467
Incident
Jun 24, 2010
Mileage
85,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 26, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE SPARK PLUGS SHOT OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
10453001
Incident
Mar 10, 2004
Engine
Filed Feb 10, 2012

I JUST HAD TO PAY APPROX $700 TO REPLACE MY INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH CRACKED AND CAUSED A COOLANT LEAK. UPON FIXING THIS ISSUE, I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A FORD RECALL A FEW YEARS AGO. SEEING AS THIS PART HAS NEVER BEEN REPLACED ON MY VEHICLE, I WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS RECALL AND WHAT CAN BE DONE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10447372
Incident
Feb 5, 2012
Mileage
107,781 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 6, 2011

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPARK PLUG EXPLODED OUT OF THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10438694
Incident
Dec 5, 2011
Mileage
69,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 17, 2011

S # 1 SPARKPLUG EJECTED FROM HEAD UPON ENGINE START-UP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10430582
Incident
May 20, 2011
Mileage
83,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 17, 2010

SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10320463
Incident
Mar 16, 2010
Mileage
85,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 29, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD MUSTANG GT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE IDLED ROUGHLY, OVERHEATED, AND HESITATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CROSSOVER CHANNEL. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A FORD SAFETY CAMPAIGN THAT PERTAINED TO THE FAILURES HE WAS EXPERIENCING. HOWEVER, THE STIPULATION OF THE SAFETY CAMPAIGN STATE THAT THE VEHICLE MUST BE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE DATE. THE VEHICLE EXCEEDS THIS STIPULATION BY SIX WEEKS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

NHTSA ID
10240214
Incident
Feb 28, 2008
Mileage
125,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 18, 2008

BLOWN FORD SPARK PLUG! I DRIVE A 2001 FORD MUSTANG GT, 4.6L V8, AND ONE NIGHT I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT AND AS SOON AS IT TURNED GREEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS LIKE ANY OTHER LIGHT AND I BLEW A SPARK PLUG. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH 10K ON IT AND IT BLEW AT 56K. I NEVER REPLACED THE PLUGS SO IM GUESSING THEY WERE FACTORY INSTALLED. AS OF TODAY I HAVE REPLACED BOTH HEADS BUT THE DAMAGE FROM THE BLOWN SPARK PLUG SEEMS TO HAVE AFFECTED MY ENGINE BLOCK ITSELF. MY GUESS IS FROM DRIVING THE CAR OFF THE ROAD INTO A PARKING LOT. NOT HAVING MONEY TO REBUILD THE ENGINE I HAVE SINCE PARKED THE CAR HOPING FORD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS MISTAKE. I HAVE READ MORE AND MORE HOW MANY FORD V8S TEND TO DO THIS YET FORD ACTS LIKE IT DOESN'T EXIST. I CALLED FORD ABOUT ORDERING NEW HEADS AND THEY INSISTED THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I WAS RAISED ON FORDS BUT DON'T SEE ME BUYING ONE EVER AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10234794
Incident
May 15, 2006
Mileage
56,000 mi
EngineFuel systemOther / unspecified+2 more
Filed Feb 15, 2007
3 injuries reported

2 WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR, I HAD REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE AND TRANS AND REAR-END. THEY KNEW ABOUT IT, BUT SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO WORK ON A SELEEN, WHICH THAT IS WHAT I WAS TOLD I WAS BUYING AT THE TIME. COME TO FIND OUT IT IS NO. BIG DIFFERENCE IN PRICE. ON OR ABOUT FEB 15TH 2006 THE ENGINE BLEW, I HAD PARKED IT IN THEIR PARKING LOT. THEY HAD MY CAR FOR A TOTAL OF 45 DAYS. STILL NO TRANS WORK OR REAR-END, THEY SAID TO BRING IT BACK IN 30 DAYS. ADDING ON THE LINKAGE WAS DAMAGED WHEN THEY HAD IT. I HAD TO PAY OTHER SHOP TO FIX. ALONG WITH ENGINE PROBLEMS, ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. SINCE JUNE OF 2006 MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 10 TIMES , TOTALING 55 MORE DAYS. RENTAL CAR COST OVER 2500.00 AND TIME AND MENTAL ANGUISH . LUZZI REFUSED ME THE 2ND TIME ENGINE BLEW BECAUSE THE FACT I AM MARRIED TO DAVID HARDING. HE IS NOT ON ANY CONTRACT WITH ME. THEY REFUSE TO DO ANY WARRANTY WORK ON THE ENGINE THEY INSTALLED 9 MONTHS AGO. I PAID FOR A WARRANTY WITH THEM FOR 1800.00 AND I WAS CANCELLED BECAUSE OF THE MONEY ALREADY PAID FOR THE CAR. 10 MONTHS , WHERE'S THE OTHER 2 YEAR PRORATED FEES? THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. *NM

NHTSA ID
10182716
Incident
Jan 31, 2006
Mileage
48,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 28, 2006

I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE MECHANICS OF CARS, BUT A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF MY 2001 MUSTANG GT CAUSING A LOUD REPETITIVE NOISE AND A NOTABLE LOSS OF POWER. IT WAS STILL UNDER THE 30 DAY/3000 MILES USED VEHICLE WARRANTY AND IT WAS FIXED AT NO CHARGE TO MYSELF. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN A WEEK LATER AND I WAS TOLD (IN THE BEST WORDS THAT I CAN DESCRIBE IT) THE THREADING IN THE HOLE OF THE PART OF THE ENGINE THAT THE SPARK PLUG SCREWS INTO, WOULD NO LONGER HOLD THE SPARK PLUG AND THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE SENT TO A MACHINE SHOP TO BORE THE HOLE IN DEEPER COSTING A AROUND $3000.00. *NM

NHTSA ID
10174622
Incident
Nov 10, 2006
Mileage
70,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 7, 2006

I STARTED MY VEHICLE IN THE MORNING AND I HEARD A LOUD NOISE IN THE ENGINE. I LEFT THE CAR LIKE THAT AND CALLED MY MECHANIC. WHEN HE CHECKED THE CAR, HE FOUND OUT THAT THE SPARK PLUG WAS LOOSE, HE JUST PUT BACK. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER, I HEARD THE NOISE IN THE ENGINE AGAIN, I KNEW WHAT THE POBLEM WAS SO I PUT THE PLUG BACK IN. SOME MONTHS LATER (12/04) I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THIS TIME THE PLUG WOULDN'T TIGHTEN, SO I CALLED MY MECHANIC AGAIN. HE CHECKED THE CAR AND FOUND OUT THAT THE THREAD IN THE SPARK PLUG HOLE HAD STRIPPED. I BOUGHT A SPARK PLUG THREAD KIT AND HE WAS ABLE TO FIX THE ENGINE, BUT THE ENGINE DIDN'T PERFORM THE SAME. *NM

NHTSA ID
10159165
Incident
Dec 1, 2003
Mileage
55,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 3, 2004

STARTED HEARING A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM TOP PART OF THE ENGINE VERY NEXT DAY THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD NUMBER 3, RESULTING IN A CYLINDER HEAD REPLACEMENT .AFTER READING ALL OF THE FORUM COMPLAINTS THAT THIS IS A DEFECT, THANK GOD MINE WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, STILL LEFT WITH OUT A CAR FOR A WEEK , NO LOANER OR ENTAL PROVIDED BY DEALER AND I COULDNT AFFORD ONE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10079220
Incident
Jul 2, 2004
Mileage
34,857 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 20, 2003

I GAVE MY CAR A TUNE UP AT A FAMILY FRIENDS SHOP SPARK PLUG BROKE SO REPLACED IT WITH A BOSH PLATINUM 4 WHICH WAS ALL THE LOCAL AUTO PART HAD 6 MONTHS LATTER MY CAR BLOWS A PLUG OUT OF THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ENGINE WHICH HAD THE ORIGINAL PLUG AND I TOW IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THE WARRANTY REFUSES TO FIX IT BECAUSE AFTER MARKET PLUG ON THE OTHER SIDE AND FORD KNOWS THEY HAVE DEFECTIVE HEAD AND 4.6LT ENGINES BUILT FR:01-03 BUT REFUSE TO FIX IT OR EVEN TEST IT TO SEE IF IT WAS DEFECTIVE SINCE THE AFTER MARKET PLAG WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE AND THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO UNKNOWN REASONS ON THE SIDE WITH THE ORIGINAL PLUGS THIS APPLIES TO ALL VEHICLE FROM FORD WITH 4.6LT 2V ENGINES MORE INFO FOUND HERE HTTP://WWW.BLUEOVALNEWS.COM/2003/POWERTRAIN/4.6L.ENGINETICK.T31604.HTM *LA (PER CONSUMER CALL (NO SMOKE OR FLAMES); CHANGED FIRE FROM YES TO NO - C. ROSE 11/16/05

NHTSA ID
10050828
Incident
Jul 25, 2003
Mileage
42,898 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 27, 2003

AT 7,853 MILES, THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE. UPON CHECKING THE DIP STICK, THE STOCK WAS TWISTED OUT OF SHAPE, GIVING A READING OF MORE OIL THAN NEEDED. THE FIRST SERVICE CENTER THAT I TOOK THE CAR TO STATED THAT THE CAR HAD 1 QUART OF OIL, AND COULD BURN 1 QUART OF OIL PER 1,000 MILES WHEN NEW (NOWHERE WAS THIS NOTED IN OWNER'S MANUAL, WHICH RECOMMENDS OIL CHANGES EVERY 5,000 MILES). OIL CHANGE WAS PERFORMED, WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE SITUATION. THE NEXT DEALER THAT THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO IDENTIFIED THAT THE #8 BEARING WAS WORN, WHICH REQUIRED THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED. FORD WOULD NOT HONOR THEIR WARRANTY, NOR WOULD THE DEALER OR THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER IN MICHIGAN ANSWER ANY OF THE OWNER'S QUESTIONS, EXCEPT THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE ENGINE. OWNER WAS LEFT PURCHASING A NEW ENGINE ON THEIR OWN.*JB

NHTSA ID
10008227
Incident
Aug 1, 2002
Mileage
7,853 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .