Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 2000 Ford Mustang submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 38 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.
The 25 most recent of 38, in the owner's own words
IS A BIG PROBLEM SHIFTING IN A GEAR AFTER IN FIRST GEAR STARTS TO SPUTTER AND SHAKE BELIEVE IT'S THE TRANSMISSION MANUAL 5-SPEED ALSO ENGINE OVERHEATING AND KNOCKING SOUNDS VIBRATIONS COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SHAKY EVEN IF APPLIED SLOWLY AND SOFTLY
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WITNESSES SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE CAR WAS TRYING TO START ITSELF. TOTAL LOSS. DAMAGE WAS WORST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CENTERED IN THE AREA IN FRONT OF THE WHEEL. SECURITY CAMERA OF INCIDENT SHOWS SMOKE THEN FIRE STARTING AT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. *TR
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 45 MILES PR HR. THE CAR STARTED BANGING. I SLOWED DOWN THE NOISE WASN'T AS LOUD. I PULLED THE CAR OFF THE ROAD, CUT THE CAR OFF, IT WOULDN'T CRANK BACK. THE MECHANIC SAID THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND SINCE THE MOTOR WAS CLEAN INSIDE AND OUT. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY SERVICE LIGHT COME ON. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. *TR
SO I THOUGHT I HAD A SIMPLE THERMOSTAT ISSUE. WENT TO CHANGE THE THERMOSTAT AND NOTICED THE MANIFOLD HOUSING (PLASTIC) HAD A NICE CRACK IN IT. WHEN DOING RESEARCH ON THIS, I NOTICED THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS/INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE. NOW I AM IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD AND WILL HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT INSTALLED. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN. POOR MANUFACTURE DESIGN WITH NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OF FAILURE THAT RESULT IN UNNECESSARY HIGH REPAIR COSTS PLACED ON THE CONSUMER. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND THINK IT IS RIDICULOUS! *TR
APPARENT HEAD GASKET LEAK - LOOSING COOLANT THROUGH EXHAUST ON 2000 MUSTANG WITH 3.8 LITER ENGINE. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH MID 90'S 3.8 FORD ENGINES AND STILL SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE. *TR
I NOTICED AN EXHAUST LEAK FROM THE PASSENGERS SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. TURNS OUT THE WELD THAT HOLD THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO THE REST OF THE EXHAUST HAS FAILED, IT IS NOW BEING HELD UP BY EXHAUST HANGERS AND METAL STRAPPING, UNTIL IT WILL BE REPAIRED. *JB
FORD DESIGNED THE A/C DRAIN LINE LOCATED ABOVE THE RIGHT EXHAUST PIPE LEADING TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON THE 3.8 LITER V6 ENGINE. THE COLD CONDENSATION FROM THE A/C DRIPPING ONTO THE PIPE CAUSES THE PIPE TO CRACK OR IN SOME CASES CAUSES THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO RUPTURE OR CRACK. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. I KNOW OF 3 PEOPLE IN MY BUSINESS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO IN JUST THE PAST 6 MONTHS. ONE CASE THE CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED AND IN THE OTHER 2 THE EXHAUST PIPE HAD TO BE REMOVED AND WELDED AT THE CRACKS. STAINLESS STEEL PIPES ARE WELDED DIFFERENT THEN THE OLD STEEL PIPES AND REQUIRE A SPECIAL WELDING TECHNIQUE AND EQUIPMENT DRIVING UP THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THIS CRACK LEFT UNATTENDED COULD LEAD TO CARBON MONOXIDE ENTERING THE COCKPIT AREA. *TR
TOOK MY 2000 MUSTANG TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR A KNOCKING PROBLEM I WAS HEARING WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED. EVENTUALLY AFTER 3 VISITS AND TALKING TO 3 SERVICE ADVISORS THE KNOCKING WAS HEARD. THEY REPLACED $1300 WORTH OF PARTS, AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. DROVE IT NO MORE THAN 10 MINUTES AND TOOK IT RIGHT BACK BECAUSE THE KNOCKING WAS NOT FIXED. THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT THE MOTOR WAS SOMETHING INSIDE THE MOTOR. SO I HAD IT REPLACED. WAS RETURNED 1 WEEK LATER DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH IT STAYING RUNNING. THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED AS A ROCKER ARM THAT HAD COME LOOSE. THE CAR WAS RETURNED 2 WEEKS LATER FOR THE SAME KNOCKING ISSUE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY REPORTED AND NO ONE KNEW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT.*AK
I HAVE A 2000 FORD 3.8 LITER MUSTANG. IT HAS A VIBRATION AND COVERT FORD SAYS ITS NEEDS NEW MOTOR. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW, TOOK GREAT CARE OF MOTOR, IT JUST TURNED 70,000 MILES. COVERT SAYS IT HAS EXCESSIVE END PLAY ON THE CRANKSHAFT DUE TO WEAR. I THINK I HAVE AN AMERICAN-MADE PROBLEM. 70,000 MILES???? THANKS FOR ANY HELP THAT YOU CAN GIVE ME. THEY WANT $4,600.00. I THINK FORD OWES ME MOST OF THAT AT THE VERY LEAST BECAUSE I SURE CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT. YOU KNOW ITS FUNNY ALSO BECAUSE UP TO THIS POINT THAT CAR HAD NEVER BROKEN DOWN AND HAD NEVER BEEN IN THE SHOP . THIS IS OTHER THAN 15 OIL CHANGES TWO BATTERIES AND TWO SETS OF TIRES... I JUST THINK ITS NOT NORMAL. PLEASE HELP WITH SUGGESTION. *JB
A/C CONDENSATION DRAIN TUBE DRIPS ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING THE EXHAUST TO BRAKE. ITS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED. THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO WELD THE TUBE BACK TOGETHER. FROM MANY SHOPS I'VE SPOKEN TO THIS IS A PROBLEM THEY SEE AND KNOW A LOT ABOUT. *NM
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SPLIT WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT ALL THE COOLANT AND WATER LEAKED FROM THE ENGINE. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
OWNER WAS COMPLAINING THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD BEEN REMOVED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM
WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING, THE ENGINE STALLED. VEHICLE IS NOW IN ITS FIFTH REPAIR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH
THE VEHICLE MUFFLER FAILED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE FRONT AND REAR END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND THE HOOD FLEW OPEN AND SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. *TS *NLM
CONSUMER CANNOT FILL UP GAS TANK COMPLETELY. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER 4 TIMES, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALER HAS REPLACED FUEL FILLER PIPE, TUBE ASSEMBLY, FUEL VAPOR CONTROL VALVE SOLENOID AND FUEL VAPOR STORAGE CANISTER ASSEMBLY.*AK
THIS IS THE 2ND AIR PUMP TO BE REPLACED ON VEHICLE. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A LOSS OF PERFORMANCE. ENGINE WAS SLUGGISH AND IDLING HIGH AT STOPS. FORD WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL DEALER. HE INFORMED ME THAT THE EEC TEST CODE WAS P0411 WHICH DEALS WITH EMISSIONS. WHEN THE DEALER REMOVED A HOSE TO INSPECT THE COMPONENT, WATER CAME OUT OF THE HOSE. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE ENTIRE AIR PUMP WAS FULL OF WATER AND HAD "BURNED" OUT AS A RESULT. I WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE PUMP AND RELAY REPLACED AT A COST OF $275 FOR PARTS AND $120 FOR LABOR. HE FURTHER INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS EXTREMELY RARE AND HE DID NOT KNOW HOW THE WATER COULD HAVE GOTTEN IN TO THE PUMP. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER CARE AND INFORMED THEM OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD NO OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE, BUT WOULD FILE THE INFORMATION AWAY FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THIS "PROBLEM" DOES NOT AFFECT DRIVEABILITY OF THE CAR, AND SINCE VIRGINIA DOESN'T REQUIRE EMISSIONS CONTROL TESTING, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO HAVE IT REPLACED, HOWEVER, THE "CHECK ENGINE SOON" LIGHT WILL REMAIN ON UNTIL THE AIR PUMP AND RELAY ARE REPLACED.*AK
THE PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE STALLS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM OR COLD. IT ALSO HAPPENS AFTER THE CLUTCH HAS BEEN DISENGAGED AFTER BEING AT SPEED AND THE RPMS ARE DECREASING TO THE PROGRAMMED IDLE RPM. HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF STOPPING AT THE IDLING RPM, THE ENGINE RPM DIPS TO LOW AND THE ENGINE STALLS. I LOSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WHICH CAUSE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THIS HAPPENS MORE OFTEN IF I AM GOING AROUND A TURN OR TURNING ON THE AC (BOTH ITEMS REQUIRE MORE POWER FROM THE ENGINE)WHILE DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH. IN TOTAL, THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES DURING THE 30500 MILES. *TS *JB ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS****761876
WHEN CLUTCH DISENGAGES RPMS DROP TOO LOW AND VEHICLE STALLS. LOSES ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. DEALER CAN NOT IDENTIFY CAUSE. *AK CONSUMER ADDS ENGINE STALLS EASIER IF A/C IS ON, AND/OR WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. DEALER REPLACED POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MASS AIR FLOW, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST. ALSO CONSUMER IS A HEARING METALLIC TICKING NOISE ON COLD ENGINE. AIR BLADDER DEFLATES AFTER 1/2 HOUR. DEALER REPLACED SEAT AIR BLADDER. DRIVERS SIDE FRONT AND BACK WINDOW WILL NOT SEAL AFTER ROLLING UP AT TIMES. *TT
CAR KILLS OUT FREQUENTLY WHEN TURNING; WHEN THE CAR STALLS OUT, THE WHEELS LOCK UP AND NEARLY CAUSE ACCIDENTS. THE STALLING BEGAN IMMEDIATELY AFTER WE PRUCHASED THE VEHICLE. WHEN I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER, THEY STATED THERE HAD BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE MUSTANG GT'S KILLING OUT AROUND CORNERS. THEY HAVE NO FIX AT THIS POINT AND HAVE MADE NO CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY. I'VE NEARLY GOTTEN INTO A HAND FULL OF ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS "DEFECT". I'M RIDING AROUND IN A BRAND NEW CAR THAT I CONSIDER VERY UNSAFE. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL STALL OUT AND LOCK UP. THE DEALER INITIALLY STATED THEY BELIEVED THE STALLS WERE CAUSED BY THE HOT WEATHER. WELL, IT'S NOW DECEMBER IN DENVER, CO AND IT'S QUITE COLD OUT AND THE CAR IS STILL KILLING OUT AROUND CORNERS. WITHIN THE LAST 3 MONTHS, THE PROBLEM IS OCCURING EVEN MORE FREQUENTLY. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE AT TIME PROGRESSES. FORD HAS NOT OFFERED ME A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE UNTIL THEY CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE TO AND FROM WORK AND I PUT MY LIFE IN JEOPARDY EVERYTIME I DRIVE IT. MY WARRANTY EXPIRES AT 36, 000 MILES AND I WILL BE LEFT TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT I'VE HAD SINCE DAY ONE OF MY PURCHASE. *AK
THE ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, IN TRAFFIC, ON THE FREEWAY, WHERE/WHENEVER. IT JUST CUTS OUT, WHETHER THE ENGINE IS WARM OR COLD. WE HAVE HAD IT TO 5 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG OR THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG.*AK
ENGINE FAILED AFTER OWNING CAR FOR ONLY 2 WEEKS. CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. TOW TRUCK PICKED IT UP, AND DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE ENGINE HARNESS WAS NOT PROPERLY WIRED. AIR CONDITIONING MADE LOUD NOISES WHEN RUNNING. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE WATER WAS DROPPING DIRECTLY ON TO THE 1500 DEGREE EXHAUST PIPE CAUSING THE LOUD NOISE. BECAUSE THE HEAT SHIELD WASN'T PROPERLY FUNCTIONING, DEALERSHIP PLACED A PIPE UNDERNEATH TO DIVERT THE WATER.*AK
EGR VALVE FAILED. *YH
CAR DIED OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH, ALMOST WENT OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE POWER BRAKES WENT OUT. THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF 1999-2001 MUSTANG GTS AND FORD SEEMS TO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .