2002 Ford Mustang Owner Complaints

On or about 01/28/2023 I purchased a 2002 Ford Mustang GT for a N.J. used car dealer. I was assured by the sales person that the Mustang had been thoroughly inspected and there were no mechanical problems whatsoever. Upon delivery of the Mustang, that had only 68,886 miles, I took the Mustang for a required Virginia Safety Inspection and learned that the front brakes were completely worn out and must be replaced. I had a complete front brake job done, to include: new brake pads, rotors, calipers and hoses. The front brake job cost $637.17. Mula Auto Group 117 E Main St Somerville, NJ 08876 mulaautogroup.com (908) 231-1777 - Main (908) 231-1799 - Fax On Mon, Mar 13, 2023 at 5:19 PM [XXX] wrote: Dear sir: On or about 01/28/2023, I purchased a 2002 Mustang GT from Mulaj Auto. Before I purchased the car from [XXX], he told me there were no mechanical problems whatsoever and the car had been inspected. It took almost three weeks for me to get the Mustang transported from New Jersey to Virginia. After the Mustang arrived on February 13, 2023, I was away for two weeks and did not drive the car until early March. I recently had a Virginia state safety inspection done and the Mustang barely passed inspection because of the badly worn front brakes. Both pads were worn to minimum limits, both rotors were badly grooved and the left caliper was seized. I just had the front brake work done today, for a total of $637.17. Invoice #[XXX] is attached. If I had been told the Mustang needed front brakes, I would not have bought the car. There is no doubt that Mulaj Auto should have advised me of the bad front brakes. Because Mulaj Auto failed to do so, I think you'll agree that Mulaj Auto should compensate me for the front brake job. Your assistance with this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11514765

Incident

Mar 9, 2023

No

NHTSA ID

11438547

Incident

Oct 28, 2021

THE FUEL PUMP IN MY 2002 3.8L MUSTANG STOPPED WORKING. WHEN I LOWERED THE GAS TANK TO REPLACE IT, I FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC PART THE FUEL PUMP/SENDING UNIT SETS DOWN INTO IS OFFSET FROM THE HOLE AND THE FUEL PUMP/SENDING UNIT CAN NOT BE REMOVED WITHOUT BREAKING THE PART THAT IT SETS DOWN INTO. SO NOT ONLY DO I HAVE TO REPLACE THE PUMP, I HAVE TO BUY AN ENTIRE GAS TANK SINCE THAT PART COMES PRE-INSTALLED

NHTSA ID

11405713

Incident

Mar 29, 2021

WHILE IDLING MY CAR SUDDENLY HAD CYLINDER #3 MISFIRE AND THE SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD.

NHTSA ID

11385042

Incident

Dec 25, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

TEN MINUTES PRIOR TO AIR BAGS DEPLOYING I COMPLAINED TO MY TWO PASSENGERS THAT MY EYES WERE BURNING. I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, WITH MY FOOT ON BRAKE IN CENTER LANE IN CITY TRAFFIC, WHEN I HEAR A LOUD BANG AND INSTANTLY BOTH AIRBAGS ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED. THE NOISE AND FORCE STARTLED ME TAKING MY FOOT OF BRAKE AND ROLLING FORWARD. THE AIR BAGS BLEW BOTH MY PASSENGER AND MY GLASSES INTO THE BACK SEAT OF CAR. THE PASSENGER BAG WAS SMOKING BADLY AND I QUICKLY PUT DOWN BOTH WINDOWS AND I PULLED OFF STREET INTO SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHOM I ROLLED INTO PULLED OVER AS WELL. WE CHECKED BOTH THE FRONT OF MY CAR AND REAR BUMPER OF HER CAR AND BECAUSE NO VISIBLE DAMAGE. I TOOK A PICTURE OF HER BUMPER AND LICENSE PLATE TO SHOW NO DAMAGE. MY PASSENGER IN FRONT SEAT WAS BRUISED FROM AIRBAG AS FOR MYSELF AND THE OTHER PASSENGER WE WERE SHAKEN BY THE EXPERIENCE.

NHTSA ID

11278233

Incident

Oct 28, 2019

Mileage

1,128,000 mi

WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON A IN TOWN ROAD SHE CAME UPON CONSTRUCTION, ALL TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED BECAUSE THE 2 LANES WERE DOWN TO 1. AS SHE WAS WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO START MOVING HER BOOT GOT CAUGHT UNDER SEAT LEVER (THIGH HIGH BOOTS FLAP GOT CAUGHT) AND IT MADE HER FOOT SLIP FROM BRAKE, SHE THEN BUMPED INTO THE VAN IN FRONT OF HER, LESS THEN 5MPH AND BOTH WHICH THERE WAS NO PASSENGER OR ANYTHING ON HER SEAT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DESTROYING HER COLUME. ABSOLUTELY NO FRONT END DAMAGE, NO DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLE, CAR STILL RUNS AND SEATBELTS STILL WORK. HAVING IT CHECKED FOR MALFUNCTIONS.

NHTSA ID

11196165

Incident

Apr 11, 2019

Mileage

98,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND, AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11098781

Incident

May 29, 2018

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE STEERING WHEEL AND DASHBOARD WERE DAMAGED DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO REPAIR FACILITY WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID

10959138

Incident

Mar 6, 2017

Mileage

115,000 mi

HEADLIGHT

NHTSA ID

10853110

Incident

Apr 2, 2016

Mileage

114,000 mi

WHILE IN DRIVE, WITH THE CAR STOPPED, THE CAR TRIES TO SURGE FORWARD BY ITSELF. YOU HAVE TO BE WEARY THAT YOU KEEP ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE OR THE CAR WILL BURST FORWARD.

NHTSA ID

10717004

Incident

May 3, 2013

Mileage

72,500 mi

THERE WAS A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TRAVELING AT THE SAME SPEED. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ANCHORED THE BRAKES. I WAS 3 CAR LENGTH BEHIND. TH ABS FAILED AND DID NOT ALLOW THE BRAKES TO RESUME. WE HIT THE BACK END OF THE CAR IN FRONT AT 35MPH. THE PASSENGER SEATBELT BROKE ENDING MY FIANCE HEAD INTO THE WINDSHIELD. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY CAR WAS TOTALED AND THE TOYOTA DID NOT HAVE A SCRATCH: MYSELF AND MY GIRL ARE BOTH INJURED. I PURCHASED THIS CAR 5/14. I BELIEVE THERE MAY NOT BE AIRBAGS AND I ALSO THINK THIS CAR ESCAPED HAVING TO HAVE A SALVAGE TITLE. WE ARE UPSET TO SAY THE LEAST. AS IT IS ONE THING BUT TO PUT A CONSUMERS LIFE AT RISK IS ANOTHER. THIS IS THE SECOND CAR FROM THIS DEALER SINCE MARCH 2014 THAT WE HAD BEEN GIVEN A DEATH TRAP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10654900

Incident

Nov 12, 2014

Mileage

146,000 mi

MY WIFE WAS PULLING IN TO THE DRIVE WAY ON HER WAY FROM DOING SOME ERRANDS A DRIVE OF LESS THAN 5 MILES AND ITS A RURAL ROAD WHERE YOU CANT DRIVE MORE THAN 30 MILES AN HOUR WHEN SHE SMELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. SHE CHECKED THE GAUGES AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE AND THEN SAW SMOKE COMING OFF THE HOOD. SHE ONLY HAD TIME TO PARK THE CAR AND GET OFF AS THE WHOLE ENGINE BAY GOT ENGULFED IN FLAMES.THE FIRE FIGHTERS ARRIVED AND WERE ABLE TO CONTROL THE FIRE FROM SPREADING BUT THE FRONT HALF OF THE CAR WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10609977

Incident

Jul 11, 2014

Mileage

148,000 mi

FIRST INCIDENT: I WAS APPROACHING MY MAIL BOX TO STOP AND GET MY MAIL OUT, WHILE BRAKING INSTEAD OF STOPPING THE CAR ACCELERATED AND WENT RIGHT PAST MY MAILBOX. I DROVE INTO MY STONE DRIVEWAY, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY EVEN THOUGH I HAD STOPPED, THE TIRES WERE SPINNING SO FAST THEY MAD RUTS IN MY DRIVEWAY. EVEN SITTING THERE IN PARK, THE RPM NEEDLE WAS RACING UPWARD. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS GO ON. I TURNED THE CAR OFF. NEXT DAY I WENT OUT, AND CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING WITHOUT ME STEPPING ON THE GAS. SCARED TO DRIVE IT, I HAD IT TOWED TO A SERVICE CENTER. THEY HAD IT FOR A WEEK AND A HALF, NEVER HAPPENED FOR THEM, AND SAID UNLESS IT HAPPENS WHILE THEY HAVE IT, COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. (ALTHOUGH THEY DID MENTION A FEW POSSIBILITIES: THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, LEAKAGE, COMPUTER) AS I WAS TAKING MY CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP ON 8/9/13 FOR OTHER SERVICE, I EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY SAID ALSO UNLESS THE CAR DID IT WHILE IT WAS THERE THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CHECK IT OUT. SECOND INCIDENT: WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, PROBABLY ABOUT 55-60 MPH, THE CAR ON ITS OWN SPED UP, THE RPM NEED SEEMED STUCK AT 3, EVEN THOUGH I WAS BREAKING THE CAR WASN'T SLOWING DOWN; AND JUST LIKE THAT, PROBABLY IN 30 SECONDS, IT RECOVERED AND RAN FINE. I WROTE A LETTER ON 9/6/13 TO FORD MOTOR CO EXPLAINING WHAT IS HAPPENING AND ASKING FOR THEIR HELP IN IDENTIFYING A SOLUTION. I RECEIVED A LETTER BACK FROM FORD MOTOR CO DATED 9/16/13, THEY OFFER NO ASSISTANCE AT ALL. *JS

NHTSA ID

10545310

Incident

Jul 9, 2013

Mileage

31,000 mi

THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOES NOT COME OUT OR RETRACT. IT STUCK IN A HALF WAY OUT POSITION. IT CANNOT BE USED. IT HAS BEEN REPLACE TWICE ONLY TO GO BACK THE EXACT SAME WAY AND IS NOT SAFE TO USE. THE COST IS OVER $400.00 TO FIX IF YOU FIND THE PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10525684

Incident

Feb 24, 2004

THE MOTORCRAFT FUEL FILTER ON MY 2002 FORD MUSTANG CRACKED AT THE SEAM WHERE THE INLET NIPPLE IS ATTACHED TO THE BODY OF THE FILTER. GASOLINE WAS SPRAYING OUT OF THE CRACK AND LEAKING ON THE GROUND. THE WYNN FILTER I PURCHASED TO REPLACE IT WITH USES A ONE PIECE FILTER BODY WHICH IS MUCH SAFER. HAS ANYONE ELSE REPORTED THE FILTERS BREAKING AND LEAKING? *TR

NHTSA ID

10512620

Incident

May 18, 2012

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SLOW TO RETRACT. NOW IT WILL NOT RELEASE AT ALL. DEALER REFUSES TO FIX OR REPLACE AS A DEFECT. WILL CHARGE OVER $500 TO FIX. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED AS THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 83K MILES. I THOUGHT SEAT BELTS WERE GUARANTEED FOR THE LIFE A VEHICLE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10505130

Incident

Mar 18, 2013

Mileage

82,700 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE HOOD SEPARATED AND FLEW OVER THE TOP OF THE CAR. INTO TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSING A ACCIDENT. THE TOP PANEL FLEW OFF WHILE THE HOOD REMAINED LATCHED TO THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10499298

Incident

Feb 19, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WAS JAMMED. THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT MOVE AND THE CONTACT FELT THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO KNOWN SIMILAR FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID

10460886

Incident

May 30, 2012

Mileage

50,000 mi

REAR PASSENGER SEATBELT DOES NOT RETRACT; UNUSABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10424629

Incident

May 5, 2011

THE FOURTH SPARK PLUG ON MY 2002 FORD MUSTANG GT 4.6L VEHICLE BLEW OUT. THIS RESULTED HEAVY LOSS OF POWER, SHAKING, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY FUEL FUMES TO COME OUT. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON AN INTERSTATE AT HIGH-SPEED AND I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO SAFELY MAKE IT OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE COST TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR IS ESTIMATED AT $2500. THIS IS A VERY COMMON SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE FORD 8-CYLINDER ENGINES FOR WHAT I GATHERED THROUGH INDEPENDENT RESEARCH AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE THREADS ARE TOO THIN AROUND THE SPARK PLUG AND THE HEAT CAUSES THEM TO BLEW OUT - LITERALLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10423995

Incident

Sep 5, 2011

Mileage

103,000 mi

LESS THEN 2WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE A CHUNK OF THE TREAD CAME OFF THE TIRE . THE TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT BUT MAINTAINED 35 PSI. *TR

NHTSA ID

10418311

Incident

Feb 10, 2011

Mileage

126,962 mi

WE HAVE HAD A 2002 FORD MUSTANG FOR ONE YEAR. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. IT WILL NOT COME OUT ALL THE WAY MAKING IT USELESS. I HAD THE DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT. IT WAS FIXED FOR APPROXIMATELY A WEEK. IT IS NOW UNUSABLE AGAIN. FROM MY SEARCH ON THIS ISSUE THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT. WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR A NEW ASSEMBLY FOR SOMETHING THAT OCCURS FREQUENTLY WITH SIMILAR CARS AND IS NOT BEING TAKEN CARE OF BY FORD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10395364

Incident

Jun 15, 2010

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED COOLANT WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE LEAK COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND MAYBE A FIRE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. ALSO, THE SPARK PLUGS SEPARATED FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP IN REFERENCE TO THE SPARK PLUGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

NHTSA ID

10379719

Incident

Mar 24, 2008

Mileage

108,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD MUSTANG WITH FEDERAL SUPER STEELE TIRES, LINE SIZE 245/45 R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRES SPLIT ALONG THE SIDEWALL. WITHIN 4,000 MILES THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER REPLACED THE TIRES EVERY TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED YET THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH DEFECTIVE TIRES. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE TIRES FAILED AT LESS THEN 20,000 MILES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

NHTSA ID

10369365

Incident

Nov 17, 2010

Mileage

64,000 mi

I HAVE GOODYEAR EAGLE LS TIRES ON MY 2002 FORD MUSTANG THAT KEEP BLOWING OUT ON THE INSIDE AND SHREDDING THE TIRE. IN 3 YEARS I HAVE PURCHASED 4 TIRES AND HAD ANOTHER BLOWOUT LAST NIGHT THAT SHREDS THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. I HAD JUST HAD THIS TIRE CHECKED ON THE 8TH OF APRIL AND THE TIRE WAS FINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10327052

Incident

Apr 22, 2010

Mileage

96,000 mi