1997 FORD MUSTANG Complaints

SEAT BELT BADLY WORN FROM SHARP PLASTIC COVER AND SHARP SPRING ROLLER, NOT APPARANT UNLESS BELT PULLED OUT (DIRVER WOULD NOT NORMALLY NOTICE). *AK

I PURCHASED THE FORD MUSTANG COBRA DURING JULY, 1997, AND CURRENTLY HAVE 16,850 MILES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT HAS WORN AT THE POING WHERE IT RETRACTS INTO THE FLOOR SUCH THAT IT MAY BREAK AT ANY TIME, ESPECIALLY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. BECAUSE OF THE WEAR LOCATION ON THIS SEATBELT, IT WOULD NOT NORMALLY BE NOTICED BY THE DRIVER. I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS UNSAFE BELT UNTIL SOMEONE OUTSIDE THE CAR WHILE THE DOOR WAS OPEN, AND WHILE I HAD MY SEAT BELT FASTENED, POINTED OUT THIS UNSAFE CONDITION. I HAVE NOTIFIED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER BY LETTER DATED OCTOBER 30, 2000, REQUESTING GUIDANCE. FORD HAS NOT RESPONDED TO MY INFORMATION AND REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE. *AK

RECALL IS FOR MUSTANGS MADE PRIOR TO DEC. 31, 1996 ALTHOUGH LATER MORE RECENT MODELS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

I FEEL THAT THE MOUNTING BRACKET WHERE THE TEETH ON THE HAND/PARKING BRAKE MESH IS TOO THIN. THUS THE AMOUNT OF FRICTION CAUSED BY THE WEIGHT OF THE FUEL IN THE FUEL TANK SWAYS ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE PARKING BRAKE TO DISLODGE AND BECOME DISENGAGED. *AK

EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS NOT HELD SINCE FIRST BOUGHT CAR AUG 99, I THOUGHT IT WAS MY FAULT NOT GETTING INTO PLACE. TWO WEEKS AGO IT DID IT AGAIN HERE AT WORK. I HAVE NOW IN SHOP, BUT WAS TOLD TODAY FORD DOESN'T HAVE PARTS MANUFACTURED TO FIX IT SO I CAN COME GET IT TILL THE DEALER HEARS FROM FORD.*AK

EMERGENCY BRAKE SLIPS REGULARLY. HAD IT ADJUSTED ONCE, BUT STILL SLIPS. MUST KEEP CAR IN GEAR TO ENSURE IT DOESN'T ROLL AWAY.*AK

MY MAIN CONCERN IS WITH THE WELDING ON THE REAR OF THE CAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT BY MORE THAN ONE INDEPENDENT MAINTENANCE PROFESSIONAL WHO HAS STATED THAT THE ORIGINAL DEFECT, THE IMPROPER WELDING OF THE BRACKETS ON TO THE UNIBODY AT THE FACTORY IS A NON-REPAIRABLE DEFECT. ORIGINALLY, THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE DEFECT AND REPRESENTED TO ME THAT THE BODY SHOP WOULD BE ABLE TO FIX THE DEFECT. AT THAT TIME, I WAS TOLD THE REAR TIRES WERE POINTING TO THE RIGHT. NOW I AM BEING TOLD BY EVERYONE OTHER THAN THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY ARE "TOED TO THE LEFT - NO ADJUSTMENTS CAN BE MADE". AT THE TIME THE DEALERSHIP PUT THE CAR IN THE BODY SHOP FOR "RE-WELDING" IT HAD ONLY 20628 MILES ON IT, AND THE TIRES WERE COMPLETELY RUINED. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO MAKE ANY ALLOWANCES FOR NEW TIRES. AT THAT TIME, THE CAR WOULD FISHTAIL AND SWERVE ON RIGHT TURNS, EVEN FROM A DEAD STOP. I INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP THAT NOW THE CAR DOES THE SAME THING ON LEFT TURNS. I HAVE HAD THEM LOOK AT THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH, AND THEIR CONSISTENT POSITION IS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSE WAS THAT I NEEDED TO GO THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND PAID FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH HAD NOT EXPIRED AT THE TIME I BROUGHT THIS BACK TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER. AT THIS TIME, HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I DO NOT FEEL THAT MATTERS, HOWEVER, AS THE DEFECT HERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION WHICH I HAVE, IS NON-REPAIRABLE. I HAVE PROVIDED THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE COMPUTER PRINTOUTS WHICH I HAVE FROM OTHER TECHNICIANS EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM, BUT, AS I SAID, THEIR CONSISTENT POSITION IS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. AND THAT IS PRETTY MUCH THE EXTENT OF THEIR EXPLANATION. I WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE MY POSITION WITH THE MANUFACTURER, HOPEFULLY WITH BETTER SUCCESS.

WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION WHEEL BECAME UNDONE, ROLLED OFF VEHICLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

AT COMPLETE STOP - HIT FROM BEHIND - MECHANIC DOING REPAIRS STATED THERE ARE NO SAFETY BRACKETS UNDER THE CAR - THE CAR & DOORS BUCKLED ON IMPACT. DO CONVERTIBLES HAVE TO HAVE EXTRA SAFETY BRACKETS INSTALLED UNDER THE FRAME?( DOT NUMBER: )

USED WRONG KEY IN IGNITION AND IT BLEW UP THE IGNITION SYSTEM. HAD KEY MADE AT A LOCAL HARDWARE STORE. AFTER 4 WEEKS OF FORD PROMISING ASSISTANCE-THEY DENIED IT. TRYING A WRONG KEY SHOULD NOT CAUSE THE MODULE AND TRANSCEIVER TO GO BAD. FOLLOWED RECOVERY PROCEDURE IN OWNERS MANUAL BUT CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. THIS COULD BE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. FORD SHOULD RECALL OR AT VERY LEAST PUT WARNING ON IGNITION.