2001 FORD MUSTANG Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. DURING THE INCIDENT THE BACK OF THE DRIVER SEAT FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BRUISED HIP THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,283.

I SMELLED STRONG GASOLINE ODORS WHILE DRIVING FROM WORK. THE CAR HAD BEEN FILLED WITH FUEL RECENTLY. THE FUEL TANK IS LEAKING NEAR THE FILL TUBE. FURTHER RESEARCH INTO THIS ISSUE HAS SHOWN THAT IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS MODEL. THE CAR CANNOT BE FILLED ABOVE HALF FULL OR GASOLINE LEAKS ALL OVER THE BACK OF THE CAR AND ON THE GROUND ONCE PARKED. THIS LEAK IS TOO NEAR THE EXHAUST PIPE FOR SAFETY. FORD DOES NOT REPAIR THIS SAFETY ISSUE UNDER ANY RECALL. IT IS A CHEAP PART BUT LABOR IS VERY EXPENSIVE SINCE THE FUEL TANK MUST BE REMOVED TO REPLACE THE LEAK. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE AND FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPAIR IT FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS RARELY BEEN USED IN THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE WEEK THE SEATBELT FAILED (BECAME JAMMED IN PANEL AS THOUGH I HAD HIT BRAKES AND WOULD NOT RELEASE) I WAS THE DRIVER FOR AN 88 YEAR OLD FEMALE FRIEND RUNNING HER ERRANDS WHILE HER CAREGIVER WAS OUT OF TOWN., THE SEAT BELT WAS USED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. I WENT ON LINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS ARTICLES AND RECALLS. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER. THEY IMPLIED ON THE PHONE IT WOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE, ONCE I WAS ON SITE, RENT CAR ARRANGED I WAS TOLD MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT A SPECIFIC RECALL AND INDICATED I MUST PAY. NOW AFTER 5 DAYS OF PAYING FOR A RENT CAR. I WAS INFORMED REPLACEMENT SEATBELT HAD NOT BEEN ORDERED PENDING MY APPROVAL. (PREVIOUSLY IT WAS NOT EXPLAINED TO IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ENTIRELY REPLACED. COST OF SEATBELT $260.42 TOTAL COST TO INSTALL $584.63. MY VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION AS THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I FEEL I HAVE BEEN MISLEAD AND RIPPED OFF BY DEALER. AT THIS POINT I AM PICKING UP THE PART ONLY, TURNING IN THE RENT CAR AND SEEKING A LESS EXPENSIVE INSTALL. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE AND COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WITH NO RESTRAINT FOR MY PASSENGER. *TR

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

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

PLASTIC COVER ON ELBOW HOLDS WATER/DUST WHICH DOESN'T DRAIN LEAVING FILLER ARM CONSTANTLY DAMP RUSTING THROUGH PIPE LEAKING GAS ALL OVER WHEN FILLING TANK....BAD DESIGN AND THOUGHT PUT INTO THIS. ITEM SHOULD BE RECALLED, COST TO REPLACE AT ANY REPAIR SHOP IS UPWARD OF $800.00 CANADIAN. *TR

SEAT BELT ON PASSENGER SIDE ALWAYS RETRACTED SLUGGISHLY SINCE NEW, OFTEN JUST HANGING LOOSELY FROM THE UPPER HANGER. THEN IT WOULD RETRACT WITH HELP. FINALLY IT JAMMED AND WILL NOT RELEASE IN ORDER TO CONNECT THE BELT FOR USE. WHEN AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO USE THE BELT, I HEAR A METALLIC CLUNK AND THE BELT WILL NOT COME OUT FAR ENOUGH TO USE. *TR

THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR WHEN COLD. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I NEED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ONTO A BUSY STREET WHEN THE CAR IS COLD. THE DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING HAS LEFT ME VULNERABLE AS I CAN'T ACCELERATE AS I INTEND AND I AM IN DANGER OF COLLIDING WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC THAT EXPECTS ME TO ACCELERATE AT A REASONABLE RATE. *TR

MY GAS FILLER TUBE HAS RUSTED DUE TO THE PLASTIC SHIELD, DIRT AND MOISTURE HAS BEEN TRAPPED ON THIS PART OF MY 01 MUSTANG AND NOW THERE IS A HUGE HOLE ON THE FILLER TUBE. I'VE DONE MY RESEARCH ON A COUPLE FORUMS AND APPARENTLY I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE ON MODELS FROM 2000-2004 I'M PRETTY SURE WE ALL KNOW HOW SERIOUS THIS PROBLEM IS SEEING THAT FUEL IS LEAKING TO THE GROUND WHICH IS A FIRE HAZARD AND CAN RESULT IN A FATALITY. *TR

WHEN FILLING UP I NOTICED GAS LEAKING FROM MY GAS FILLER NECK IT IS VERY BADLY RUSTED. *TR