1998 FORD MUSTANG GT Complaints

1998 FORD MUSTANG GT - INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACK. ISSUE REFERENCED IN TSB #02-2-2 FROM FORD. FORD IS WILLING TO REPLACE '96-97 MUSTANGS BUT NOT '98 ALTHOUGH IT'S THE SAME PART NUMBER (OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAMS 97M91, 01M02, 99M01). SEVERAL CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS ISSUED (ALABAMA/CALIFORNIA). SPOKE WITH LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND FORD CUSTOMER CARE CENTER (REF#1366271768) - BOTH ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM BUT TELL ME '98 MUSTANG NOT COVERED ALTHOUGH MEMORANDUM TO ALL FORD DEALERSHIPS DATED DECEMBER OF 2001 SHOWS 1996-1998 MUSTANG WITH THE REPLACEMENT MANIFOLD PART NUMBER. SEARCHES ON INTERNET REVEAL A DISTURBING TREND. FORD RECALLED FLEET AND POLICE UNITS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE BUT LEFT THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR FORD'S POOR DESIGN. NEW MANIFOLD DESIGN USES A METAL ALLOY INSIDE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHERE COOLANT TRANSFERS - SO THEY KNOW IT'S A DESIGN DEFECT. *LA

INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED, CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK. THIS PROBLEM MAKES IT HARD FOR CONSUMER TO START VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK

WHILE FUELING CAR...GAS POURED OUT OF CAR..CAUSED BY DAMAGED "O" RING AROUND FUELING NOZZLE FROM NECK TO TANK...SIGNIFICANT FUEL SPILL...DANGEROUS AMOUNT OF FUEL LOST AND LEAKING...HAVE OWNED SEVERAL VEHICLES....NEVER HAVE KNOWN THIS TO HAPPEN...HAZARD TO AREA WHILE FUELING DUE TO FUEL SPILL. WENT TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE CORRECT PART FOR REPLACEMENT. POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD-IF NOT EXPLOSION CAPABILITY IF IGNITED WHILE FUELING. PERHAPS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ""O" RING. PURCHASED CAR IN 1998,, WONDERS...SHOULD THIS PART HAVE WORN OUT IN THIS MANNER? *NLM

ROAD HUGGER RAGE TIRES, MFG. BY KELLY SPRINGFIELD, SIZE 245/45/17, HAVE DEVELOPED SUBSTANTIAL CIRCUMFERENTIAL SIDEWALL CRACKS ON LOW MILEAGE, HIGH TREAD TIRES. SAME CRACKS PRESENT IN 3 OF THE 4 TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS IS THE SAME AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL 98T002 ON SIMILAR TIRES BY SAME MFG. CONTACTED KELLY SPRINGFIELD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE TIRES. LATER FAILURE OF ONE TIRE RESULTED IN LOW-SPEED ACCIDENT. *PH

I OWN A 1998 FORD MUSTANG GTAST YEAR I NOTICED A COOLING LEAKAGE WHICH I FIRST THOUGHT COMING FROM ONE OF THE HOSES. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED.HEN I PURCHASED A NEW UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP, I NOTICED THAT THEY CHANGED THE DESIGN, ENFORCING THE CRACKED PART OF THE INTAKE WITH ALUMINUM. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW, AND THEY CHANGED THEIR DESIGN; AM I ENTITLED FOR ANY KIND OF COMPENSATION? I HAVE ASKED MANY FORD DEALERSHIPS, BUT THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL IN REGARD TO MY INTAKE MANIFOLD.NY INFORMATION IN REGARD TO THIS IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.*AK

PAINT ON THE 1998 FORD MUSTANG GT CONVERTIBLE IS STARTING TO PEEL RIGHT DOWN TO THE SHEET METAL. LOOK LIKE A 5 INCH PUZZLE PIECE MISSING FROM THE PAINT ON THE PASSENGER UPPER REAR QUARTER PANEL. *JB

THE TIRES EXPERIENCED PREMATURE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND NOT THE TIRES. *JB

PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, LEAKING RADIATOR FLUID. FORD WILL FIX THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM ON THE 97 MUSTANG, BUT NOT THE 98. *NLM

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND LEAKED COOLANT ONTO THE ENGINE AND OTHER RELATED COMPONETS. *JB

SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT BACK INTO NORMAL POSITION, CAUSING IT TO BE HARD TO PULL AND RELEASE FOR MORE ROOM, CONSUMER WILL BE FORCED NOT TO HAVE A SEAT BELT ON. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK