1997 Ford Mustang Engine

HEAD GASKETS BLOWN CAUSING THE UPPER RADIATOR HOSE TO SWELL AND RUB THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR CLUTCH. THE HOLE IN THE HOSE CAUSED ALL THE COOLANT TO LEAK OUT AND CAUSING A MISFIRE IN THE ENGINE. THE HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN ON THREE OF THE SIX CYLINDERS. THE ENGINE IS A 3.8L V6 IN A 1997 MUSTANG.*AK

CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK

I WAS DRIVING MY 1997 FORD MUSTANG GT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE COOLANT LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE WHOLE COCKPIT FILLED UP WITH SMOKE. UPON NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE AND THE COOLANT LIGHT TURNING ON I IMMEDIATELY HAD TO PULL OVER. AFTER TOWING THE CAR HOME I NOTICED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD DEVELOPED A CRACK AND ANTI-FREEZE WAS SPRAYED EVERYWHERE. AN INTAKE MANIFOLD IS A PART THAT SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF A CAR WITH PROPER MANUFACTURING. I DID SOME FURTHER RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT FOOD CHANGED THE MANIFOLD STYLE IN 1999 AND CHANGED TO A ALUMINUM FRONT RUNNER OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD INSTEAD OF THE PLASTIC RESIN THAT THE ANTI-FREEZE CAN EAT THROUGH. I ALSO FOUND A TSB ABOUT IT #0222. DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THEN NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING IS NOT A VERY PLEASANT EXPERIENCE. ESPECIALLY NOW THAT I HAVE A VERY INCONVENIENT AND COSTLY PROBLEM THAT I FEEL FORD SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR. *LA

THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE CAB OF VEHICLE STATES' CONSUMER. CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN CHANGED TWICE. PROBLEM WITH SMELL STILL EXIST. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. TS

ENGINE IS LEAKING RADIATOR FLUID, CAUSED BY A CRACK, HEATER IS TAKING LONGER TO GET WARM. DEALER STATED THAT OIL MAY CAUSE ENGINE TO LOCK UP. VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIIAN AT DEALER. *AK. CONSUMER STATED RADIATOR FLUID IS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT VALVE COVER, WHICH IS ALSO CAUSING LOSS OF HEAT.*JB

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CAUGHT ON FIRE AND EXPLODED. CONSUMER PURCHASED A NEW COOLING FAN BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE. THE SERVICE MANAGER EXPLAINED THAT THE BEARINGS HAD SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE. THERE IS A RECALL ON SAID PART BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. *JG

TIMING COVER GASKET LEAKING MAY LEAD TO HEAD GASKET PROBLEM.. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED OVER HEATING. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE SERVICED BY A MECHANINC WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN AND LEAKED WATER INTO THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC ALSO INDICATED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. TS

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ANTIFREEZE DRIPS OUT FROM DEFECTIVE TIMING COVER, AND STARTS CAUSING A BURNING SMELL, AND SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE. CONSUMER FEELS FUMES ARE DANGEROUS. *AK

SUBJECT: 1997 FORD MUSTANG GT, VEHICLE ID [XXX]. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

FRONT TIMING GASKET FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT FROM 3.8L V6 ENGINE. DEALER NOTIFED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *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

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS, TIMING GASKET CAP, AND ENGINE ITSELF ALL FAILED ON A 1997 FORD MUSTANG LX COUPE

VEHICLE BROKE DOWN FROM ENGINE STALLING. CONSUMER FOUND OUT THROUGH THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 99B29. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE TIMING GASKET COVER. *AK

THE HEATER FAILED VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND CRACKED THE ALUMINUM HEAD.*ET

THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING COOLANT DUE TO THE FAULTY TIMING VALVE GASKET. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING A COOLANT LEAK. NLM

TIMING COVER IS ALSO LEAKING AND SAW ON THE INTERNET THAT THAT CAN ALSO CAUSE MAJOR DAMAGE. *AK

NO SUMMARY

CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING HOT WITH ANIT-FREEZE IN ENGINE. CAR FINALLY OVER HEATED AND WAS TAKEN TO "BP GAS STATION, 4499 ROSWELL RD., ATLANTA GA 30342, 404/255-5341 OR 404/252-8204 CHUCK ALLEN MANAGER " MR. ALLEN 1ST SAID TIMING GASKET FAILED & WOULD COST $200 TO FIX. THEN WHEN HE REMOVED TIMING COVER FOUND A MAJOR CRACK IN IT NEXT TO A BOLT HOLE, "STRESS POINT" & THAT IT WOULD COST OVER $500 TO FIX NOW. ALSO STATED THAT THIS FAIRLY NEW CAR WITH LOW MILES SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS KIND OF PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS MORE THAN LIKELY A DEFECT FROM MANFACTURER. CAR HAD BEEN TO "BANNER FORD, 1665 SCOTT BLVD, DECATUR GA 30033, 404/633-4005, STEPHEN C. WATSON, SR." ON 08/18/98 WITH 34,143 MILES "CAR STILL UNDER A 3Y/36M WARRANTY" FOR RUNNING HOT & STALLING IN TRAFFIC. THEY REPLACED FULE GAGE TANK UNIT, BUT SHOULD HAVE NOTICED OIL & ANTI-FREEZ DRIPPING DID NOTHING. 10/24/98 CAR BACK TO BANNER 36,440 MILES "440 MILES OVER WARRANTY" - THEY GAVE AN OIL CHANGE & TOP OFF FLUIDS AGAIN THE FACT THAT THE CAR IS DRIPPING OIL & ANTI-FREEZE HAS NOT BEEN EITHER NOTICED OR JUST NOT MENTIONED & REPORTED. TWO MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE FINALLY GIVES OUT AND THE CARS IS "2,100 MILES" OVER WARRANTY & THE DEALERSHIP, TIDWELL, WHERE PURCHASED "SVC MANAGER" SAYS I'M OUT OF LUCK AND WITH AN ATTITUDE! COULD YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE OR ADVISE ME, SINCERELY,.......SHELBY PEASE

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON IN THE CAR, AND THE ENGINE KEEPS MISSING, CONSUMER TOOK IT TO FORD 5 TIMES AND PRIVATE MECHANIC 6 TIMES, NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT.*ET

ENGINE OVERHEATED CAUSING A/C TO SHUT OFF. NLM

ENGINE PINGS UNDER LOAD AND/OR ACCELERATION BETWEEN ROUGHLY 3,500 AND 4,700 RPMS.