KnownCarProblems2001 Ford Mustang Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 173 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Mustang, most often about the air bags (15% of complaints, typically around 54,000 miles). It is 16th of 27 Mustang model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2001 Ford Mustang problems
Air bags
26 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 54,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
While driving 35 MPH vehicle was involved in a frontal collision and air bags failed to deploy. Consumer sustained minor scars and bruises. Dealer was notified, but problem was not resolved.
: the contact stated while traveling 65 MPH, a trailer hit the vehicle on the rear passenger side. This caused the vehicle to hit a guard rail with the front end. There was braking prior to the impact and the airbags did not deploy. The driver was wearing a seat belt, but minor injuries were sustained. There was a…
Engine
26 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 61,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
After having a strong vibration in the dash at higher rates of speed 60+, and then developing heavy engine knock with rough idling, I took vehicle to the dealership. There I learned that I had 3 bad rods and needed a complete new engine after only having 57,000 on the original one.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Mustang. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to a restart a few minutes later. The failure recurred seven times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The…
Brakes
23 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, pedals and linkages.
: the contact stated while driving 35 MPH, smoke began to escape from under the hood. The vehicle was not taken to a service dealer. Upon inspection, an independent mechanic determined that the ABS electronic control module failed.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Mustang. After refueling the vehicle, a fuel leak was discovered underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who discovered that a rubber washer in the fuel system was faulty and needed to be replaced. The washer was replaced and the failure was remedied.…
Seat belts
22 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 33,000 miles. Parts named most often: front.
Complaint regarding safety issues with Mustang seat belts. There were consistent problems with the seat belts. The dealer provided two seat belt extensions to solve the problem. No fix would remedy the problem.
The front seat belt retractor faild. As a result, the occupants were not being restrained. Consumer stated that warranty entitled her to any safety restraint problems, five years or 50,000 miles. However the dealer refused to repair vehicle under warranty. Iak
Fuel system
21 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery, storage, fuel injection system.
Fuel filler line has a plastic cover that traps dirt against the metal filler hose. This resulted in the metal filler hose rusting causing a hole in the line. When filling up with fuel the vehicle leaks fuel through this hole. When tank is full fuel leaks through this hole while driving.
Went to fill up with gas, noticed gas leak. Upon inspection found fuel filler neck rusted through to point where it became two pieces. Replaced fuel filler neck @ $230 plus labor, issue solved. 2001 Ford Mustang 3.8l pictures available.
Transmission
16 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline, manual transmission, clutch assembly.
2001 cobra has bad synchros and a bad gear. The Ford dealership stated that the car had more than one bad synchro and 2nd gear was bad. Only 20k miles on car. The headliner came down as well.
Where it shows how many miles it's digital and it constantly goes off. Smells of gasoline and like something is burning every time drive it. Has a very rough idle and when a /c is on the car has absolutely no power, also burns gas very quick. Exterior head lights lights are dim and I just installed new one yet still…
Speed control
13 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Mustang. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to a restart a few minutes later. The failure recurred seven times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The…
When backing out of the driveway, I had no control over the vehicle, even while pressing on the brakes. I lost control, went into a yard and hit a tree.
Visibility and wipers
11 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: defroster/defogger/hvac system, windshield wiper/washer, power window devices and controls, glass, side/rear.
While driving in the rain the windshield wipers failed. The wiper blades made no contact with the windshield which caused poor visibility. The driver had to pull to the side of the road to clean the windshield. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they replaced the windshield arms.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 Ford Mustang recalls
Brakes: conventional
Risk: This could result in unintended vehicle movement and a vehicle crash without prior warning.
Fix: Dealers will modify the parking brake control and install a plate or over-bracket to the control to lock the self adjust mechanism in position following adjustment.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with manual transmissions. If a vehicle is parked with the parking brake not fully applied and not in first gear, as directed in the owner guide, and the self adjustment pawl subsequently skips one or two teeth, the vehicle could move on some grades.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
Summary
On september 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or ejected from the engine.as of december 8, 2005, odi is not aware of any allegations where the alleged defect resulted in a loss of vehicle control, a crash, an injury, or a fatality in any of the 10,319,810 subject vehicles.in addition, odi is aware of only two incidents where the vehi
Questions about the 2001 Ford Mustang
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Ford Mustang?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (26 complaints, typically around 54,000 miles); engine (26 complaints, typically around 61,000 miles); brakes (23 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Ford Mustang have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 30, 2000 (brakes). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the Ford Mustang?
- It is 16th of 27 Mustang model years by number of complaints, with 173 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.