KnownCarProblems2002 Ford Mustang Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 118 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Ford Mustang, most often about the engine (22% of complaints, typically around 72,500 miles). It is 20th of 27 Mustang model years by number of complaints.
Most common 2002 Ford Mustang problems
Engine
26 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 72,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
While in drive, with the car stopped, the car tries to surge forward by itself. You have to be weary that you keep additional pressure on the brake or the car will burst forward.
I went to drive my car friday morning and heard a squeaking noise I took it to the shop and had 3 pulleys replaced on it and it was still squeaking they replaced the water pump still squeaking I had 3 mechanics check the car and they told me with the miles that was on my car I should not be having problems coming from…
Air bags
20 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 35,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
I own 2 / 2002 Ford mustangs. My son has been in 2 accidents with his within the last year and in both incidents his airbag did not deploy. The first accident may have a reasonable explanation but the 2nd one was an accident that involved him hitting a concrete barrier at better than 40 MPH. I had the airbag tested…
While driving north at 45 MPH a vehicle traveling south hit consumer's vehicle head on. Front air bags did not deploy, and driver's seat belt did not lock. Driver's head hit the steering wheel. Driver was transported to the emergency room for treatment of neck pain and injuries to the legs.
Speed control
15 complaints · 13%Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, cruise control.
Intermittent problem in which engine will race when applying brakes, and foot off of gas pedal. Usually occurs when stopping at stop sign or pulling into parking place. Car will come to almost complete stop and then the engine will race and the car will lurch forward, and brakes cannot stop car. Brake pedal will go…
While driving 40 MPH and when brakes were depressed the vehicle pulled from side to side. There was a clunk after the brakes were released, the front tires rubbed on the frame when turning, three belts were installed within 6000, the vehicle smelled like oil, even with the A/C on. The motor rattled before the gears…
Seat belts
13 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 62,500 miles. Parts named most often: front.
: the contact stated the front passenger side seatbelt webbing did not release more than 3 inches. The vehicle was parked when the seatbelt became unusable. The vehicle has not been inspected concerning the seatbelt. Additionally, while driving 30mph the windshield wipers would not move smoothly across the windshield.…
Tl contact owns a 2002 Ford Mustang. He stated that since the date of purchased he noticed that the seat belt retractors were defective. He has not taken the vehicle to the dealer. He will not have the failure repaired, he will sell or trade in the vehicle. The failure mileage was 62,000 and the current mileage was…
Body and structure
10 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: body.
The rear window got broken and when to be replaced was told the roof has a manufactured default. Ford is not wanting to fix it and are passing me around to different people, because no one wants to take responsabiliy for it, my warrenty, is out by one month and so they say to bad for you. I can not get new rear window…
My wife was pulling in to the drive way on her way from doing some errands a drive of less than 5 miles and its a rural road where you cant drive more than 30 miles an hour when she smelt like something was burning. She checked the gauges and everything seemed fine and then saw smoke coming off the hood. She only had…
Wheels and tires
9 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: sidewall, lugs/nuts/bolts/studs, tread/belt.
The vehicle stalled while driving. When the consumer attempted to restart the vehicle it stalled again and sometimes does not start at all. The control valve was changed with no codes showing in the system. Before, the mecahnic stated that the problem was due to the weather and the gas. The right rear tire had a…
I have goodyear eagle ls tires on my 2002 Ford Mustang that keep blowing out on the inside and shredding the tire. In 3 years I have purchased 4 tires and had another blowout last night that shreds the inside of the tire. I had just had this tire checked on the 8th of april and the tire was fine.
Electrical
9 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 40,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, ignition, instrument cluster/panel.
Dt: the consumers 2002 Ford Mustang was parked at a curb and turned off when it caught on fire under the hood. The car had been sitting for about 45 minutes. There was no cruise control used. According to the police and fire department the fire was caused by an electrical short underneath the hood of the vehicle.…
On march 21, 2007, my Mustang caught fire in the driveway of my mother's home in new brighten, pa 15066 where I then lived. It was parked at about 7pm after driving into new brighten and back, about 5 miles each way. At about 2am that night we were awakened by the car horn and the glow of the car engulfed in flames. A…
Brakes
9 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components, pedals and linkages.
Intermittent problem in which engine will race when applying brakes, and foot off of gas pedal. Usually occurs when stopping at stop sign or pulling into parking place. Car will come to almost complete stop and then the engine will race and the car will lurch forward, and brakes cannot stop car. Brake pedal will go…
While driving 40 MPH and when brakes were depressed the vehicle pulled from side to side. There was a clunk after the brakes were released, the front tires rubbed on the frame when turning, three belts were installed within 6000, the vehicle smelled like oil, even with the A/C on. The motor rattled before the gears…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2002 Ford Mustang recalls
NHTSA lists no recalls for this model year.
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 2002 Ford Mustang
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 Ford Mustang?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (26 complaints, typically around 72,500 miles); air bags (20 complaints, typically around 35,500 miles); speed control (15 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2002 Ford Mustang have?
- NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Ford Mustang. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls in case one is issued later.
- Is the 2002 a bad year for the Ford Mustang?
- It is 20th of 27 Mustang model years by number of complaints, with 118 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.