Engine
3.8L 6-cyl
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.
Fault profile
Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.
When it fails
The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.
Vehicle age when the failure occurred
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 108 of 118 complaints with a usable failure date.
Odometer when the failure occurred
Owner-reported mileage at failure, in 20,000-mile bands. Based on 52 of 118 complaints reporting a plausible odometer (500 to 500,000 miles; unverified).
Known issues
The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.
Engine & cooling
27 complaint records1 fire report2 crash reports
"WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN INTO A GUARDRAIL. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse engine & cooling parts in the directory →
Air bags
20 complaint records15 crash reports
"VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON AT 5-10 MPH, AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED. YET, DRIVER HIT HER HEAD ON WINDSHIELD. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.*AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse air bags parts in the directory →
Speed control
15 complaint records1 crash report
"WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELT FLOPPY. CONSUMER CHANGED GEAR , LET FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR, AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER APPLIED CLUTCH TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. VEHICLE IS AT DEALER AT THIS TIME.*AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse speed control parts in the directory →
Federal defect investigations
Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.
| Investigation | Status | Component | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| DP05005 opened Sep 2005 | closed Jan 2006 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD 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... |
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07212 Oct 2007 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SOME 1997-2008 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6L 2V, 5.4L 2V, OR 6.8L 2V ENGINE--SPARK PLUG THREAD REPAIR PROCEDURE--NOT COVERED UNDER NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY. *NJ THIS INCLUDES F-53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS. UPDATED 2/23/10. *PE | |
| 06216 Jan 2006 | Power Train | LIMITED SLIP AXLE CHATTER, SHUDDER, BINDING SENSATION, OR VIBRATION DURING LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS. *TT | |
| 041601 Nov 2005 | Engine And Engine Cooling | WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING. *TT | |
| 042421 Jun 2005 | Seat Belts | SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT | |
| 05310 Feb 2005 | Seat Belts | SAFETY BELT WEB STOP BUTTON SERVICE. *EH |
Show 55 more bulletins
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04189 Dec 2004 | Visibility | REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT | |
| 04248 Dec 2004 | Steering | STEERING RACK NOISE. *TT SQUEAK/CREAK NOISE FROM STEERING RACK WHEN TURNING. *SC | |
| 042107 Dec 2004 | Power Train | GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT | |
| 041003 Nov 2004 | Engine And Engine Cooling | EXHAUST LEAK - CRACKED OR SEPARATED RIGHT SIDE EXHAUST PIPE - 3.8L AND 3.9L ENGINES. *TT | |
| 04198 Oct 2004 | Power Train | MANUAL TRANSMISSION HARD TO SHIFT INTO FIRST/REVERSE FROM A STOP. *TT | |
| 18229 Oct 2004 | Steering | POP/CLUNK OR SQUEALING NOISE FROM THE STEERING GEAR WHEN TURNING, DRIVING OVER BUMPS, OR BRAKING. OASIS. *TT | |
| 04174 Sep 2004 | Electrical System | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED - SYSTEM LEAN DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) - SERVICE TIPS. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2004 F-SERIES. *TT | |
| 031404 Aug 2004 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE MISFIRE OR RUNNING - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIPS. TO INCLUDE VARIOUS 2005 MODELS. * AR THIS ARTICLE 04161 SUPERSEDES TSB 03-14-04. | |
| 04156 Aug 2004 | Power Train | TR3650 MANUAL TRANSMISSION - JUMPS OUT OF GEAR 2ND AND/OR 3RD - CLASH NOISE AND/OR RASPY FEEL ON GEAR ENGAGEMENT. *TT | |
| 041514 Aug 2004 | Visibility | REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT | |
| 031501 Jul 2004 | Visibility | INOPERATIVE ELECTRIC REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER (HEATED BACKLITE) GRID LINES, INTEGRAL ANTENNA CONCERNS. *TT | |
| 04111 Jun 2004 | Electrical System | STREAMLINED DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE FOR VEHICLES WITH MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0401, P0402, P1400 OR P1401. ADDITIONAL SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE RUNS ROUGH, LACKS POWER, SURGE, POOR FUEL ECONOMY. *TT | |
| 02M01 Jun 2004 | Engine And Engine Cooling | CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 02M01 SUPPLEMENT #4. CERTAIN FORD 2000 THROUGH 2003 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A TUBE-MOUNTED EGR PRESSURE SENSOR - ADDITIONAL EGR PRESSURE SENSOR WARRANTY COVERAGE. *TT SUPPLEMENT #3. *MJ SUPPLEMENT #6. *TT | |
| 17868 Jun 2004 | Electrical System | INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER OR CRANK NO START - POSSIBLE PATS LAMP FLASHING AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) U1147 AND/OR U1262. *TT | |
| 04103 May 2004 | Engine And Engine Cooling | EXHAUST LEAK. RIGHT SIDE EXHAUST PIPE ON 3.8L OR 3.9L ENGINE. *TT | |
| 17531 Feb 2004 | Equipment | THUMP NOISE WHEN A/C CLUTCH ENGAGES. *MJ | |
| 17577 Feb 2004 | Power Train | GEAR WHINE IN 1ST, 3RD AND REVERSE GEARS. *TT | |
| 0412 Jan 2004 | Structure | HEADLINER SAGGING IN REAR OF VEHICLE. *TT | |
| 03223 Jan 2004 | Electrical System | STREAMLINED DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE FOR VEHICLES WITH MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0401, P0402, P1400 OR P1401. ADDITIONAL SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE RUNS ROUGH, LACKS POWER, SURGE, POOR FUEL ECONOMY. *TT | |
| 17510 Jan 2004 | Power Train | DRIVELINE CLUNK DURING GEAR CHANGES AND/OR QUICK ACCELERATION AFTER COAST (TIP-IN) CLUNK. *TT | |
| 03256 Dec 2003 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE-ROMEO BUILT 4.6L 2V-TICK NOISE FROM ENGINE-ENGINES BUILT BEFORE 9/17/2003. *MJ | |
| 17453 Dec 2003 | Exterior Lighting | CONDENSATION AND/OR WATER ACCUMULATION IN THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. *TT | |
| 17286 Oct 2003 | Equipment | THUMP NOISE WHEN AIR CONDITIONING CLUTCH ENGAGES. *TT | |
| 03181 Sep 2003 | Electrical System | REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE) - SERVICE TIPS. *TT | |
| 17104 Sep 2003 | Engine And Engine Cooling | TICKING/TAPPING NOISE WITH THE ENGINE WARMED UP AND THE TRANSMISSION IN GEAR AT IDLE. 2003 E150 INCLUDED. *TT | |
| 17171 Sep 2003 | Structure | CONVERTIBLE TOP LIFTING UNEVENLY. *TT | |
| 03164 Aug 2003 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SOME VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.6L 2V ENGINE, WITH AN ENGINE BUILD DATE PRIOR TO 8/29/03 MAY EXHIBIT AN ENGINE TICK NOISE THAT IS PRESENT AT ALL TEMPERATURES DURING IDLE. 2004 MODELS INCLUDED. *TT | |
| 03144 Jul 2003 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING CONDITION WITH COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS MAY BE MORE ACCURATELY DIAGNOSED USING THE OPTIONAL WORLDWIDE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM (WDS) COIL ON PLUG (COP) KIT. 2003 SUPER DUTY F SERIES INCLUDED. *TT | |
| 16907 Jun 2003 | Structure | LOOSE DOOR TRIM PANEL OR A NOISE FROM THE DOOR TRIM PANEL AREA WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS. *TT | |
| 0395 May 2003 | Suspension | POPPING TYPE NOISE WHILE TURNING INTO OR OUT OF AN INCLINE, SUCH AS TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY, AT LOW SPEEDS (BELOW 15 MPH (25 KM/H). *TT | |
| 0398 May 2003 | Fuel System | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATION WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0442, P0455, P0456, P0457, P1442 OR CHECK FUEL CAP LAMP ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0457. *TT | |
| 0361 Mar 2003 | Engine And Engine Cooling | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH OR WITHOUT ROUGH RUNNING, LACK OF POWER, SURGE OR POOR FUEL ECONOMY WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0401, P0402, P1400, P1401. *TT *JB | |
| 0322 Feb 2003 | Engine And Engine Cooling | STREAMLINED DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE FOR VEHICLES WITH MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0401, P0402, P1400 OR P1401, OR RUNS ROUGH, LACKS POWER, SURGE, POOR FUEL ECONOMY, AND THE ABOVE LISTED DTCS WITHOUT MIL. *TT | |
| 16644 Feb 2003 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L ENGINE AND THE T5 TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT HIGH IDLE BETWEEN SHIFTS. *TT | |
| 03261 Jan 2003 | Power Train | NEW SERVICE PART - NUMBER 5 NEEDLE BEARING AND RACE KIT - 4R70W TRANSMISSION - SERVICE TIP. *TT | |
| 030105 Dec 2002 | Seats | PASSENGER SEAT RUBS AGAINST DOOR PANEL. *TT | |
| 0258 Nov 2002 | Power Train | INOPERATIVE OR INACURRATE SPEEDOMETER, 4X4 LAMP ILLUMINATD, AND / OR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1635 OR P1639. *TT | |
| 02221 Nov 2002 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE-GEAR DRIVEN SYNCHRONIZERS-INCORRECT INSTALLATION-CAMSHAFT POSITION SYNCHRONIZER (CMP) INSTALLATION TOOL CORRECT APPLICATION. *MJ | |
| 16380 Nov 2002 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SERVICE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET FOR 4.6L APPLICATIONS. *TT | |
| 02208 Oct 2002 | Equipment | CLIMATE CONTROL A/C SERVICE TECH TIPS. *EH | |
| 16316 Oct 2002 | Structure | CONVERTIBLE TOP LIFTS UNEVENLY. *TT | |
| 02172 Sep 2002 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE-OIL LEAK FROM POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) VALVE AREA-VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 5/17/2002 EQUIPPED WITH 4.6L 2V ENGINE ONLY. *MJ | |
| 02176 Sep 2002 | Exterior Lighting | LAMP-BRAKE-INVADVERTENT DISABLING OF BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. *MJ | |
| 02178 Sep 2002 | Structure | NOISE-WINDNOISE FROM THE A PILLAR AREA. *MJ | |
| 021702 Aug 2002 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6L 2V ENGINE BUILT BEFORE MAY 17, 2002, MAY EXHIBIT AN OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE CRANKCASE / VALVE COVER AREA. *TT | |
| 16067 Jul 2002 | Power Train | SOME VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A HARD TO SHIFT INTO GEAR CONDITION PARITCULARLY FROM A STOP INTO FIRST OR REVERSE GEAR. *TT | |
| 16069 Jul 2002 | Power Train | SOME COBRAS MAY EXHIBIT A CLUNK NOISE FROM THE DRIVELINE DURING A QUICK ACCLERATION JUST AFTER COAST (TIP-IN CLUNK). *TT | |
| 15969 Jun 2002 | Structure | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A WIND NOISE FROM EITHER SIDE OF THE A-PILLAR AREA. *TT | |
| 15922 May 2002 | Power Train | SUBJECT REGARDING INACCURATE SPEEDOMETER. *TT | |
| 15934 May 2002 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SOME VEHICLES WITH THE TR6350 MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A LIGHT TICKING / RATTLE NOISE WHILE DRIVING AFTER A COLD ENGINE START. *TT | |
| 15788 Apr 2002 | Unknown Or Other | SUBJECT REGARDING P0460 DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE AND MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATION. *TT | |
| 0254 Mar 2002 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ON SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.6L ENGINE, THE FRONT END ACCESSORY DRIVE (FEAD) BELT MAY HYDROPLANE ON THE WATER PUMP PULLEY WHENTHE BELT IS SPLASHED WITH WATER. *TT | |
| 0256 Mar 2002 | Unknown Or Other | THIS BULLETIN INVOLVES PROPER PROCEDURES FOR PREPARATION OF SERVICE SHEET METAL PARTS COATED WITH ELECTRO DEPOSITION PRIMER (E-COAT). *TT | |
| 0245 Mar 2002 | Electrical System | INFORMATION REGARDING DISCHARGED BATTERY CHARGING SERVICE TIPS AND GUIDELINES. *TT | |
| 15702 Mar 2002 | Vehicle Speed Control | SUBJECT REGARDING SPEED CONTROL LAMP. *TT |
Showing 60 of 72 distinct bulletins on file for this vehicle.
Before you buy this vehicle
A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.
- Cold-start it yourself and listen for the first thirty seconds.Knocking, ticking that fades as it warms, or blue or white smoke on startup are the sounds of this vehicle's engine cluster. Check the oil level and the coolant color, and ask whether the engine or its head gaskets have ever been out.
- Watch the airbag warning light through a full key cycle.It should light on start and go out within seconds. A light that stays on, or never lights at all, means the system needs attention. Run the VIN for inflator recalls specifically.
- Test the throttle response and the cruise control on an open road.A surge, a hang in engine speed after lifting off, or cruise that will not set or cancel cleanly are the speed-control complaints on this vehicle.
- Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.
Parts search directory
The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.
Open the parts directory for this Ford Mustang →