NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Ford Mustang. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THE CRUISE CONTROL CAN BE SET BY PRESSING THE COAST BUTTON, AS WELL AS THE SET BUTTON. THE COAST BUTTON IS LOCATED ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHERE THE CONTACT HAND RESTS WHILE DRIVING. HE FOUND THIS AFTER WIFE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN WITH HER FOOT OFF OF BOTH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, ONCE HE FOUND THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, AND THIS WAS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. *AK UPDATE 1/4/2006 - *NM
(1) COLD WEATHER IN MICHIGAN. DRY CAR, NO ADDITIONAL FROZEN WATER ON VEHICLE. (2) PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT RELEASE WHEN FREEZING TEMPERATURES EXIST. UNABLE TO MOVE IN REVERSE WITHOUT HEAVY ACCELERATION. FREE PLAY IN PARKING BRAKE HANDLE EVENTUALLY GOES AWAY AFTER SITTING ( 3 - 10 MINUTES ), OR DRIVING FORWARD WITH THE VEHICLE FOR ROUGHLY .5 MILE. (3) DEALER COULD NOT VERIFY CONCERN, I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT AGAIN TO LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM, BUT WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE APPOINTMENT. NO SERVICE BULLETINS IN REGARD TO THIS PROBLEM. I AM NOT CURRENTLY USING PARKING BRAKE AS I DON'T WISH TO BREAK ANYTHING, OR PREMATURELY WEAR ANYTHING OUT. THIS VEHICLE WAS A FLEET VEHICLE PURCHASED WITH 17,210 MILES ON IT. DEALER IS VERY CORDIAL, AND APPEARS TO BE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE, BUT HAS NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM PRESENTED TO THEM PREVIOUSLY. NO SERVICE BULLETIN FROM FORD REGARDING THIS PROBLEMI PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT (ODI ID NUMBER : 10106576), AND HAVE SINCE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. IT APPEARS THAT THE SERVICE WORK THEY HAVE SINCE PERFORMED HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM (HOPEFULLY FOR GOOD). THE FOLLOWING WARRANTY SERVICES WERE PERFORMED: "REPLACE BOTH REAR E-BRAKE CABLES, REPLACE REAR BRAKE PADS DUE TO HOT SPOTS AND RT REAR INNER AND OUTER PADS HEAT CRACKED. USE ON CAR BRAKELATHE MACHINE BOTH REAR ROTORS BEFORE SPEC .550 AFTER CUT SPEC. .530 INSTALL 4 NEW STAINLESS SLIDES, LUBE COMPLETE ASSEMBLY AND ROAD TEST. ALL OK" . *NM
REAR BRAKES GRAB AND GRIND IF WET, WORSE IN REVERSE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 5-60 MPH STEERING WHEEL WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK, I APPLIED THE BRAKES WHEN THE CAR SPEND OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT THE CURVE, THE ACCELERATOR WAS RUNNING WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF. THIS CAUSE THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROLS TO BREAK ALONG WITH THE DIFFERENTIAL AND BRAKES.
I BROUGHT THIS CAR ON 07/07/04. AT THREE MONTHS THAT I BROUGHT THE CAR I NOTICE THAT THE CAR WASN'T DRIVING RIGHT THE CAR DOESN'T STAY STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD. I GOES SIDEWAYS AS I DRIVE. I TRIED TO FIX THE CAR MANY TIMES AND IT STILL DRIVES THE SAME WAY. ALSO THE HOOD IS NOT PUT ON PROPERLY. I WANT TO CANCEL THE PURCHASE OF THIS CAR. IS GIVING ME TO MANY PROBLEMS AND IT IS JUST COSTING ME MORE MONEY. *NM
DT: THE OWNER WAS GOING TO LEAVE DRIVEWAY IT TOOK THREE TIMES TO GO INTO GEAR. THEN, WHEN IT WENT INTO GEAR, IT WENT ABOUT 10-20 FEET BY ITSELF AND CRASHED INTO THE OWNER'S HOUSE. THE OWNER NEVER HAD FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE OWNER HAD FOOT ON THE BRAKES THE WHOLE TIME. THE OWNER SUSTAINED SHOULDER INJURY. HAD ABOUT $400 IN HOME REPAIRS, ABOUT $6000 IN CAR REPAIR, AND DOCTOR BILLS AS A RESULT OF ACCIDENT. THE OWNER CALLED FORD, WHO SAID IT MUST BE AN UNUSUAL ACCIDENT, AND THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK
IN 2004 MY MOM BOUGHT A NEW 2004 FORD MUSTANG WITH THE 3.9 V-6 MOTOR AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS IT STARTED TICKING REAL LOUD WHEN YOU FIRST START IT UP. COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS A PASSENGER SIDE EXHAUST LEAK THAT JUST GOT WORSE, AND AT THE SAME TIME HER ENGINE STARTED MAKING LOUD CHIRPING AND CRAZY NOISES TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE CAM POSITIONING SENSOR THAT WENT OUT. WELL SHE PAID ABOUT $550.00 TO GET THE SENSOR FIXED BUT SHE COULDN'T AFFORD THE EXHAUST TO.SO STILL TO THIS DAY SHE DRIVES HER NICE LOOKING MUSTANG CAREFULLY AROUND TOWN THAT SOUNDS LIKE ITS READY TO DIE, AND I WOULDN'T TRUST DRIVING THAT THING 10 MILES OUT OF TOWN. IT MIGHT NOT BE AN EYE SORE BUT IT SURE IS AN EAR SORE, AND IS STRESSING YEARS OFF MY OLD BROKE MOTHERS LIFE. WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FORD FAMILY AND MY DAD RETIRED FROM FORD PROVING GROUNDS. BUT THAT IS THE SORRIEST FORD WE'VE EVER SEEN.OH YEAH, PLUS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEVER SHIFTED RIGHT FROM DAY 1, AND SHE HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY ,A PULLEY, THE SERPENTINE BELT ETC.AND IT HAS A LOT OF RATTLES AND ROAD NOISE,AND IT JUST BARELY MADE 60,000 MILES. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 FORD MUSTANG GT CONVERTIBLE WITH THE TOP DOWN AND THE BOOT FASTENED AS INSTRUCTED IN THE OWNER'S HANDBOOK, THE BOOT DETACHED AND FLEW INTO TRAFFIC. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON TWO OCCASIONS.*AK
I HAVE A 2004 MUSTANG COBRA. MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR, TWICE I HAD THE CARPET NEAR THE GAS PEDDLE INTERFERE WITH THE OPERATION OF THE GAS PEDDLE. ONCE IT DID NOT ALLOW THE GAS PEDDLE TO RETURN TO ITS NORMAL POSITION WHEN MY FOOT WAS REMOVED. THE SECOND TIME THE CARPET FOUND ITS WAY UNDER THE GAS PEDDLE AND DID NOT ALLOW FOR PROPER USE OF THE GAS PEDDLE UNTIL THE CARPET WAS REMOVED TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. CAUSE SEEMS TO BE THAT THE CARPET DOES NOT STAY ATTACHED TO THE TABS THAT ARE TO HOLD IT IN PLACE.
SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED...THROTTLE PEDAL STUCK UNDER CARPET OF VEHICLE CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE CONTINUOUSLY, AND HIT REV LIMITER WHILE I WAS HEADING TOWARDS STOPPED TRAFFIC. CUT ENGINE TO STOP THROTTLE, BUT WITHOUT POWER BRAKES AND STEERING IT WAS MORE THAN FRIGHTENING. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND HAD TO FORCE CARPET UP IN ORDER TO FREE THROTTLE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED "OH, WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THESE WITH COBRAS".
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FOUR CARS REAR END COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S SEAT TOTALLY COLLAPSED BACKWARD. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL. *AK
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD MUSTANG. SHE IS CALLING IN RESPONSE TO THE INVESTIGATION NUMBER PE05038. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE VEHICLE SOUNDS LIKE IT IS REVVING TOO MUCH WHILE CHANGING GEARS BECAUSE THE RPM'S STAY UP TO HIGH. THE CONTACT HAS CHECKED WITH THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR WHEN THEY FIRST PURCHASED IT, AND THEY TOLD HIM IT WAS THE NATURE OF THIS CAR. THE DEALERSHIP MUST HAVE SPOKEN WITH FORD IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. ALSO, THEY WROTE A LETTER TO FORD AND CONTACTED THEM AS WELL ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *AK
GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK UNDER CARPET. I WAS PASSING SOMEONE AND THE GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK. I NEARLY WRECKED, BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. FOUND THE PROBLEM , HAD TO CUT THE CARPET SO IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. IT IS APPALLING THAT A POORLY DESIGNED CARPET COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL DEATHS. FIX THIS!*JB
GAS PEDAL HAS GOTTEN STUCK UNDER CARPET A FEW TIMES, AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS THE FLOOR MAT DOING IT BUT AFTER LOOKING MORE CLOSELY IT APPEARS TO BE THE CARPET OR THE WAY IT WAS INSTALLED THATS CAUSING IT.
COMPLAINT ON MY 2004 FORD MUSTANG GT (ORGINAL OWNER OF BOTH). VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS RELATING TO THE POSITION OF THE CARPET AROUND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AFTER MINIMAL USE OF THE VEHICLE (5000 MILES OR AROUND 3-5 MONTHS OF USE) A LARGE HOLE DEVELOPED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. IF THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED FULLY OR ALMOST FULLY THE SIDE OF YOUR SHOE CAN CATCH ON THE HOLE LONG ENOUGH TO POSE A SAFTEY HAZARD OF NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE YOUR FOOT IMMEADATLY OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND HAVE TO BE VERY CONCIOUS OF MY FOOT POSITION ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN DRIVING TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM NOW THAT I AM AWARE OF IT. FORD DEEMS THIS PROBLEM AS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE CAR AND WILL NOT COVER REPLACEMENT OF THE CARPET UNDER MY BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRENTY. PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE, PLEASE CONTACT AND I WILL FORWARD THEM TO YOU.
A STUCK WIDE OPEN THROTTLE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 FORD SVT COBRA MUSTANG... FORTUNATELY I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER WITH SOME AUTO RACING IN MY BACKGROUND... I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY PUSH IN THE CLUTCH(ENGINE WAS BOUNCING OFF THE REV LIMITER AT THIS POINT), AND TURN OFF THE KEY... THE COBRA MUSTANG HAS HYDRO-BOOST POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING SO AT THIS POINT, STEERING EFFORT AND BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT "WENT THROUGH THE ROOF"(WERE VERY HIGH). SINCE I AM AN ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORTER AND BUYER OF FORD PRODUCTS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL ON THIS VERY COMMON PROBLEM... BEFORE SOME ONE LESS EXPERIENCED GETS KILLED!!! THESE ARE VERY POWERFUL CARS!!! THINGS HAPPEN EXTREMELY FAST WHEN THE PEDAL IS DOWN!!! THE CAUSE OF THIS STUCK THROTTLE IS A PARTIAL BENDING OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AND THE CONTACT WITH AND STICKING UNDER OF THE CARPET BY THE PEDAL. A STUCK WIDE OPEN THROTTLE IN ANY CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS!!! A STUCK WIDE OPEN THROTTLE IN THIS PARTICULAR CAR IS INSANE!!! TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AS SOON AS I ARRIVED HOME I TRIMMED THE CARPET THAT WAS CONTACTING THE THROTTLE WHEN DOWN... SO THAT IT WOULD NO LONGER TOUCH AT ALL. PLEASE NOTE---> AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT THE FLOOR MAT HAD CAUSED THE PROBLEM. I WAS WRONG... WHILE STILL POSSIBLE IF DISLODGED FROM IT'S ANCHOR POINT... IT WAS NOT WHAT WAS STICKING THE PEDAL... IT WAS THE CARPET, WHICH WAS SHAPED POORLY AND RETAINED EVEN WORSE IN THAT CRITICAL THROTTLE AREA. PLEASE NOTIFY THE PROPER AUTHORITIES AS TO THE POTENTIAL FOR EXTREME CONSEQUENCES THIS DEFECT PRESENTS. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DATE IN THE DATE FIELD IS A GUESS SINCE THIS OCCURRED OVER A YEAR AGO... I AM FILING NOW BECAUSE I HAVE READ ABOUT NUMEROUS OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS OCCURRING AND I FIND IT VERY TROUBLING.
THERE WAS NO INDICATOR LIGHT WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED. DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS THE WAY VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED. *AK THE DEALER DID NOT ADVISE THE CONSUMER OF THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB
WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED THE CLUTCH PEDAL IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO RISE UP FROM 100 TO 3000 RPMS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND FLOOR MANAGER DETERMINED THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH CAR. HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK
I HAVE MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHEN YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE IT WOULD NOT GO BACKWARD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK, SECOND GEAR GRINDED VERY BADLY. I DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM WHEN I INITIALLY TOOK THE CAR IN. THEY KEPT TELLING ME TO DRIVE THE CAR AND IT WOULD WORK, IT WAY OUT. IT DID NOT WORK ITS WAY OUT, AND I TOOK IT BACK IN FOR REPAIRS. THEY HAD THE CAR 9 DAYS. AFTER I PICKED THE CAR UP, A FEW DAYS LATER I REALIZED THE REVERSE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A FUSE . A FEW WEEKS LATER I REALIZED IT WAS OUT AGAIN, THEY AGAIN SAID IT WAS A FUSE, AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT WORKING BECAUSE OF MY AFTERMARKET RADIO. I DECIDED TO JUST DROP THE CAR OFF IN THE DEALERS AFTER HOUR DROP BOX TO MAKE THEM LOOK AT IT BECAUSE OF THE REVERSE LIGHTS NOT WORKING. IT TURNS OUT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER AND SWITCH WERE BROKEN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I JUST RECEIVED THE CAR BACK TODAY AND NOW THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT IS ON. I NOTICED THIS BEFORE I EVEN GOT OUT OF THE DEALER'S LOT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ON WHEN I TURNED THE CAR IN. I TURNED THE CAR AROUND AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY WERE TO BUSY AND COULD NOT TAKE THE CAR BACK SO I DO NOT KNOW WHY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS ARE IN REGARDS TO THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS FROM BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT TAKE THE CAR IN UNTIL SUNDAY. *AK
2004 MUSTANG COBRA BOUGHT NEW ONE MONTH PRIOR. DRIVING DOWN A QUIET ROAD, WENT FULL THROTTLE FOR SHORT DURATION, THROTTLE STUCK, I HAD TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION. ACCELLERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK UNDER THE CARPET. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT, AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. THE DEALER FINALLY CUT THE CARPET AND SCREWED IT TO THE FLOORPAN (THE REPAIR IS NOT VISIBLE) AND IT HASN'T HAPPENED SINCE.
GAP ON LOWER PASSENGER DOOR. EXCESSIVE ROAD NOISE WHERE CONVERTABLE TOP MEETS PILAR ON PASSENGER SIDE.*AK
REPEATED INTERMITTENT FUEL SMELL DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE IN INTERIOR COMPARTMENT. *LA
REAR BRAKES 2004 MAKES A NOISE WHEN WET IDLE IS TO HIGH WHEN YOU PUSH IN CLUTCH. *JB
I BOUGHT A 2004 FORD MUSTANG ON 9/15/03. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS FAULTY, CAUSING ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPLACED ON 10/28/03. THE REAR END WHINES AND IS WOBBLY WHILE MAKING ANY TURNS, LEFT OR RIGHT.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED HEARD A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE NOISE SOUNDED LIKE THERE WAS NO FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR WHEN IT WAS ACTUALLY FULL. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND CLAIMED THAT THE STEERING WAS WORKING NORMALLY. *AK POWER STEERING WILL LOCK UP AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STEER VEHICLE, THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, PROBLEM WITH REAR DEFROSTER. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OF ALL VEHICLES 1999 AND UP. *AK
MALFUNCTION IN DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS ON 2004 FORD MUSTANG.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE VEHICLE HIT THE GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM
CONSUMER INQUIRY REGARDING RECALLS OR DEFECTS RELATING TO THE 2004 FORD MUSTANG. *MR *NM
THE HEAD REST ONLY ADJUST UP TO ONE INCH. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT ANYONE WHO DRIVES THESE VEHICLES WILL NOT HAVE THE PROPER HEAD RESTRAINT PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026