I have experienced two engine failures in my 2005 Ford Mustang due to timing chain issues, specifically the failure of the timing chain cassette, guides, and tensioners in the 4.0L SOHC V6 engine. The first failure happened suddenly with no warning, resulting in severe bottom-end damage, including rod knock. The timing chain cassette ends tend to snap off, sending debris through the engine and damaging lifters, camshafts, and other critical components. The second failure was preceded by an audible -??death rattle, -?? a known symptom of timing chain guide and tensioner failure. Despite this, my vehicle never displayed a check engine light or oil pressure warning before either failure. Unlike later Mustangs with an oil pressure gauge, mine only has a warning light, which never activated.This issue poses a major safety risk, especially at highway speeds. My first engine failure occurred with no prior symptoms, which could have led to an accident had I been merging or overtaking. A failing timing chain can cause misfires, loss of power, or sudden engine shutdown, endangering the driver and others on the road. Independent mechanics have confirmed this issue, and Ford service centers recognize it as a common problem with the 4.0L SOHC V6 engine. Ford has quoted $3,000-?"$4,000 for timing chain service, making repairs nearly as expensive as engine replacement. These engines rely on multiple chains and hydraulic tensioners that wear out over time, causing slack in the timing chain, jumped timing, and catastrophic damage, typically after 100,000 miles. Despite this, there are no clear warning systems to alert drivers before failure occurs. While timing chains are considered serviceable components, the high failure rate of the timing chain guides and tensioners in these engines, combined with excessive repair costs, indicates a design flaw. I have spent around $4,500 addressing this issue, yet the risk of recurrence remains.

- Strongsville, OH, USA

The 2005 to 2009 Mustangs (all of them) have a water intrusion problem presented as a design flaw in the engine firewall that leaks water onto the smart junction block causing random electrical systems failure including the loss of engine ignition, loss of all systems, etc. In my case, the intrusion of water caused a sudden and complete loss of all systems. Discovered a day after heavy rain. There are thousands of reports of this on the web and the dealer admits it is a design flaw and known problem.

- Springfield, MO, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Mustang. The contact noticed that there was an abnormal noise coming form the engine. The contact mentioned that the front frame was damaged and the vehicle was too unstable to drive. The vehicle was taken to universal auto llc (491 West main street, greenwood, in 46142) where it was diagnosed that the lifters, timing chain, and timing chain kit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. In addition, the vehicle was leaking oil and white smoke was forming on the front passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed back to the used dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

Throttle body failure causes my vehicle to stop in the middle of the road without any warning.

- Houston, TX, USA

: :..updated 03/08/17

- Riyadh, NY, USA

When I shift from park or neutral position to drive, the car surges forward. This has happened both when the car is in driveway stationary and intermittently at a stoplight. The date below that is required is incorrect; it has been doing it since I got the car I believe in Feb 2005, but I didn't think of it being a safety issue until it was passed down to my daughter this year; for someone that isn't prepared, it could easily cause an accident

- Punta Gorda, FL, USA

Engine light came on and car was sticking in gear so I took it to the dealer. The dealer found out through a diagnostic test that the throttle assembly but wanted me to pay almost $1000 to get it fixed. I told them no and picked my car up. I went on line and found out there was a recall on the throttle assembly.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Mustang. While pulling out of the driveway at 5 mph in rainy weather, water began pouring out of the dashboard. The contact detected a burning odor coming from the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact replaced the cabin filter, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 72,453.

- New Bern, NC, USA

7 of 8 spark plugs broke while dealer was performing 100,000 mile service. $824 to replace 8 spark plugs. Really"??"

- Williamsburg, VA, USA

The day after getting my oil changed (which has been done routinely through out the life of my car) on my way to work the following morning my car began to slip erratically out of gear, it dropped into neutral when going from a complete stop (I narrowly avoided getting hit turning left across traffic) and then slipped into reverse at a stop light, which I did not discover until I hit the gas and nearly slammed into the car behind me at the light. When I had the car towed to my local Ford dealership I had the car investigated by a third party to ensure that jiffy lube was not at fault for the damage done to my transmission when they changed the oil in the car. The report came back stating that the transmission was experiencing catastrophic failure due to uneven wearing on the inside of the transmission from the servo bars. I was informed that this is a very common problem with the transmission that is in my car and I was forced to buy a completely new transmission for $4600, otherwise my 10 year old gently driven well taken care of car with less than 65,000 miles on it that is in near mint condition would have been basically scrap. This is a dangerous mechanical failure that is frequently occurring and could cause an accident or worse a fatality.

- Tacoma, WA, USA

Since about a year ago, November 2013, this vehicle has shown multiple issues. To start, it is an automatic 05 Mustang which, the more I read online, the more that I seem to find that many have these exact same or very similar issues. Initially the dash cluster (everything besides the tachometer) was not functioning properly. The speedometer would get stuck at 20 mph but still move acting as though the 20 mph was the 0 mph mark (so 35 mph = 15 mph). More recently the gas gauge has stopped working, it sits at empty even after plenty of gas has been put into it. The temperature gauge also gets stuck often, still moving as the speedometer does. Not too long after these issues started occurring, when I went to fill up the gas tank it wouldn't take the gas as it normally would. Sometimes only a couple dollars worth would be in before it clicked off. After paying closer attention I have also noticed sometimes gas actually splashes out when filling it up even though it is definitely not full. Much more recently the vehicle has worrying issues. At one point while driving on the freeway at 70 mph the vehicle suddenly started to decelerate on its own, even while I was pressing on the gas pedal. I pulled it off to the side, shut it off completely, started it up and it was as though nothing happened. Ever since that incident though it has been running a bit louder and now it seems a possible misfire is happening with one of the cylinders occasionally. The vehicle has a delayed and very hard shift from third to fourth gear. It is not as though the vehicle has not been taken care of, and for a 2005 the mileage is pretty low still. At least one or two of these issues seem to be a safety concern, and it is very obvious after researching online that these issues are prevalent in tons of these exact same vehicles.

- Saginaw, MI, USA

In heavy city traffic, stepped on gas to accelerate, car would not go. Kept giving gas would finally respond. Did this several times in one day. Next time we tried to drive it "engine safe mode" light came on and car would not accelerate at all. Through research and talking to others determined that it is the throttle body (drive by wire) a known problem with some Ford vehicles. Talked to the Ford dealer where we bought the car and the service person we spoke to told us it would be covered by Ford's extended warranty in response to csp 13N03. Took the car in today for appointment and they said it was not covered by that extended warranty and that consumer satisfaction program 13N03 did not pertain to a Mustang. Does not seem right to us that our car would not be covered when research has shown that Mustang's have had the same problem and the same "drive by wire" system. We are left being responsible for over $500 in costs for this repair.

- Granger, IA, USA

The car was coasting and then just completely turned off reducing steering and braking ability at least 50% until I could come to a complete stop, turn off the ignition, then restart it again. Since then this has happened at least 5 times, 4 in the last week! my totally trustworthy mechanic did a diagnostic test and found no failures besides the fact that the fuel gauge hasn't worked in years, the speedometer doesn't always tell me the speed, the gas tank shuts off before filling up, the head lights and interior lights have stayed on after turning off the car and hasn't turned off after it's rained. The RPM seems to be the problem for why the engine turns off when they are too low. There used to be a jerky problem during acceleration when the car would shoot forward then back off a couple times before returning to a more steady acceleration. I would consider this vehicle a complete lemon and threat to the safety of me and anybody else on the road but since the warranty period is over and it's been taken to a mechanic I don't have any other options besides reporting it to you, I really wish there was some way this problem could be solved and I'm certain many other owners of this same vehicle are dealing with the same problem.

- San Juan Capistrano, CA, USA

Automatic transmission has trouble shifting into low gear. Doesn't want to accelerate after stopping. Sounds as if it is stuck in a gear. Have read many complaints about this online and Ford just claims it isn't their problem. Also, all gauges quit working at approx 70,000 miles. Fuel system is terrible. Will not pump gas past half a tank and spits gas back out while pumping like its full. Causes pump to constantly shut off. All of these are incredibly dangerous and makes this car unsafe to drive.

- Johnson City, TN, USA

The car stalled while cruising at highway speeds. Needed to pull over to without power steering or brakes and restart the car. This is not an isolated incident. www.ncconsumer.org/news-articles/nccc%20petitions%20nhtsa%20for%20defect%20investigation%20into%20ford%20escape%20vehicles.html.

- Clayton, NC, USA

I was driving about 55mph and heard a beep, looked in the dash and saw the engine went into a "fail safe mode". the car slowed down and jerked and slowed down quite a bit. Went to the dealership and could'nt find anything wrong w/ it. It started happening more often, so finally found a mechanic that was able to diagnose and fix the problem for $800. I saw in the paper that a few Toyota had this problem and wanted to let you know it happened on a new Ford Mustang as well. Also, whenever it rains, (the same car) leaks water into and puddles up under the passenger's seat. This has been a problem from the beginning of purchase. I don't drive this car in the rain because of this. I have talked to other Mustang owners at the oil change facility, and they said they have the same problem. I really don't understand why there has not been a coulpe of recalls on the 2005 Mustang GT. I waited a long time to get my dream car and paid a lot of money for it. If I'm not the only one having this problem, I would think the Ford company should take responsibilty and fix the problems.[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Livonia, MI, USA

I was driving at night at around 30mph when everything electrical went dead in my car including headlights and dashboard but the engine was still running. I was able to drive the car home but could not start it the next morning. Had to flat bed it to the dealership where they told me the whole computer system failed and had to be replaced. This happened 3 more time since then. Each time I was charged $3000 to have it replaced. It shouldn't happen once let alone 3 times. Another recent problem, my engine caught fire causing everything on the left side of my car to be replaced. Ford denied any "real problems they could find". also had my gas tank replaced twice because it wouldn't fill up. And to add to everything, my gearshift needs to be replaced because a little plastic piece that hides the holes when U shift up or down, broke. $600 estimate at Ford. As well as my engine smoking after driving for 2 hours at 65-70 mph. Do not buy a Ford. Iv'E spent over $12K fixing the problems that I never caused. Ford refused to pay a dime or take any responsibility. Too many problems causing unsafe situations for me as well as other drivers and pedestrians around me. ## VIN failed ##

- Chatsworth , CA, USA

While driving on local road heard a noise from engine compartment, lost power steering, battery warning light came on and shortly after car stopped running. Found accessory belt detached from pulley. Found out from Ford that this was the crankshaft pulley, and this is quite common on the 4.0 V6 engine.

- Killingworth, CT, USA

Thermostat housing exploded while driving.... spoke to my mechanic and they said that these come in all the time to their shop on 4.0 Ford cars and trucks. So much so that you don't even have to give Ford the part number when you call in the part because so many people are ordering them.

- Oceanside, CA, USA