1998 Ford Mustang problems

“THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND LEAKED COOLANT ONTO THE ENGINE AND OTHER RELATED COMPONENTS. CAR DIED ON FREEWAY. THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKS. THE COOLANT WILL LEAK ONTO THE TOP OF THE BLOCK AND THEN DOWN THE BACK OF THE ENGINE. THIS INTAKE DESIGN IS A KNOWN DEFECT BY FORD. BELOW IS AN "OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER" FROM FORD: 97M91 APRIL, 1999 FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS PROVIDING A NO-CHARGE SERVICE PROGRAM NUMBER 97M91, TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN 1996 THROUGH 1998 CROWN VICTORIA TAXI, TOWN CAR LIMO PREP & DELIVERY PACKAGE, 1996 AND 1997 THUNDERBIRD, COUGAR AND MUSTANG VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.6L SOHC ENGINES. THIS SERVICE PROGRAM PROVIDES ADDITIONAL COVERAGE FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. REASON FOR THIS PROGRAM FATIGUE CRACKS MAY DEVELOP IN SOME OF THE COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLDS USED ON THE 4.6L SOHC ENGINES INSTALLED IN THE AFFECTED CARS. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN ENGINE COOLANT LEAKAGE WHICH, IF NOT DETECTED OR IGNORED, WILL CAUSE ENGINE OVERHEATING. COMPLETE LOSS OF COOLANT MAY RESULT IN ENGINE DAMAGE OR ENGINE FAILURE. WHAT WE WILL DO IF THE ENGINE OF YOUR CAR SHOULD DEVELOP A COOLANT LEAK AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CROSS OVER COOLANT PASSAGE, LOCATED DIRECTLY…”

“FILLER NECK TO TANK GASKET RIPPED AND LEAKING FUEL. CAUSES FUEL TO POUR FROM THE VEHICLE ON LEFT HAND TURNS WITH FULL TANK OF FUEL. HIGH PROBABILITY OF AN AUTO FIRE DUE TO THIS CONDITION. *TR”

“PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT. WORK , CANNOT PULL OUT TO USE IT... THE REPAIR SHOP IS HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING. A RETRACTOR. MECHANISM....MY FAMILY CANNOT SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. RIGHT NOW”

“I WAS BRAKING AT A RED LIGHT BEHIND A TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN I HAD ALMOST COMPLETELY STOPPED, MY CAR LURCHED FORWARD, WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE. I LIFTED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE FOR AN INSTANT, THEN SLAMMED THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN, STOPPING MY CAR JUST A COUPLE INCHES FROM SLAMMING INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *TR”

“THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT LOSS IN STEERING STABILITY. EVERYTHING FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO THE RACK AND PINION SHOW NO SIGNS OF LEAKING. I'VE HAD THE PS LINES REPLACED AS WELL AS THE PS PUMP, BECAUSE IF THE LACK OF STABILITY AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. PS FLUID HAS BEEN REPLACED AND BLED. AND THE PUMP IS STILL VERY LOUD (IT WAS ALWAYS LOUD, THE NEW PUMP IS THE SAME WAY. BUT THAT'S MORE ANNOYING THAN A SAFELY CONCERN). I'LL BE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY VEER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. CAR HAS NEW TIRES AND HAS BEEN ALIGNED RECENTLY. *TR”

“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO CRACKS IN THE HEAD GASKET, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP. THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT ON 6/20/06 DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. IT WAS RAINING AND THE RATE OF SPEED WAS 30MPH. NO INJURIES INCURRED BUT MINOR DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS REPORTED IN THE POLICE REPORT.”