Problems · by component
2000 Ford Mustang engine and engine cooling problems
65 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2000 Ford Mustang cite engine and engine cooling, 15% of all 446 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
65
15% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine and engine cooling
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ENGINE OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE OIL FILTER ADAPTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE OIL FILTER ADAPTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.”
“WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. STEAM ROLLED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DISCOVERED CRACK IN MANIFOLD WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THERMOSTAT HOUSING. COOLANT DRIPPING ON THE ENGINE; I DO NOT KNOW IF INTERNAL COMPONENTS ARE DAMAGED. RESEARCHED IT ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS MODEL AND THAT FORD CORRECTED THIS IN SUBSEQUENT MODELS BY CHANGING MANIFOLD TO ALUMINUM FROM THE PLASTIC. FORD WILL NOT HONOR RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. THEY ARE CLAIMING THAT MY VEHICLE ISN'T ON THE RECALL DESPITE THE FACT THAT MY CAR CONTAINS THE SAME PART THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED. *TR”
“WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE PLASTIC TRANSITION PIECE BETWEEN THE THERMOSTAT AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED CAUSING COOLANT TO FILL FOUR OF THE SPARK PLUG WELLS AND CAUSING THE CAR TO MISS VERY BADLY. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE INTAKES AND A RECALL IS IN PLACE FOR SOME OF THEM. MINE IS THE SAME PART NUMBER AS THE RECALLED ONES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALLED ONES BUT NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. *TR”
“SO I THOUGHT I HAD A SIMPLE THERMOSTAT ISSUE. WENT TO CHANGE THE THERMOSTAT AND NOTICED THE MANIFOLD HOUSING (PLASTIC) HAD A NICE CRACK IN IT. WHEN DOING RESEARCH ON THIS, I NOTICED THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS/INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE. NOW I AM IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD AND WILL HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT INSTALLED. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN. POOR MANUFACTURE DESIGN WITH NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OF FAILURE THAT RESULT IN UNNECESSARY HIGH REPAIR COSTS PLACED ON THE CONSUMER. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND THINK IT IS RIDICULOUS! *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG GT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND STEAM WAS ESCAPING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC RISER ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE MANIFOLD AND THE HEATER HOSE WERE FRACTURED AND WATER WAS LEAKING FROM THE HEATER HOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO ATTACH THE HOSE BACK ONTO THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE INTAKE GASKET WAS LEAKING ANTI FREEZE AND WATER WHERE THE MANIFOLD WAS ATTACHED TO THE CYLINDER HEADS. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
“THE SPARK PLUG IS POPPING OUT OF THE SOCKET , THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT I HAVE REPLACE ONCE ALREADY WITH IN THE YEAR. ALSO THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE ROOF ON THE CAR. I HAVE SEEN THAT THERE HAS BEEN OTHER FORD CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM , WHY IS IT THAT NO ONE CAN SEE THAT THIS IS A ON GOING PROBLEM. SOMEONE HAS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH FORD. *TR”
Showing 6 of 65 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.