FORD MUSTANG GT · model year

2002 FORD MUSTANG GT

59 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002FORDMUSTANG GT carries 59 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 9 crashes, 3 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 MUSTANG GT is engine and engine cooling:engine with 7 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling (5) and seat belts (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 2002 MUSTANG GT, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

59
Complaints
9
Crashes
3
Fires
8
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

59 filings

Crashes Reported

9 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING5
SEAT BELTS5
ENGINE5
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
WHEELS2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
SUSPENSION:REAR1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP1
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1

Recent Complaints

20180109CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

I RECENTLY WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE LATE AFTER WORK ON INTERSTATE 10 AT 60 MPH WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL , HIT A GUARD RAIL AND THROWN INTO ONTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AS STATED IN POLICE REPORT. BOTH FRONT AND REAR OF THE CAR SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE HOWEVER NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING FACIAL TRAUMA SEATBELTS FAILED, AS IT DID NOT HOLD MY 100 LB BODY IN PLACE.CAUSING INJURY. FROM BEING THROWN ALL OVER THE CAR CAUSING LOSS OF CONCIOUSNOUS. BACK DRIVER SIDE WHEEL AND HUB WAS TORN OFF FROM IMPACT AND AXLE WAS BROKE. CAR HAD 96 K MILES AND WELL MAINTAINED.AND CARED FOR. HOWEVER THIS CAR HAS FAULTY AIRBAGS, SEATBELTS, AMONG OTHER ISSUES THAT CA RESULT IN A HUMAN LIFE!

Mileage: 96,000

20180109CrashSEAT BELTS

I RECENTLY WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE LATE AFTER WORK ON INTERSTATE 10 AT 60 MPH WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL , HIT A GUARD RAIL AND THROWN INTO ONTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AS STATED IN POLICE REPORT. BOTH FRONT AND REAR OF THE CAR SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE HOWEVER NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING FACIAL TRAUMA SEATBELTS FAILED, AS IT DID NOT HOLD MY 100 LB BODY IN PLACE.CAUSING INJURY. FROM BEING THROWN ALL OVER THE CAR CAUSING LOSS OF CONCIOUSNOUS. BACK DRIVER SIDE WHEEL AND HUB WAS TORN OFF FROM IMPACT AND AXLE WAS BROKE. CAR HAD 96 K MILES AND WELL MAINTAINED.AND CARED FOR. HOWEVER THIS CAR HAS FAULTY AIRBAGS, SEATBELTS, AMONG OTHER ISSUES THAT CA RESULT IN A HUMAN LIFE!

Mileage: 96,000

20180109CrashWHEELS

I RECENTLY WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE LATE AFTER WORK ON INTERSTATE 10 AT 60 MPH WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL , HIT A GUARD RAIL AND THROWN INTO ONTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AS STATED IN POLICE REPORT. BOTH FRONT AND REAR OF THE CAR SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE HOWEVER NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING FACIAL TRAUMA SEATBELTS FAILED, AS IT DID NOT HOLD MY 100 LB BODY IN PLACE.CAUSING INJURY. FROM BEING THROWN ALL OVER THE CAR CAUSING LOSS OF CONCIOUSNOUS. BACK DRIVER SIDE WHEEL AND HUB WAS TORN OFF FROM IMPACT AND AXLE WAS BROKE. CAR HAD 96 K MILES AND WELL MAINTAINED.AND CARED FOR. HOWEVER THIS CAR HAS FAULTY AIRBAGS, SEATBELTS, AMONG OTHER ISSUES THAT CA RESULT IN A HUMAN LIFE!

Mileage: 96,000

20161104ENGINE

BLEW SPARK PLUG OUT.

Mileage: 119,400

20160719ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE ABS ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON. IT CANNOT BE TURNED OFF. THERE HAS BEEN NO PROBLEM WITH BRAKING OR ANY ACCIDENT SINCE THIS OCCURRED ABOUT JUNE 2016. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED BY FORD, SINCE THIS COULD BE A HIGHLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

Mileage: 149,000

20151114SERVICE BRAKES

FORD MOTOR COMPANY DISCONTINUED THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF THE ANTI-LOCK PUMP UNIT (ABS PUMP) OF THEIR CLASSIC CAR FORD MUSTANG FOR THE YEARS 1999 TO 2004. IT IS A PART THAT SERVES THE CAR'S SAFETY SYSTEM BEING AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THE BRAKE COMPONENTS. THIS IS AN UNWISE DECISION THAT ENDANGERS THE LIFE OF 1999-2004 MUSTANG OWNERS AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. ACCORDING TO WWW.WIKIPEDIA.ORG A TOTAL OF 947,667 MUSTANGS WERE SOLD ON THE REFERENCE YEARS, THE MAJORITY IS STILL ON THE ROAD. IT IS UNCLEAR IF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS DISCONTINUED ALSO.

Mileage: 122,374

20150308ENGINE

I HAD JUST FINISHED FUELING UP MY CAR AND WHEN I GOT IN TO START IT UP I HEARD A POP AND HISSING SOUND.... WHEN I CHECKED IT HAD BLOWN ANOTHER SPARK PLUG AND COIL OUT OF CYLINDER 7.... IT BLEW ONE OUT OF CYLINDER 8 AND I HAD IT FIXED NOW CYLINDER 7 DID IT.... ITS OBVIOUSLY COMMON FOR THE 4.6 MOTOR TO DO THIS AND I DON'T FIND IT RIGHT THAT US OWNERS HAVE TO CONSTANTLY FIX THESE PROBLEMS WHEN ITS FORD'S FAULT FOR MAKING THIS MOTOR. *TR

Mileage: 116,000

20150308FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I HAD JUST FINISHED FUELING UP MY CAR AND WHEN I GOT IN TO START IT UP I HEARD A POP AND HISSING SOUND.... WHEN I CHECKED IT HAD BLOWN ANOTHER SPARK PLUG AND COIL OUT OF CYLINDER 7.... IT BLEW ONE OUT OF CYLINDER 8 AND I HAD IT FIXED NOW CYLINDER 7 DID IT.... ITS OBVIOUSLY COMMON FOR THE 4.6 MOTOR TO DO THIS AND I DON'T FIND IT RIGHT THAT US OWNERS HAVE TO CONSTANTLY FIX THESE PROBLEMS WHEN ITS FORD'S FAULT FOR MAKING THIS MOTOR. *TR

Mileage: 116,000

20150308ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAD JUST FINISHED FUELING UP MY CAR AND WHEN I GOT IN TO START IT UP I HEARD A POP AND HISSING SOUND.... WHEN I CHECKED IT HAD BLOWN ANOTHER SPARK PLUG AND COIL OUT OF CYLINDER 7.... IT BLEW ONE OUT OF CYLINDER 8 AND I HAD IT FIXED NOW CYLINDER 7 DID IT.... ITS OBVIOUSLY COMMON FOR THE 4.6 MOTOR TO DO THIS AND I DON'T FIND IT RIGHT THAT US OWNERS HAVE TO CONSTANTLY FIX THESE PROBLEMS WHEN ITS FORD'S FAULT FOR MAKING THIS MOTOR. *TR

Mileage: 116,000

20141124SEAT BELTS

I HAVE REPLACED DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS 2 TIME AND THEY NEED IT AGAIN THEY STOP RETRACTING. MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT WORK IT THE SUN SHINES ON THAT SIDE OF CAR. HEADLIGHTS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE SO FOGGY YOU COULDN'T SEE WHEN LIGHTS WERE ON. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

20141124ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE REPLACED DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS 2 TIME AND THEY NEED IT AGAIN THEY STOP RETRACTING. MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT WORK IT THE SUN SHINES ON THAT SIDE OF CAR. HEADLIGHTS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE SO FOGGY YOU COULDN'T SEE WHEN LIGHTS WERE ON. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

20141107ENGINE

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF HEAD AND THERE'S A KNOCK COMING FROM THE BLOCK. *TR

Mileage: 73,000

20140312CrashFireENGINE

1 - ENGINE MAKES HORRIBLE SOUND IN COLD WEATHER. ALSO APPEARS TO BE ISSUE WITH ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS WHICH CAUSED A FIRE. VERY BAD GAS MILEAGE - BIG CHANGE IN DECREASED MPG. HAVE ISSUES WHEN TRYING TO FILL UP GAS TANK WHERE FUEL GUN FILLER WONT ALLOW ME TO FUEL AS THE GAS PUMP AT MOST GAS STATIONS WILL IMMEDIATELY STOP AND KICK OUT THE FUELLER GUN AND SPIT GAS OUT OF MY TANK AND SPILL ON MY CAR. THERE IS ALSO OIL ON MY SPARK PLUGS AND PORTS. 2 -POWERTRAIN - POOR STABILITY IN DRIVING AND SQUEAKY NOISES COMING FROM REAREND. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND WENT THROUGH FOUR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, FIRST TIME AT 800 MILES ON THE ODOMETER ONLY. FORD REPLACED ALL DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS WHILE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. PRESENTLY I AM RE-EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. ALL DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SECOND AND THIRD GEAR TO FINAL INOPERABILITY CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP DEAD WHILE DRIVING. IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 98,000

20140312CrashFirePOWER TRAIN

1 - ENGINE MAKES HORRIBLE SOUND IN COLD WEATHER. ALSO APPEARS TO BE ISSUE WITH ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS WHICH CAUSED A FIRE. VERY BAD GAS MILEAGE - BIG CHANGE IN DECREASED MPG. HAVE ISSUES WHEN TRYING TO FILL UP GAS TANK WHERE FUEL GUN FILLER WONT ALLOW ME TO FUEL AS THE GAS PUMP AT MOST GAS STATIONS WILL IMMEDIATELY STOP AND KICK OUT THE FUELLER GUN AND SPIT GAS OUT OF MY TANK AND SPILL ON MY CAR. THERE IS ALSO OIL ON MY SPARK PLUGS AND PORTS. 2 -POWERTRAIN - POOR STABILITY IN DRIVING AND SQUEAKY NOISES COMING FROM REAREND. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND WENT THROUGH FOUR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, FIRST TIME AT 800 MILES ON THE ODOMETER ONLY. FORD REPLACED ALL DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS WHILE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. PRESENTLY I AM RE-EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. ALL DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SECOND AND THIRD GEAR TO FINAL INOPERABILITY CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP DEAD WHILE DRIVING. IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 98,000

20140312CrashFireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

1 - ENGINE MAKES HORRIBLE SOUND IN COLD WEATHER. ALSO APPEARS TO BE ISSUE WITH ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS WHICH CAUSED A FIRE. VERY BAD GAS MILEAGE - BIG CHANGE IN DECREASED MPG. HAVE ISSUES WHEN TRYING TO FILL UP GAS TANK WHERE FUEL GUN FILLER WONT ALLOW ME TO FUEL AS THE GAS PUMP AT MOST GAS STATIONS WILL IMMEDIATELY STOP AND KICK OUT THE FUELLER GUN AND SPIT GAS OUT OF MY TANK AND SPILL ON MY CAR. THERE IS ALSO OIL ON MY SPARK PLUGS AND PORTS. 2 -POWERTRAIN - POOR STABILITY IN DRIVING AND SQUEAKY NOISES COMING FROM REAREND. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND WENT THROUGH FOUR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, FIRST TIME AT 800 MILES ON THE ODOMETER ONLY. FORD REPLACED ALL DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS WHILE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. PRESENTLY I AM RE-EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. ALL DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SECOND AND THIRD GEAR TO FINAL INOPERABILITY CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP DEAD WHILE DRIVING. IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 98,000

20131124ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAVE A 2002 MUSTANG GT BULLITT THAT I BOUGHT IN JULY 2013. SO FAR I HAVE HAD TWO DIFFERENT INCIDENTS WHERE A SPARK PLUG HAS BLOWN THE HEAD. THE MOST RECENT WAS YESTERDAY 11/23/2013. ALL I WAS DOING WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A NOISE COME FROM THE SPARK PLUG. TODAY, I CHANGED THE SPARK PLUG AGAIN, AND SO FAR IT IS RUNNING OKAY FOR NOW. BUT A FEW WEEKS AGO, I CHANGED THE SAME SPARK PLUG, THEN IT WORKED FINE, THEN IT WENT OUT AGAIN YESTERDAY. SO, HOPEFULLY IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT IF IT DOES, I WON'T BE SURPRISED. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

20131110ENGINE

THE NUMBER THREE (3) SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT. *TR

Mileage: 80,723

20120925WHEELS

WE WERE GOING AROUND A CURVE ABOUT 45 MPH AND HEARD A POP LIKE SOMETHING HARD BROKE. DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS AT THE TIME. WENT TO THE SHOP UP THE ROAD AND PULLED OVER THE PIT AND LOOK UNDER THE CAR, AFTER 10 OR 15 MIN SEEN WHAT LOOKED LIKE A CRACK ON THE BACK OF ONE OF THE FIVE SPOKES ON THE REAR RIM A BUDDY OF OURS SAID COME UP HERE AND LOOK ITS BROKE I COULD PULL FISHING LINE THROUGH IT, WENT UP AND TALKED ABOUT IT. JUST DON'T WANT ANYONE TO GET KILLED IF IT HAPPENS AT THE WRONG TIME. NO MARKS OR ANY REASON IT SHOULD HAVE BROKE. DO I NEED TO LET ANYONE LOOK AT THIS TO SEE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEM. THANKS SURPRISED. *TR

Mileage: 147,673

20111028ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THIS IS REGARDING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON FORD V8 ENGINES. MY INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 2002 FORD MUSTANG V8 CRACKED AND CAUSED ME TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE INTAKE MANIFOLD. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, IT LEAKED COOLANT RAPIDLY. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT FILED (IN WHICH FORD WAS HELD LIABLE) IN THE PAST YEARS AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS ISSUE. FORD HAS SINCE STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT HONOR ANY REPAIRS AFTER MARCH 2006. HOWEVER, THIS IS STILL AN ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO FURTHER. MY MUSTANG ONLY HAS 89K MILES AND THE MANIFOLD CRACKED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING A MAJOR REPAIR BILL OF $1,231. FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ANY/ALL REPAIR COSTS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME REGARDING THIS WEAK ENGINEERING. *TR

20100428CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD MUSTANG GT. WHILE DRIVING AT 62 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL WHEN TRYING TO AVOID A DEER ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE THEN FLIPPED OVER WHEN THE SEAT BELTS BROKE FROM THE LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INTERNAL BLEEDING, TORN LIGAMENTS TO THE SHOULDER AND ARMS AND BRUISING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 122,000.

Mileage: 122,000

Compare 2002FORDMUSTANG GT to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 FORD MUSTANG GT have?
The 2002 FORD MUSTANG GT has 59 NHTSA complaints, 9 crashes, 3 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 FORD MUSTANG GT?
The most-complained component for the 2002 FORD MUSTANG GT is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING and SEAT BELTS.
Is the 2002 FORD MUSTANG GT safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.