2001 Ford Mustang Air Bags & Restraints Problems

1. THERE IS A DREADFUL GAS FUME ODOR INSIDE THE CAR EVERY TIME I PUT FUEL IN THE CAR ESPECIALLY WHEN I FILL THE TANK. 2.THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN ENGAGED MY CAR STILL ROLLS A LITTLE. 3. THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY AND TEND TO TWIST AND TANGLE WHEN I TRY TO DO IT MANUALLY.

THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS RARELY BEEN USED IN THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE WEEK THE SEATBELT FAILED (BECAME JAMMED IN PANEL AS THOUGH I HAD HIT BRAKES AND WOULD NOT RELEASE) I WAS THE DRIVER FOR AN 88 YEAR OLD FEMALE FRIEND RUNNING HER ERRANDS WHILE HER CAREGIVER WAS OUT OF TOWN., THE SEAT BELT WAS USED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. I WENT ON LINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS ARTICLES AND RECALLS. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER. THEY IMPLIED ON THE PHONE IT WOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE, ONCE I WAS ON SITE, RENT CAR ARRANGED I WAS TOLD MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT A SPECIFIC RECALL AND INDICATED I MUST PAY. NOW AFTER 5 DAYS OF PAYING FOR A RENT CAR. I WAS INFORMED REPLACEMENT SEATBELT HAD NOT BEEN ORDERED PENDING MY APPROVAL. (PREVIOUSLY IT WAS NOT EXPLAINED TO IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ENTIRELY REPLACED. COST OF SEATBELT $260.42 TOTAL COST TO INSTALL $584.63. MY VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION AS THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I FEEL I HAVE BEEN MISLEAD AND RIPPED OFF BY DEALER. AT THIS POINT I AM PICKING UP THE PART ONLY, TURNING IN THE RENT CAR AND SEEKING A LESS EXPENSIVE INSTALL. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE AND COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WITH NO RESTRAINT FOR MY PASSENGER. *TR

SEAT BELT ON PASSENGER SIDE ALWAYS RETRACTED SLUGGISHLY SINCE NEW, OFTEN JUST HANGING LOOSELY FROM THE UPPER HANGER. THEN IT WOULD RETRACT WITH HELP. FINALLY IT JAMMED AND WILL NOT RELEASE IN ORDER TO CONNECT THE BELT FOR USE. WHEN AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO USE THE BELT, I HEAR A METALLIC CLUNK AND THE BELT WILL NOT COME OUT FAR ENOUGH TO USE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT SENSOR BROKE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER ANY WARRANTY FOR THE FAILURE TO BE REPAIRED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,530 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,570.

MY WIFE AND I WERE INVOLVED IN A HIT AND RUN INCIDENT WHILE TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON I-75 JUST SOUTH OF DELK ROAD IN MARIETTA GA. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER CAR CAUSED US TO BEGIN A SERIES OF OVERSTEER CORRECTIONS WHICH ULTIMATELY LED TO THE CAR LOOSING COMPLETE TRACTION AND MAKING TWO COMPLETE REVOLUTIONS WHILE EXITING THE ROAD TOWARDS THE GRASS SHOULDER. WE EXITED THE ROAD GOING BACKWARDS AND PROCEEDED TO HIT A 6' DEEP CULVERT AND CAUSE THE CAR TO BECOME AIRBORNE. UPON THE INITIAL IMPACT MY WIFE'S SAFETY BELT WHICH HAD BEEN PROPERLY SECURED UNTIL THE IMPACT, RELEASED AND CAUSED HER TO COME OUT OF HER SEAT. AFTER LANDING AND THEN COMING TO REST VIOLENTLY I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED TO MAKE SURE SHE WAS ALRIGHT AND WAS IN QUESTION OF WHY HER BELT HAD DETACHED FROM THE RECEIVER. THE WAS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE MECHANISM, HOWEVER UPON INITIAL IMPACT I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER HEARING A METALLIC "CLINK" NOISE FOLLOWED BY MY WIFE COMING OUT OF HER PASSENGER SEAT. THIS WAS NOTED IN THE ACCIDENT REPORT AND WAS DESCRIBED TO ALL FIRST RESPONDERS ON SITE. *TR

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 01 MUSTANG WITH 103K MILES ON IT. NOT 2 DAYS LATER THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT DOWN TO OUR LOCAL FORD HOUSE AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS JUST ODD THAT IT HAPPENED TO BREAK AND WOULD COST 300 DOLLARS TO CHANGE THE SEAT BELT. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FIND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM. EITHER THE SEAT BELT LOCKS UP AND TAKES A WHILE TO STRAITEN BACK OUT OR LIKE MINE IT JUST STOPS WORKING. ONE POST ON A FORUMS SAID THAT HIS 2003 MUSTANG'S WENT OUT BEFORE 50000 MILES. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE CHANGED BY THE DEALER BECAUSE IF IT IS HAPPENING SO MUCH IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT. I HAVE A 95 THUNDERBIRD AND 01 ALERO THAT STILL HAVE THEIR SEAT BELTS WORKING PERFECTLY. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME ON THIS MATTER. *TR

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, WHEN THE CONTACT OBSERVED THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR SYSTEM FAILED TO EXTRACT THE WEBBING PROPERLY. THE WEBBING DOES NOT SECURE THE OCCUPANT TIGHTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO BROKEN PLASTIC PARTS WITHIN THE RETRACTOR SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT KEEPS TANGLING WITHIN THE TRIM PANELS PREVENTING PROPER DEPLOYMENT OR RETRACTION OF THE BELT. I HAD TO REMOVE THE TRIM PANELS AND MANUALLY TWIST THE BELT THROUGH THE B POST GUIDE TO STRAIGHTEN, AS WELL UNDOING AND REDOING THE ANCHOR BOLTS ON THE B POST AND DRIVER LOWER DOOR SILL SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IN ORDER TO AVOID STRIKING OTHER VEHICLES, THE CONTACT MADE A SHARP TURN AND STRUCK A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN LEG , PELVIS, AND HEAD INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 81,000. UPDATED 06/16/08 *BF

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD MUSTANG. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT OR RELEASE. THE FAILURE BEGAN APPROXIMATELY 5-6 MONTHS AGO AND HAS WORSENED OVER TIME. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,500 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

SET BELTS IN THE 2001 MUSTANG NEVER WORKED THE BEST NOW THE PASSANGER'S SIDE SET BELT WON'T WORK AT ALL, IT WON'T COME OUT SO YOU CAN LOCK YOURSELF IN.THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD MUSTANG GT. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT SWERVED TO AVOID A DOG IN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE SKIDDED INTO THE GRASS, ROLLED OVER TWICE, AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED KNEE INJURIES AND AN INJURED BACK. HE HAS NOT YET SEEN A DOCTOR. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AND VIDEO FOOTAGE AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000.

I WAS DRIVING THROUGH AN ALLEY GOING ABOUT 5-10 MPH WHEN I WENT OVER A SMALL POTHOLE AND MY SUSPENSION BOTTOMED OUT AND MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT FULLY DEPLOY AND IF THIS WAS AN EVENT OF A REAL ACCIDENT THE AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE NOT DID ANYTHING FOR SAFETY. THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AT ALL. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, A TRAILER HIT THE VEHICLE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A GUARD RAIL WITH THE FRONT END. THERE WAS BRAKING PRIOR TO THE IMPACT AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT WHERE IT WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

AUG 13 I WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT DUE TO TIRE TREAD SEPARATION. IT WAS THE 4TH TIRE OF THE SET THAT HAD GONE BAD. AFTER THE 2ND TIRE WENT BAD, I TRIED TO GET THE TIRE DEALER TO SEND IT IN FOR INSPECTION/DEFECT. HE REFUSE AND THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED 3 WEEKS LATER. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH WITH PRIOR BRAKING, ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CONTACT HEAD ON, ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THIS CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELTS WERE WORN, BUT THE CONTACT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THERE WAS NO INSPECTION TO DETERMINE IF THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.

I OWN A 2001 FORD MUSTANG AND THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS. THEY DO NOT RETRACT DUE TO THE CHEAP COMPONENTS USED TO KEEP THEM FROM TWISTING. THIS ALSO CAUSES THEM TO BE LOOSE WHEN WEARING THEM. I HAVE BEEN TO MANY MESSAGE BOARDS ON MUSTANG WEBSITES AND HAVE FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I RECENTLY HAD A CONVERSATION WITH A LOCAL DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. MANAGER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD 2 MUSTANGS IN THAT MONTH FOR THIS REPAIR. MY CAR WAS BEYOND ITS MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $652 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. THEREFORE I HAVE DECIDED NOT TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED AND WILL CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM, FIXING THEM TO THE BEST OF WHAT I CAN DO TO MAKE THEM SOMEWHAT FUNCTIONAL. MY OPINION IS THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR THAT FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS BUT WILL NOT DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS THEIR #1 VEHICLE AND RECALL COSTS WOULD BE TO MUCH. *JB

HAD AN ACCIDENT ON 19 NOV 05 IN DALLAS,TX AT 9.50 PM, I WAS CHANGING LANE WHEN THE OTHER CAR IN THE LANE I WAS CHANGING INTO LOWED DOWN, HE WAS DRIVING A JAGUAR WE BOTH WENT HEAD ON INTO THE CONCRETE DIVING WALL AT ABOUT 60-63 MPH MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY; I HAVE $12000.00 IN DAMAGE TO MY 2001 MUSTANG COBRA. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. *AK

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT GETS TWISTED IN WALL, AND DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY AS A RESULT. THOROUGHBRED FORD UNTWISTED, AND THEN THE SEAT BELT TWISTED UP AGAIN. THOROUGHBRED FORD STATES IS UNDER WARRANTY, NOT DEFECTIVE, HOWEVER STATE FORD REFUSES TO REPLACE UNIT AS THIS IS NOT A DEFECT. EVEN REFUSED AFTER REMINDING THEM IT DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN DEATH DURING COLLISION. FIRST REPAIR ON OR ABOUT 8-29-05, SECOND ATTEMPT TO HAVE REPLACED APPROX. 2 WEEKS LATER. *NM