The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has been investigating issues with 2011 and 2012 Ford Mustangs equipped with manual transmissions. We’re not sure what got the investigation rolling, but we can tell you that the NHSTA has decided in favor of Ford and there will be no recalls on the cars. In their findings, the organization said that any issues which had been disclosed by Ford were not a safety defect and were the result of either the behavior of drivers or as noted in one line of the report, “modifications that may negatively effect shift quality.”
This report was good news for Ford beause if the NHTSA had sided with consumers, they would be on the hook for fixing almost 30,000 2011-2012 Mustangs sold with manual transmissions by whatever means necessary to make them safe. It would have also given people like us some pretty broad license to hit the strip and drive Mustangs like they were NHRA Pro Stocks until the transmissions blew up. Step two would have been dropping the car off at the deal to be fixed. That option is kind of out the window now.
Most of the 364 complaints filed were from drivers who complained of having issues when the transmission was cold. Apparently higher than normal shift effort was needed. The NHTSA concluded that those problems cleared up once the transmission warmed to normal operating temps.
The investigation is now closed, so go powershift your Mustang with pride…until it breaks and then you’ll have to pay for it
NHTSA Closes Mustang Investigation
The pussification of America. Tough to shift when cold? Really? I’ve never shifted an old car in a real cold climate (So. Cal I’m sure doesn’t count), back when thick gear oil was the fluid of choice. I’m betting there was some effort requred then.
My TKO-600, with syncromesh fluid definately lets me know when the temps are well below freezing. Doesn’t take long to warm up though.
they should move here to Canada, on a normal winter day (-20c or so) the old gear oil in man trans cars will stall the motor with ease, much less cause it hard to shift.
Next they’ll complain that their ass is cold.
” and gradual loosening of clutch plate bolts”
Now THIS would be a fun recall I’m sure.
I can see the letter from Ford,something like,the posible defect could effect the abillity of the clutch to remain fully atached to the engine it is recomended that the vehicle not be used in short qaurter mile runs at high RPM
as such use could allow the clutch assembly to expload from under the floor and cut your feet off….
I grew up in northwest Iowa where the temps were in the -20 range frequently. Shifting an M22 with real gear lube-(not the synthetic free flowing stuff)- was a little tough, but well worth the effort! The reward was the gear whine was quieter when cold, and I got to listen to it work it’s way up to full song as it warmed up. Man I miss that sound!
90 weight in a Saginaw seemed to do fine. I’m confused – are they whining it shifts hard? HAHAHAHAHAAHA – O M F G … HAHAHAHAHAHAHAA. That’s funny.
“NHTA to Ford whiners – GROW A PAIR”
Mustang GT owners have complained for a while that they just plain can
Trannies are junk. Hate to see these things disintegrate when mileage begins to accumulate. Another black eye for Ford coming up. When will they learn?
I have read the complete article about this issue in this site: Mustang drives away from NHTSA investigation. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration probe into 29,807 2011-2012 standard transmission Ford Mustangs has been scrapped. The bureau said the possible troubles with shifting didn’t pose a danger to the public, and a recall wouldn’t follow. A 364 complaints is a lot and it is somehow alarming for Ford. But the investigation shows that it is not their problem-it’s the driver. So, I think, these 364 drivers should be very careful and be very knowledgeable about the car they are driving so that problems like this won’t happen again.
There were reports about the various shift quality issues while driving. That’s why NHTSA made an investigation. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration exploration into shifting issues with Ford Mustangs has been sealed. The supposed issue would have affected 29,807 2011-2012 manual shifting Ford Mustangs. The bureau has ruled that no recall is essential. Article resource: Mustang drives away from NHTSA investigation