My car only has 34,000 miles on it, and it has been nothing but problems since I got it. I know pretty much every time I post I'm whining about another problem I have, but I'm just so frustrated with this car. I want to get a different one, but I can't find any good prices, every one that I come across, even 99 and 00 V6's, around here are as mush as or more than I paid for my 01 and have more miles. I love my car, but I spend way more time being irritated with it because once I fix one problem, a week or two later something else major goes wrong. Right now the front brakes are screwed up. As I brake and roll to a stop a popping sound starts coming from the brakes, and when I'm braking and turning at the same time (like pulling into my driveway) the brakes pop as I turn the wheel. Also, there is something in the rear of my car that is rattling pretty loud as I drive, and I can't figure out where it's coming from. The brake pedal as well screetches really loud kind of like it is rusty or something when I step on it (but it doesn't do it when it's wet, damp out or raining). The dealership claims these sounds don't exist, but every person who rides in the car with me hears them. I'm just out of ideas of how to fix this car, and just needed to vent. So far I've had to replace the temperature guage 3 times, the tie rods twice, my whole engine, pieces have fallen off of my "new" front brakes twice which leads me to suspect my latest brake issue is related but Ford disagrees, and my extended warranty runs out soon so basically I'm screwed. Like I said before, I'm just pulling my hair out and need to vent I love Mustangs, and I should be thankful I have one that runs, but enough is enough. Oh well.

 

Its because its the V6 not the V8.

Ooooppps.... did I say that outloud?

 

Try going around to all the dealers in your area and try each one to see what you can get fixed under warrenty. From your descriptions, it's difficult to determine what the probles are, but with some luck, the service dept at one of your nearby dealers will have some decency and take on the work.

Are you sure the popping is coming from your brakes, or is it just the wheel area? Ive never heard of such a noise from the brakes. The squeal could be from the wear indicators on the brake pads, so I'd check that.

Also, if you've had repeated issues with the same areas (brakes, suspension, temp gauge), maybe the parts arent being installed very well. I'm a little suspicious of that. Good luck.

 

What price range are you looking at?

 

10-15k

 

I bought my 2000 v-6 with only 43k miles on it for $9,000. And that's in California, where everyone needs a mustang, and prices are WAY inflated. On top of it all, it was from a dealer, not a private seller.

I have had absolutely NO problems with it. And believe me, I drive this thing CRAZY. Brake hard, manually shift the automatic, everything. But I take care of it, and keep it up very well (my father is a mechanic), and nothing's gone wrong.
My father also has a 2001 v-6 (in tropic green as well!), and hasn't had any problems. His tranny shifts from 1st to 2nd a little rough, but that's it. His has 110,000 miles on it now, but has had no problems at all.

Maybe you just got a true dud. I would have expected something like this from, say, a Focus... but not a Mustang!

Good luck. You should try to sell it as-is, and end up spending a little more for a '02 or '03 v-6. They look better with their rims anyways!

 

I bought my '00 GT Vert with 22k miles on it at the time for $12k.

Now, I have 31k miles on her, and she's still running great.

 

I bought my '00 GT Vert with 22k miles on it at the time for $12k.

Now, I have 31k miles on her, and she's still running great.

I've almost upgraded mine to a 02 since now I have the smoked headlights and the Bullit wheels. Only thing missing is the bigger scoop and the spoiler.

 

I live on Long Island, you most likely aren't up to date on your Long Island politics, but the price of stuff here is soaring through the roof, and cars are rediculous here. A lot of people here go out of state and buy cars and drive them back which is what I think would be a good idea.

I truly do believe that my car is a dud, I know that when it first arrived to the dealership new the temperature guage was already broken and the dealership fixed it, and I had to replace my engine because one of the cylinder holes was shaped like an egg, so it was a big factory oops. I just can't wait to find out what other things got goofed up at the factory, I'm sure there's more in store.

I really love the car during the brief periods of time in between problems, so I definately want another Mustang, I don't see everybody else with this bad fortune so I'm going to give Ford the benefit of the doubt and give it another go. I'd really like to hold out though and get an 05 or 06 V6, but with the prices on those used ones I might as well buy a new one and I'm afraid mine now won't hold out till they go down. I just made my last car payment yesterday, so now I think a lot of the stress is going to be relieved. It's just frustrating to still be paying so much for something that has so much wrong with it.Thanks for the advice and input though guys

 

I wondered about the popping sound having something to do with maybe the tie rods again or something around the wheels too since I've had to get the tie rods replaced twice already.

I think you're reading my mind, cuz I also had some thoughts about the parts not being installed right. I don't see how 2 different parts could fall off of my brakes within a month of having new pads put on, and how the tie rods could go a second time. I drive really carefully, so it's not like I'm beating her up. The dealership is small, and I know all the faces there since I've been in so many times and especially around the time I had my brake and suspension problems I noticed they had a few new machanics that worked on my car that aren't there now anymore, cuz there's a whole new crew, so it got me wondering.

The service department has been nothing but helpful to me and nice, so I can't complain about the service, it's just that both times my tie rods went it took 2 trips each time for them to figure it out. Even when the second time they went I told them it was the tie rods and they gave it back to me and said there's nothing wrong but then I made a machanic come out and stand next to the car and I turned the wheel once and he was like "OH wow" and I'm like yeah you couldn't hear that before? Which is why he probably isn't working there anymore...I know they can't spend hours on every little sound a customer whines about, but give me a break, the first time they went they had the same sound and I had to make a machanic drive with me and the sound was so bad and weird that it baffled the guy.

 

If you still have it I have a couple suggestions. First obviously is get a new dealer or if the warranty is theirs, not Fords, go and pay for a proper inspection at a nearby SVT dealer. Tell them your story and they may even eat the cost of the inspection, just for the business. Even if not, you may be well prepared to show your dealer a place to start. As far as the front, check the lower coil spring isolaters( sometimes they will load/bind and release under braking). As well the upper strut mounts might be shot. Sometimes the darn things just squeeze out and sound like the car is going to pieces. And crazily enough the rubber bump stops on the front suspension can cause these sorts of noises if they are totally dried out , sort of like when salt and cold get at them. Hope this crap doesn't turn you off Stangs cause I doubt you'll get any sympathy from Camry owners for example.