1998 Ford Mustang GT: engine overheating

Filed Feb 2, 2012 · Engine · NV

The plastic intake manifold cracked and leaked coolant onto the engine and other related components. Car died on freeway. The plastic intake manifold cracks. The coolant will leak onto the top of the block and then down the back of the engine. This intake design is a known defect by ford. Below is an "owner notification letter" from ford: 97m91 april, 1999 ford motor company is providing a no-charge service program number 97m91, to owners of certain 1996 through 1998 crown victoria taxi, town car limo prep & delivery package, 1996 and 1997 thunderbird, cougar and mustang vehicles equipped with 4.6l sohc engines. This service program provides additional coverage for the intake manifold. Reason for this program fatigue cracks may develop in some of the composite intake manifolds used on the 4.6l sohc engines installed in the affected cars. This condition may result in engine coolant leakage which, if not detected or ignored, will cause engine overheating. Complete loss of coolant may result in engine damage or engine failure. What we will do if the engine of your car should develop a coolant leak at the intake manifold cross over coolant passage, located directly behind the alternator, your dealer will verify the condition. If the coolant leakage is from the location described above, your dealer will replace the engine intake manifold assembly free of charge. This no charge coverage is available for 7 years from the vehicle's warranty start date (no mileage limitation) and is automatically transferred to subsequent owners. My complaint is that my mustang did not leak at the given 7 years and now ford motor company will not do anything. Everyone who owns these defective vehicles should have a replacement made available to them regardless of when the failure occurred. It is a safety issue, as stated in above letter from ford.

Filed Apr 19, 2007 · Engine · OH

Owned car for over 5 yrs. Almost paid off. Discovered coolant leak. Put in new water pump, new pulleys, new thermostat, new thermostat housing, new hoses. Only to discover the junk plastic intake manifold is cracked. Now I found out by searching the internet that this is a common problem on my year of car. Ford is aware of said problem due to crappy engineering and refuses to make it right with consumers. They made it right with the fleet cars that are 1998's and cars other than my year.

Filed Nov 9, 2006 · Engine · 61,250 miles · FL

Cracked composite intake manifold coolant crossover resulting in coolant leak. Manifold being replaced with new aluminum manifold. I subsequently became aware of settlement in chamberlan v. Ford. I never received notification of settlement and my vehicle was past the 7 year limit at the time of the settlement. I feel that ford should extend coverage.

Filed Aug 22, 2006 · Engine · 89,500 miles · AZ

My 98 gt mustang plastic radiator intake has ruptured at 89,000 miles. It seems all of ford's equipped with ford's 4.6l v-8 contain an intake manifold that is prone to failure. Due to original design, this part has a tendency to crack resulting in sometimes over heating, engine failure and worse case damage to other parts of the car's engine. Ford recognizes this problem but will not recall most cars other than fleet vehicles and those listed in the tsb #97m91. 1. 1998 mustang was overheating while driving down the highway. 2. When car was taken to a repair shop the mechanic noticed a crack in the manifold and advised me to take it to my local dealer. It was brought to my attention that if this part was not corrected engine failure could occur due to coolant loss resulting in severe damage. 3. Car was taken to local ford dealership and I gave them the tsb #97m91 and told them to replace the part. 1998 mustang was not listed and the car and can't be fixed at dealer's cost only consumer's. I called ford motor company and have not had any luck talking to customer service about this problem. Ford owners be aware of this problem.

Filed Jan 22, 2005 · Engine · 70,475 miles · FL

Coolant was leaking slowly for about eight months, then began to leak a lot the end of december, so the car was undriveable because of risk of overheating, and had to be towed to dealer. It was discovered that the leak resulted from a crack in the plastic intake manifold where the thermostat sits. The dealer replaced the manifold with a new manifold that is metal where the crack occurred (an indication of ford's awareness of the problem). The cost to replace the intake manifold was $1,070 and I have kept my old manifold. Through my research, I discovered that ford will replace this part on the 1996-1997 mustangs and police and fleet cars. A memorandum to the dealerships shows that the 1996-1998 mustangs have the same intake manifold part number, so ford should reimburse me for the cost to replace my intake manifold.

Filed Jan 21, 2005 · Engine · CA

There is coolant leaking from the intake manifold. It was determined to be due to a defect that the intake has.

Filed Nov 27, 2004 · Engine · 84,782 miles · SC

Ford automobiles equipped with ford's 4.6l v-8 contain an intake manifold that is prone to failure. Due to original design, this part has a tendency to crack resulting in sometimes over heating, engine failure and worse case damage to other parts of the car's engine. Ford recognizes this problem but will not recall most cars other than fleet vehicles and those listed in the tsb #97m91. 1. 1998 mustang was overheating while driving down the highway. 2. When car was taken to a repair shop the mechanic noticed a crack in the manifold and advised me to take it to my local dealer. It was brought to my attention that if this part was not corrected engine failure could occur due to coolant loss resulting in severe damage. 3. Car was taken to local ford dealership and I gave them the tsb #97m91 and told them to replace the part. 1998 mustang was not listed and the car and can't be fixed at dealer's cost only consumer's. I called ford motor company and have not had any luck talking to customer service about this problem. Ford owners be aware of this problem.

Filed Nov 9, 2004 · Engine · 91,700 miles · CA

Hello, my ford mustang overheated and developed a crack in the air intake manifold which resulted in engine coolant leak and it had to be replaced. I read that a recall on this part that was called by ford because the same exact engine on the crown victoria gives the same problems and a recall is in effect on it. Why would they not have a recall on all engines if it is ecactly the same? I would honestly appreciate an answer if it can be provided. Best regards. Munazzar tapal.

Filed Sep 27, 2004 · Engine · AZ

While driving at 45 MPH vehicle overheated. Vehicle was taken to the independent shop, and mechanic determined that intake manifold cracked, and coolant spilled inside the engine.

Filed Jun 18, 2004 · Engine · 105,000 miles · MS

Car is a 1998 ford mustang gt with the sohc 4.6l engine. At around 105k miles, coolant levels started dropping rapidly, especially when the engine was revved above 3000 rpms. Eventually, levels dropped more quickly than coolant could be replaced and car overheated. Found a large pool of coolant in engine valley between cylinders. Found recall on composite intakes for 1996 and 1997 mustang gt's with 4.6l sohc engine but not on 1998 vehicles. Intake was replaced with new version with cast aluminum crossover tube at owner's expense.