All new cars experience growing pains, and when Ford introduced the new engine lineup for the 2011 Mustang, they got a lot of things right. The 412 horsepower 5.0 liter V8 and 3.7 liter V6 are both proving to be exceptional engines, though the transmissions were another matter. In August, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into the Mustang’s six-speed transmission. Among the issues experienced were binding gears, difficulty shifting, and lots of noise and vibrations.The results of the NHTSA’s investigation are in, and the verdict blames the drivers, not Ford, for their transmission woes. Ford’s own investigation came to the same conclusion.Approximately 3% of Mustangs experienced these shifting issues, and the NHTSA investigated 364 “unique reports” of transmission problems. The report came to the conclusion that the transmission issues do not pose a safety threat, saying that there is “no indication of loss of motive power or unreasonable safety risk” in the “subject vehicles” i.e. the Mustang.

Ford’s own report blamed abusive driving and modifications to the cars for some of the problems. But they also put out several technical service bulletins, and made alterations to the transmission design. Among the changes and fixes is a revised spring for the clutch stayout and revised fasteners for the clutch plate bolt issues. Ford also “identified component quality issues regarding synchronizers and corrective action has been taken.”

So the case is closed on the transmission issues; stop beating on your Mustangs, and they won’t break. Is that the answer for the Mustang’s new problem, exploding driveshafts?

Ya, probably. They are governed for a reason…