In the history of the automobile, very few new car launches have ever gone off without a hitch. All the testing and trouble shooting in the world simply cannot predict every problem that may come up. Sometimes the troubles are related to manufacturing; other times, it has to do with the manner in which the car is driven. And sometimes, things just slip by without anybody noticing.

Whatever the case may be, Mustangs Daily reports that Ford has issues a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) for 2011 Mustang GT’s equipped with manual transmissions.

The problem, it seems, is due to “clutch stayout”. What is clutch stayout? During high-RPM shifting (and we assume, spirited driving), sometimes the clutch pedal will stay on the floor, even after the gear had been engaged and the clutch pedal itself released. It can be easily remedied by letting the RPM’s drop, which returns the clutch pedal to its intended position.

This TSB is only for 2011 Mustangs built on, or before, 4/25/10. In technical terms, at high-RPM shifting, centrifugal forces can reduce the pressure on the clutch fingers, thus not allowing the release bearing for the clutch pedal to activate. It is not a safety issue, and Ford recommends anybody experiencing this problem take it to a dealership and have the brake pedal and bracket assembly replaced. Ford’s official explanation of the TSB is as follows.

Some 2011 Mustangs built on or before 4/25/2010 with a manual transmission and low mileage, typically 10,000 miles or less (16, 093 Km), may exhibit a clutch pedal Stayout condition at very high RPM. This condition will generate a concern of the clutch pedal remaining on the floor during high RPM shifts. When engine RPM drops, clutch pedal operation returns to normal, but the re-engagement may be abrupt.

The clutch pedal Stayout is a condition where at high engine RPM, centrifugal forces on the clutch system can reduce the force with which the clutch diaphragm fingers push against the release bearing. This can result in the clutch pedal staying on the floor until engine RPM decreases and the diaphragm return forces increases.