Ford Mustang and Volkswagen Jetta fall under NHTSA scrutiny for possible mechanical issues 08/10/2011
After getting complaints about the 2011 and 2012 Ford Mustang, as well as the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI and Jetta Sportwagen TDI, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is opening two safety-defect investigations. So far, no reports have been made of injuries, accidents or other damages that were a result of the issues.
The NHTSA received 32 reports of incidents where Mustang drivers were unable to shift into gear when merging onto highways and turning left across traffic, but luckily none of these instances resulted in accidents or injuries. The problem may affect more than 26,000 Ford Mustangs, according to The Detroit News
Volkswagen's problems lie in the fuel lines of certain Jetta models. The NHTSA has received seven reports concerning leak issues when the new cars reached between 2470 and 7764 miles on the odometer, but the NHTSA will be investigating the problem on more than 40,000 Jettas, the news source reports.
The two investigations may last up to a year, unless the automakers choose to voluntarily recall the vehicles in question, or there is not enough evidence to suggest that the manufacturer caused the issues. If an investigation makes it to the one-year mark, the NHTSA will decide whether to ramp up their efforts and turn the examination into an engineering analysis, but car companies usually step in before this happens, NASDAQ states.
"We will fully cooperate with the government as they review this matter," a Ford spokesman told The Detroit News.
Ford has already had a few recalls of its F-series trucks this year, and Volkswagen had to recall the 2011 Jetta for faulty wiring that could cause the engine to stall when the horn was honked, according to CNN.