Problems with 2005 Ford Mustang ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Fuel gauge reading past empty, will not show any change in fuel level. other gauges showing same signs of failing. internet has many companies that will fix the gauge cluster, so it must be a common problem with mustangs. also the led daytime lighting on the dashboard gauges is very low not able to read the speedometer or other gauges.

I was driving over a bridge and looked down and my speedometer said that i was going 120 mph. i was only traveling approximately 65 mph. i pulled into a restaurant parking lot and continued to turn the car on and off. each time the speedometer went down 10 mph until i finally got it to 0. i turned around and drove home, but the speedometer kept sticking at around 40 to 60 mph. i have read online at http://forums.mustangmonthly.com/70/7581455/2005-2010-mustangs/speedometer-erratic-2005-mustang-v6/page2.html that several other people have been having the same issue since 2009. my car is currently at a shop and they are ordering the part from the dealer to fix it. they said the same thing everyone online said, "it's the instrument cluster." if so many people have had this issue since 2009, why was it never recalled? *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford mustang. the contact stated that the speedometer and fuel gauge malfunctioned. as a result, the contact was unable to read the level of fuel or the speed being traveled. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician diagnosed that the instrument cluster was defective and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 87,000. updated 09/25/13*lj updated 9/27/2013 *js

Gas gauge erratic. then failed last august. ford says must replace entire cluster at cost of $450-650 plus labor this seems to be a common problem on this model. only 45000 miles on this car. cost seems excessive. what is ford doing to back this up? updated 06/10/13 *bf

I was traveling down the highway and the speedometer went to 0 mph and has not worked properly since that time. my on-line research has revealed that this problem is quite common with this make and year of car and stems from ford installing substandard stepper motors on the instrument cluster gauge circuit boards. this is a safety issue in that i cannot gauge my road speed while moving down the highway. ford should be forced to recall these vehicles and make the necessary repairs since this is a safety issue and ford is aware of the problem. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford mustang. the contact stated that the speedometer failed to provide accurate speed readings while traveling 55 mph. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 57,000 and the current mileage was 58,000. ...updated 10/19/12 *bf the consumer stated none of the gauges on the instrument panel worked. the speedometer would read over 120 mph. the tachometer moved sometimes and the fuel gauge worked sporadically. updated 10/25/12

First the gas gauge hand would stay on empty even when filling up or it would go straight down way past the full mark. never know how much gas i have. now the speedometer is not working properly. it will either stay at 0mph while i'm driving or say i'm going 20-30mph when the car is shut off and not even running. at times it says i'm going 110mph when i'm driving through town which is a 35mph and clearly i am not driving 110mph. i find this to be a great hazard to other drivers since i never know how fast i'm going. after doing internet research it seems many mustang owners have this same issue. i feel that having a defective speedometer is a safety hazard that needs to be addressed if safety is really important to the nhtsa. *tr

The temperature gauge, fuel gauge, and speedometer began malfunctioning. now if car gets hot the fuel and temperature gauges cease to operate and the speedometer fluxuates between not working to being somewhere between 0 and 30 mph to fast or slow. ford said it wasn't a warranty repair and i received two estimates between $500 and $700 to repair the problem. looking at the various ford mustang forum sites i have observed hundreds of owner's with the same problem for the 2005-2009 mustang. as this is my wife's car, and i don't have the funds right now we have had to park the car since it is too dangerous to drive not knowing the car speed, if it is over heating, or running out of fuel. *tr

Gauges stopped working. tachometer, speedometer, gas gauge, temperature gauge.ford dealer told me over $600.00 to replace/repair. i've talked to several other mustang owners and they have the same problem.

My speedometer has become erratic where it will stick at random intervals and doesn't report the speed correctly anymore. this makes it hazardous to operate and difficult to remain within legal speed limits. *tr

Started out with speedometer,then the car would startone day but not the next now any thing that is electrical does not work checked online and there are several complants about this . ford knows about the problem but will nothing about it. *tr

The instrument cluster on my 2005 ford mustang has a shortage or is defective. based on internet research and a discussion with an authorized ford dealership and my long time auto mechanic, this is a part that should not fail at 73,000 miles. while ford has not issued a recall, there is an obvious manufacture defect, as there have been numerous complaints and issues reported. when a gauge (fuel, temperature, battery, etc) fails on this vehicle, the entire instrument cluster must be replaced. this is a costly part and service fee (over $900) for something that should not be defective or have issues with a car of this age. when the instrument cluster signals an issue to the internal computer, the vehicle may go into a "fail safe mode" and the car will not operate. ford needs to issue a recall for this part and replace it at no cost to the owner. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford mustang. the contact stated that the entire instrument panel failed. the contact could not determine at which speed they were traveling or the amount of gasoline fuel that was in the fuel tank. the contact stated that the instrument panel gauges began failing over ten months ago and progressed. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 72,000......updated 01/14/13 *bf updated 1/16/2013 *js

On my 2005 ford mustang v6 the speedometer often gets stuck or performs erratically and stays stuck when the car is turned off. this is a large pain as it does not register any accurate speed and one must turn the car on and off several times to get the speedometer to zero. the failure occurs randomly about once a week. the quote to replace this product is ridiculous at around $600. *tr

Speedometer erratic - shows miles per hour way out of range of actual mph - i.e. shows 120 miles per hour or even beyond while only going about 30; can zero out if in park and shut off and restart engine, slowly resets 5 mph each time off and on again - taking a lot of turning off and on to zero back out. have read and heard of many, many other 2005 mustang owners having same complaint - must be recalled by now? *tr *js

Safety issue: speedometer reads as much as 60 mph off of true speed. when at a dead stop, speedometer shows 60mph. when traveling 60 mph, speedometer shows 120 mph. *tr

Speedometer gauge failure. the speedometer gave progressively more inconsistent readings until it finally settled below the 0 line and now does not move at all. the battery light also flickers randomly, although no problems were found with multiple batteries or the alternator. the light comes on even when battery testers are showing it having a correct charge. it appears to be a problem with the instrument panel. *tr

My tachometer and my temperature gauge are both not working. the motor that moves the needle has gone bad and i researched it and many people are having this same problem! please look into it because many mustang owners are fed up. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

I just bought a used 2005 ford mustang and was told by seller that my rpm , temp, gas, and speed gauges did not work because ford installed failing stepper motors in the instrument cluster which control the movement of the gauges. i looked it up on line and it is very clear that these parts are defective. there are multiple companies advertising to fix the problem. if i run out of gas or am driving too fast due to faulty readings bad things can happen. ford needs to fix these gauges for free, since they are defective. read more: http://forums.mustangmonthly.com/70/7581455/2005-2010-mustangs/speedometer-erratic-2005-mustang-v6/page3.html#ixzz1nyqzh0mb. *tr

The instrument gauges are not working properly. the speedometer will often stick at 0-20mph while it is well over that. the temperature gauge is also stuck on cold even when the car has been warmed up for quite some time. *tr

At about 80,000 miles my tachometer gauge dial stopped working. at about 90,000 miles my temperature gauge dial stopped working. at about 100,000 miles my fuel gauge stopped working. *tr

I was driving home. the road was wet. because of this, i relied on my speedometer to make sure i am going a bit slower than my speed limit. i did not noticed until i had to hit my brakes to avoid a stray dog. my car skidded; i was going faster than what the gauge was saying (which is lower than actual speed) since i had to stop abruptly, another car rear-ended me. ever since then, the gauge is all over the place, below 0 above one hundred...this could have cost another life, if not mine. *tr

Instrument cluster failure - speedometer and tachometer gauges pegged at 0 and un-responsive - known problem to ford. should be covered as recall. *tr

The gauges on the 2005 mustang are faulty. it affects all gauges but the speedometer being the most important. the speedometer may read higher or lower than the actual speed you're going. this makes it a definite safety issue if your car is going faster than you think it is. this should be a recall!!! *tr

My 2005 ford mustang temperature gauge read hot, into the red warning section. i drove it immediately to auburn ford. they kept the car for 4 hours and told me i needed a new thermostat. i had it replaced. the problem persisted and i went back twice. the ford dealership again said there was no problem and to ignore it. within a month my speedometer failed and said i was traveling at 120 mph when i was going approx. 55 mph. then the instrument gauges started to all give inaccurate information. to not know how fast you are driving, to not know if your car is over heating is dangerous. i have since learned that this problem is happening alot with other 2005 mustangs. why is this not being fixed by ford for free?? read "mustang monthly" on the web and see all the people experiencing this pragmatic and dangerous non recall issue. this should be a recall and shame on ford for charging me for something i did not need and the problem should not be ignored. this is my 4th ford but most likely my last! hope you do something about it. *tr

Gauge cluster not operational. speedometer inaccurate. while sitting at a stand still will read 70 mph, or other measurements. tachometer not functioning a majority of the time. sits below 0 at all times of operation. *tr

Driving on highway engine light came on then fuel gauge went to 0 and speedometer down to 10 miles per hour and gauge flickered back up to 35..almost causing an accident not knowing what was happening. past 6 months when fueling my car gas pump keeps kicking off, not sure if it could cause a fire, takes 15 minutes to fuel up. i will never buy a ford again. *tr

Back in 2011 my thermo gauge showed car was over heating when it was not. i had vehicle looked at and there was no indication that car was running hot. this would happen occassionally not an everyday occurance. then this past winter it started it again and then my speedometer started showing that i was traveling at high rates of speed or would not work at all. the same thing happens with the gas gauge it works when it wants to. after doing some research i found out that i am not the only one with these problems. it seems to happen in states where weather becomes extremely cold and then when it warms back up everything works. this should be a recall. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford mustang. the contact stated that the speedometer would become stuck. the vehicle had been taken to the dealer and the contact was advised that the entire cluster would need to be replaced. the failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 65,000.

All the gauges on my 2005 v6 are failing. first, i had problems with the fuel gauge, which i figured was bad gas (sulfur?) a fuel system cleaner seemed to fix that one. then it was the temp. first it read hot, now it's stuck on cold. then the tach and speed got sticky. anyway, i was told by mechanic buddy the many fords mustang 2005 is having gauge problems, and the culprit is the syepper 'motor'. ford has heard of the problem but won't do anything about it (no recalls) unless you guys do something about it. my son was stop by the police because of the speedometer was displaying the speed incorrectly. this problems needs to be look at. pleas help. *tr

First thing that happened with my car was the two inches of water it started taking in every time it rains. then the rpm gauge and speedometer went; never can tell how fast i am going (real safe). next went the gas and temp gauges. now it rained again a few days ago (12/2012) and i have no working locks, windows, radio or headlights along with water in my floorboard. ford needs to fix these problems that the 2005 mustang has with it. these are not safe driving conditions and it looks like i am not the only one with these problems. i will not pay $3000 to fix their mistake. i will spend that money on a lawyer against ford before i pay for their mistake. they need to do a recall and fix this. i had to get my car towed last night because i had no headlights. the tow truck driver said that my car was the fourth mustang he had to tow that night!!! *tr

When car is shutdown, the speedmometer needle sticks at different points on the dial. when running the speedometer registers speeds not consistent with actual speed as measured by gps. *tt ford motors has elected to repair this defect by replacing the entire instrument cluster at an estimated $770.00 price. an internet search will show that this problem -- caused by defective stepper motors -- is pervasive for this model year. i believe that knowing one's speed is critical to driving safely for the driver, the car's occupants and pedestrians (e.g. school children) near by.

I filled up the gas tank and the fuel gauge needle registered past the full level and now is giving erratic readings. the temperature gauge has quit working with needle pointing to the floor. *tr

I stopped at a rest stop on the pennsylvania turnpike and after restarting the car the temp gauge went all the way past hot but the engine was at normal temp. after the next three starts the gauge needle is past all readings and essentially pointing toward the bottom of the temp gauge, at nothing. i cannot tell if the engine is hot or cold or in the normal range. *tr

2005 ford mustang. instrument guage cluster. gas guage goes from over full to empty and sticks at empty. tachometer is not working properly, the needle moves with the rpms of the engine but it hangs below the numbers. speedometer just started not caculating the proper speed, currently it is off by 5-10 miles per hour. *tt

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford mustang. the contact stated that the instrument cluster malfunctioned and the gauges were no longer operable. the contact called the manufacturer and was advised that the entire instrument cluster needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 88,000.

Speedometer stuck below 0. *tr

i'm writing to you about my 2005 ford mustang and the issue with it's instrument cluster. this is a widespread problem with this make and model of car, just search "2005 mustang instrument cluster" on google and you'll see what i mean. evidently the motors in these clusters, which operate your instrument dial needles, fail regularly. my car is a 2005, with 55,000 miles on it. serviced regularly and well cared for. first, my tach started malfunctioning. i figured it was cold, and it only did it sporadically, so i lived with it. however, two months after the tach started acting up, the speedometer started malfunctioning as well. i did not feel it would be safe to ignore that. so i contacted my local ford dealership, described the problem on the phone, and the first thing the service person said was "it's the instrument cluster most likely. $500-800 to repair. when i got home, i started researching, initially just to see if i could find the part cheaper. the google search i did pulled up entire forums dedicated to this problem. that's when i went from resigned to mad. ford is putting the onus on the nhtsa to initiate a recall. and they said you won't do it if safety is not effected. well i don't know about you, but me and i'm sure every state trooper on the planet, would consider a malfunctioning speedometer to be a safety issue. and with the economy as it is, and ford charging $500-$800 to repair what they already know is a faulty system, a lot of people are not going to have it fixed. and take that 25 mph curve at 35 or 40 instead. that's not only going to be illegal....it's also dangerous. we were advised on the forum to write both ford and the nhtsa. i have now written both. surely one of you will do the right thing. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford mustang. the contact attempted to start the vehicle but it would not start. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the mechanic stated that water had damaged the electrical system and the computer system, which would need replacing. the contact had previously noticed water leaking from under the passenger side seat onto the passenger's feet. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 81,536.

I just visited an online ford forum after being quoted $950 to repair my speedometer on my 2005 ford mustang. there are 4 pages of complaints detailing the same problem with the same vehicle. perhaps ford has avoided a recall by stating this does not effect safety or emissions. however, i got my first speeding ticket in over a decade 2 days after this problem began. speed control does effect safety, and apparently, if gone without repair, the non-working speedometer effects the transmissions ability to shift properly, which is also a safety hazard. i do not have $950 to repair this problem, nor can i afford to pay the costs of speeding ticket fines, and the rise in my cost of auto insurance due to these fines. please investigate this problem, as it appears to be a recurrent issue with this vehicle that ford should take responsibility for. *tr

Speedometer at times sticks or shows the incorrect speed. even sitting idle the speedometer will show 5 miles an hour or even 20 mph. it's extremely inconsistent, so determining the correct speed is difficult to do. the speed will display both, higher than actual speed and lower than actual speed without ryhme or reason. additionally the needle moves in a sporadic behavior, like a second hand tic on a clock, rather than a smooth consistent flow. the tachometer appears to also be affected although it's much less noticeable. *kb

The speedometer, gas gauge and fueling gauge on the instrument cluster has failed. today the lighting behind the panel started to go out. this is a known common problem on the mustang with several people reporting to ford without any response to the public. we paid good money for these cars and this is a safety hazard. i cannot afford the 600+ quote, so i'm using a gps to gauge my speed and i'm having to track my mileage so i know when to get gas. ford needs to recall and fix before someone looses their life. *tr

The speedometer constantly malfunctions, which makes it impossible to know what speed you are traveling. the speedometer will either stick at zero or be 10 to 15 mph off. this is common problem based on personal experience with many other 2005 mustang v6 drivers. the problem requires the entire instrument panel to be replaced (~$500-800), and ford continues to give us all the run-around. a simple search online also returns numerous postings about this problem. not knowing the speed in which you are traveling is a very unsafe driving condition. please look into this matter promptly and issue a recall. thanks for your help on this matter. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford mustang. the contact stated the speedometer failed to function and does not register the correct mph while driving. the speedometer would only display the maximum speed or zero. the dealer stated that the contact would be responsible for paying $100 for a diagnostic test and $600 if the speed cluster needed to be replaced. the repairs were covered by a recall or warranty. the manufacturer stated there were no recalls and offered no assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 36,550.

My 2005 mustang rpm gauge has quit working. after researching online of this issue i found that this is a known issue with mustangs. can you please let me know who i need to contact to get this item under a recall item that mandates ford to fix the issue. *kb

I have a 2005 ford mustang with a speedometer failure. having accessed the internet have found an amazing amount of other folks within the same problem. the failure can lead to problems with the transmission shifting causing unsafe operation of the vehicle. it's unbelievable how many other people have had this problem. when contacting ford motor co. their response has not been to side-step the issue and not acknowledge the problem. their rep suggested that a recall would have to come from your agency. those of us that have the problem feel that the repair cost($500.-700.) should be ford's responsibility, not the owners of these vehicles. it's a shame that when something as obvious as this defect is cannot be admitted to be the faulty manufacture of the component by the company that produced it. makes one reconsider what brand of vehicle one should buy next! please help. i'm sure you've had plenty of complaints about this same issue. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Speedometer works intermittently. sometimes does not register speed at all. i consider this to be a dangerous situation. this apparently has happened to many 2005 mustangs. ford should be required to repair free of charge. *tr

2005 ford mustang. consumer writes in regards to faulty speedometer *tgw

My fuel gauge on vehicle has quit working and says i have no gas when i have just filled up, the speedometer also goes erratic and says i'm going 120 when actually going much slower, the cold hot gauge either reads hot, regardless of if i just started the car or if its been running for an hour. *tr

As with many other ford mustang owners know instrument gauges fail. i have stopped driving my mustang because i received two speeding tickets about a month or two apart.. i was doing the speed limit according to my dash but chp told me different. did not believe or want to hear anything i said. i paid $900 for the first ticket and cant afford to pay another $900.00 for the second one so they are not letting me renew my license which is required for the job i do. so i'm gonna lose my job on my birthday. justice in america... this has ruined my life... no one will help me or listen to me and i'm tired of trying to get help... someone needs to be held responsible for this so when i commit suicide after i'm let go from my job in two months what happened to me will not happen to anyone else. please... justice for all.. *tr