The gas pedal stick cause bye throttle body could not stop the car.just about hit a car when I was driving ..... *tr
2005 Ford Mustang cruise control problems
severe 46 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
46
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
12crashes
7injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 46 cruise control complaints filed for the 2005 Ford Mustang, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 13 model years of Ford Mustang we track for cruise control problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 46.
Owners have filed 46 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2005 Ford Mustang describe sudden, uncontrolled acceleration occurring without warning—the engine races to full throttle while the brake pedal becomes ineffective. These events happen intermittently during normal driving, at traffic lights, when braking to stop, and even when shifting gears. In several cases, the vehicle accelerated from complete stops to 60 mph or higher despite brake application, forcing drivers to shift into neutral or kill the engine to regain control. Multiple owners reported near-fatal crashes; some collided with other vehicles, poles, buildings, or garage walls. Dealers consistently fail to reproduce the problem during diagnostic visits and return vehicles unfixed, citing no error codes. Ford's written responses range from no assistance offered to instructions to call back if the failure happens again.
Separately, owners report the instrument cluster—especially the speedometer and RPM gauges—malfunctioning across a wide mileage range. Gauges jump erratically, read wildly inaccurately (off by 15–40+ mph), drop below zero, or stop working entirely. The problem often self-corrects after restart, then recurs unpredictably. Owners note this defect is common across the model year yet not recalled. Ford dealerships quote $500–$800 to replace the cluster, and manufacturers have stated this is a known issue affecting all 2005 Mustangs. Additional reports cite throttle body electronic failures and accelerator pedals that stick or fail to return to idle, requiring manual intervention.
Same Ford Mustang cruise control reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Uncontrolled acceleration with brake failure
Engine accelerates to full throttle without driver input, brake pedal becomes ineffective or unresponsive. Vehicle continues accelerating until driver shifts to neutral, turns off ignition, or crashes. Occurs during normal driving, at stop lights, when braking, or when shifting gears.
When: Intermittent; reported from 2005 to 2012+ model years; earliest at 5,700 miles, latest at 78,250 miles; occurs across wide speed range (5-60+ mph)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine races to full throttle without pedal input; Brake pedal pressed but vehicle does not decelerate; Accelerator pedal stuck to floor or does not return; Rear tires spin or burn rubber while braking; Vehicle surges forward when shifting from park/neutral to drive; Problem is intermittent and cannot be replicated at dealer; No warning lights or error codes present in many cases
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to duplicate problem in majority of cases; no repairs completed. One owner reports dealer cleaned throttle body and fuel system for $160. Dealer installed black box recording device on one vehicle (never provided). One report of throttle body needing replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford refused to offer assistance in multiple cases; stated 'nothing can be done.' Manufacturer advised contacting dealer; if failure recurs, call back. One case mentions Ford engineer to be sent for inspection. Owners report Ford claimed no complaints exist of similar issues, contradicting complaints on Ford's own NHTSA database.
Instrument cluster failure (speedometer and RPM gauges)
Speedometer and/or RPM gauge malfunction, reading inaccurately, jumping erratically, dropping below zero, or ceasing to work entirely. Gauge typically self-corrects after vehicle sits or restarts, then fails again. Owners cite missing recalls and high repair costs ($500–$800 at Ford dealership).
When: Reported from early ownership through 75,000 miles; issues may persist or recur intermittently
Symptoms owners cite: Speedometer reads lower or higher than actual speed (off by 15–40+ mph in some cases); RPM gauge stuck at zero or reads incorrectly at idle; Fuel gauge reads empty when tank is full; Oil level gauge reads past full; Gauges jump around erratically before stopping; Needle points straight down regardless of vehicle speed; Problem self-corrects after 10–15 minutes or vehicle restart, then recurs
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission speed sensor replaced on one vehicle without fixing problem. Fuses and relays checked and found OK. Speedometer cables replaced in one case, but failure recurred. Stepper motors in cluster gauge known to fail. Dealer estimates $99 diagnostic fee plus $500–$800 repair cost.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer acknowledged problem was common to all 2005 Ford Mustangs (per one owner report). Ford told owners problem is not covered by recall. Service writers dismissed complaints as too costly to fix or stated no known universal problem.
Throttle body/drive-by-wire malfunction
Throttle body electronic control fails, causing idle surge, loss of power during acceleration, or engine entering limp mode. Vehicle may rev up unexpectedly when brake is applied or show hesitation during acceleration.
When: Reported across multiple years of ownership; one instance noted when exiting construction zone at low speed
Symptoms owners cite: Engine suddenly revs up when foot is on brake; Loss of acceleration response; car acts as if in neutral for 4–5 seconds, then jerks forward; Engine idles up during slow parking maneuvers; Vehicle enters limp mode, cannot rev above 5 mph; Electronic throttle control warning light illuminates; Engine hesitation followed by sudden acceleration
Codes mentioned: Electronic throttle control warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replacement recommended by dealer; MAF (mass air flow) sensor also replaced in one case for over $600. Throttle body cleaning performed for $160 in one instance.
Accelerator pedal sticking or not returning
Accelerator pedal becomes mechanically stuck to floor or does not return to idle position after release. Driver must manually lift pedal with foot or shift to neutral to regain control. Occurs both during normal acceleration and after normal driving conditions.
When: Scattered reports across ownership period; one instance noted as early as 2005
Symptoms owners cite: Gas pedal does not come up with foot when released; Pedal stuck to floor, requires manual intervention to lift; Vehicle continues accelerating after foot is removed; Pedal eventually releases on its own after seconds, but causes panic
Repairs/costs cited: One owner attempted to jam foot under pedal to lift it; uncertain if manual lift or self-release corrected issue. Floor mats investigated as potential cause by dealers but ruled out by multiple owners.
Synthesized from 46 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2005 Ford Mustang?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2005 Ford Mustang?
It's a meaningful issue. 46 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 38 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 7,515 and 65,621 miles, with the median around 44,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 7,515; a quarter make it past 65,621. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Ford/Mustang.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.