Clutch Pedal/linkage problems of the 2005 Ford Mustang

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Mustang. While driving approximately 25 mph and attempting to switch gears, the clutch pedal was depressed and a crunch sound was heard. The clutch pedal traveled all the way to the floorboard. The contact had to maneuver the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle was switched to the neutral position and came to a complete stop. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was inspected and a piece of plastic was found fractured into two parts on the floor of the vehicle under the clutch pedal. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000.

(1 and 2) the manual transmission on the vehicle has intermittent problems where it will not go into gear (up-shifting). Regardless of type of driving (fuel efficient, hard driving), the vehicle will lock out of the next gear. For example, from first to 2nd gear. The transmission will go approximately half-way into gear and stop. The result is an inability to continue accelerating. The vehicle must be taken out of the locked gear, put in neutral, clutch released and re-engaged, then shifted back into the previously attempted gear (2nd gear in the current example). Possible results of this incident include accidents and injury. I have almost been rear-ended several times. (3) the vehicle has been taken into service twice for the issue. The first time (June '05), the dealership adjusted the linkage resulting in no change. The dealership also told the consumer (me) to make sure the clutch was completely engaged. The second time (10/18/2005) the vehicle was put in for repair, the dealerships service advisor and service manager informed the consumer that it was a design flaw in the transmission. Ford is "looking into it, but there is no solution available at this time and may not be available in the future.