general problems of the 2005 Ford Mustang

25 problems related to parking brake have been reported for the 2005 Ford Mustang. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2005 Ford Mustang based on all problems reported for the 2005 Mustang.

1 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 06/13/2011

Upon following the instructions in the manufacturer issued owner's manual which states "to set the parking brake, pull the parking brake handle up as far as possible", I experienced a loud popping sound followed by the inability to use previously mentioned parking brake since the cables had been snapped. I have seen that there are numerous issues and complaints pertaining to the parking brake/parking brake cables with 2005 Ford Mustangs, but it appears that nothing has been done to resolve this issue even though Ford has acknowledged the inefficiency of these cables by replacing them in the 2007 and later Mustang models. The rubber coating of these cables is apparently inefficient in keeping moisture and water out of the cable itself as expressed by many unhappy Ford Mustang owners, which in turn caused my cables to rust and eventually snap. I find it extremely alarming that this is such a prevalent complaint yet nothing has been done to remedy this problem by either Ford or the NHTSA. Had the owner's manual issued by Ford not said "pull the parking brake handle up as far as possible" my issue and possibly many others would not have come to fruition, since in an attempt to secure my vehicle based on the manufacturer's instructions my parking brake cables broke as a result of the faulty rubber coating. Also, there is a good chance I would have not encountered this problem had the owner's manual stated to only raise the parking brake until a fair amount of tension is felt. However, the issue I experienced would have most likely been inevitable given the numerous issues and complaints already surrounding the problems with the parking brake and cable, so luckily I experienced this problem without myself or anyone else suffering any injuries. Something needs to be done about this issue as it is extraordinarily unfair to put the responsibility of repair on the consumer when the manufacturer could have taken steps to fix this issue, and has done so in later models.

2 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 02/25/2011

My 2005 Ford Mustang failed virginia state safety inspection due to all 3 emergency brake cables needing to be replaced. This is a known defect by Ford (TSB 0654) and no recall has been issued. Numerous owners found on the www have similar complaints and have faced large repair cost ($500-700) as well as vehicles rolling out into the street causing accidents when left unattended on inclines. The parking brakes have locked up in cold weather. This in my opinion is a safety item and should be recalled and repaired immediately. Please make Ford issue a recall before someone really gets hurt.

3 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 12/14/2010

I have a 2005 Ford Mustang and went to go to work and my emergency brake will not release. I can not drive my car. Left it running for 20 minutes to let it warm up but it still will not release. This happened when I first got the car new and the dealership replaced the brake stating it was a defect. But now its doing the same thing.

4 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 10/10/2010

I have a 2005 Ford Mustang. . And I would like to report emergency brake problem. . I just had my emergency brake cables replaced at a local Ford dealer. The emergency brakes would not release. I didn't know that the brakes were still holding until a saw white smoke coming from the rear wheels. . My car didn't pass my state inspection because the parking brake will not hold the car. .

5 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 08/18/2010

E-brake malfunction on a 2005 Ford Mustang v6. I leave the car in gear all the time because of the issue. My vehicle rolled down a hill over a curb and caused $980 worth of damage to the condenser and radiator. Apparently Ford said the e-cord is wrapped all around the unit and I need a replacement at $565.

6 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 01/06/2010

Freezing temperatures and snow led me to use the parking brake on hill overnight. The next morning the rear brakes did not disengage despite releasing the e brake handle which turned off the sensor. I did not attribute the difficulty of the drive to the brakes as there was lots of snow in the parking lot and the light sensor was off. The car was driven half mile, and when I parked, I was inspecting the rotors, the temperature of which immediately burnt a hole in my winter glove. I called the dealer to ask about problem and they seemed like it was the first time they have heard about it, but there are numerous online posts relating to the same issue. Has not yet been fixed, as I am in process of trying to figure out if this is a problem the dealer should cover, or if I am going to have to pay for it out of pocket. It would seem as though a safety recall should have been issued for this problem since the parking brake is a safety feature and this is not a part that normally goes bad under normal wear and tear conditions. Please continue to make Ford aware of the extremely disappointed owners they have due to their refusal to take care of this safety issue.

7 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 01/05/2010

The parking brake cable on my 2005 Mustang froze up and would not release. This causes the car to be not drivable as the rear brakes do not release.

8 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 08/13/2009

1. Water leak in passenger side kick panel, has shorted Smart junction box, now traction control does not work (caused the rear wheels to spin out on wet pavement at 35 mph and lost control of the vehicle, hit a curb and bent 3 rims and under carriage damage) and has caused other safety related problems while driving. With a/c on, car idle will drop and sometimes stall out, causing a loss of steering and brakes (very safety related). Ford knew of water leak issue when vehicle was manufactured, they put a little plastic cover over sjb computer to deflect leaking water inside passenger compartment on passenger side behind kick panel near door hinge. No dealer will repair the issue without buying a new sjb and programming for over $600. 2. Also rear brakes stick after using emergency brake. This is in a warm climate, not cold climate. If I ever have to use my e-brake in an emergency the rear wheels will lock up and be even more of a hazard and danger. Both these issues are very safety related. I tried searching your data base and could not even select Mustang in the vehicle list. Searching the internet you will find literally hundreds if not thousands of complaints about this water leak and sjb damage issue. Please do something about this. I am currently thinking of suing Ford for the water leak and wreck this caused. I came very close to hitting a pedestrian when the traction control failed in this accident.

9 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 02/08/2009

I own a 2005 Ford Mustang and the parking brake will not release correctly and wears my back brakes and rotors prematurely. The parking brake sticking issue has happened numerous times and I have talked with the dealer I bought the car from and then to a different one to see if I got better results. I didn't!!! I feel like this should be covered by the warranty or a recall because it appears that many other Mustang owners are experiencing the same problem.

10 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 02/05/2009

Parking brake on my 2005 for Mustang gt freezes shut every winter. Sheridan Ford in wilmington "repaired" problem once. Next cold day was frozen again. Now it is in again for same problem. Every cold day below 30 degrees this happens.

11 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 01/16/2009

While driving, car came to a stop while manually shifting gears. When shift completed, car moved very sluggishly, as though brake were being applied. Over next mile, became progressively more difficult to proceed.

12 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 11/18/2008

The emergency brake on my 2005 Mustang began freezing up and wouldn't release. Shortly after this began to occur the brake discontinued to work at all. After shelling out $300+ for a completely new emergency brake assembly, the same problem is back again. My guess is they have a design flaw in this assembly.

13 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 06/12/2008

Rear brake cable freeze. E brake loose.

14 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 03/27/2008

Hand brakes are not locking or releasing properly, I had my car parked in my garage, I was warming it up, I pulled on the emergency brakes and went home to get something from inside the house and when I came back the car was already on the street with a dent, the hand brake did not lock, luckily no kids were there at the time, or a stroller. When releasing the hand brake it locks up it does not release and when driving it, it over heats the whole wheel.

15 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 02/12/2008

In low temperatures, below freezing, the parking brake will freeze. The cable has been replaced by the dealership 2x under warranty, yet the problem remains unfixed.

16 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 02/09/2008

Parking brake freezes in temperatures below 30 degrees. I have had the emergency brake cables replaced in 2006, but the failure is occurring in the winter of 2007/2008.

17 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 01/24/2008

I have also had problems with my parking brake freezing on my 2005 Ford Mustang gt last winter. I took it into the shop after it thawed 3-7-07 - they said no damage was done, but they were out of parts. I took it in later and they said they could not warranty it unless they saw the problem. Now a year later it is stuck in my driveway again - I am missing work because of it. Why has there not been a recall yet???? it is bad engineering, and bad customer service. The service has been performed at joe cooper in midwest city, ok.

18 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 01/17/2008

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Mustang gt. The emergency brake cable slides off and causes the brakes not to release. As a result, the rear brakes began to smoke. The dealer and manufacturer have not yet been notified. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure occurred twice; the first time she had to apply the clutch and the vehicle spun violently. The failure and current mileages were 37,000. Updated 02-25-08 updated.

19 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 01/01/2008

The parking brake freezes when I use my ebrake and I can't drive till the ice in the boot is melted. It wears my brakes and happens anytime I use it.

20 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 01/22/2007

Parking brake fails to release fully when temperatures are below 30 degree f. If your are not familiar if car, it could go unnoticed, causing overheating of the rear brakes and possible wheel bearings failure. Has not been repaired as of 2/6/07. Waiting for temperature rise before taking to dealer.

21 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 01/11/2007

- the contact has a 2005 Ford Mustang with an odometer reading of 16500 miles. The contact stated that her rear brakes keep seizing after the emergency brake has been engaged. The contact has taken the vehicle to the dealer and they changed her rear brake calibers and her rear brake assembly, but she continues to have this failure after the emergency brake has been engaged. The dealer recommend for her not to use the emergency brake, but she has a manual transmission and she needs to use it often. The failure only occurs when the temperature is below 32 degrees.

22 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 01/10/2007

The vehicle parking brake will not release when the temperature drops below 25 degrees and hangs up until the vehicle is driven for about 2 miles. I have taken the vehicle back to the dealership to be repaired, but it continues to hangup.

23 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 10/04/2006

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that all of the gauges on the instrument panel stopped working and water was leaking under the passengers side floor board. The parking brake also became stuck and the cable needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the technician verified that the water was leaking through the engine compartment but was not able to determine how to repair it. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 10,000 and the current mileage was 110,000.

24 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 03/01/2006

The parking brake calipers and pads freeze and will not release when temperature drops below 32 degrees--while the handle is fully released inside the vehicle. When in neutral and pushed car will not roll, and when in gear and given gas car barely budges. Taken twice to dealership--by tow truck--but when arrived temperature had risen above 32 degrees and pads etc had released. Dealership has not yet been able to reproduce the problem. Dealership inspected entire assembly twice and found no problems. No repairs have been made. I am a firefighter/emt first responder and respond in my personal vehicle to fires/accidents/medical emergencies etc. Having a car that does not operate correctly in cold weather is not an option for me.

25 Parking Brake problem

Failure Date: 02/01/2006

In the winter of 2006, I had to bring in my car in for the dealership to fix the parking brake. What happened was, the brake cable split somewhere allowing moisture to collect. When the parking brake was applied it would cause that moisture to freeze, with the result of locked brakes. This has also happened in 2007. The car is no longer on warranty so I don't bother getting it fixed anymore, knowing it will just happen again. Instead I just park on flat areas and leave it in gear. Ford has never offered a valid solution other than bring it in every time it breaks. Not impressed!.


Other Parking Brake related problems of the 2005 Ford Mustang


Safety Ratings of Mustang Cars
Fuel Economy of Mustang Vehicles
Mustang Service Bulletins
Mustang Safety Recalls
Mustang Defect Investigations