Ford Mustangs With This Option Recalled For Unintended Acceleration

The recall only affects about 1,000 cars equipped with aftermarket kits for the 5.0-liter “Coyote” V8 that were sold through Ford Performance Parts (FPP) and other authorized channels.

According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the problem stems from a modification to the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) calibration provided with the kit. The updated software, developed by Whipple Superchargers, inadvertently turned off functional safety features inside the PCM.

These safeguards act as a redundant safety check designed to prevent unintended acceleration or vehicle movement if a fault is detected in the primary control layer.

During routine validation testing, Ford’s Powertrain Engineering team discovered that the Mustang's Failure Mode Effects Management (FMEM) had been disabled on a supercharged Mustang test vehicle. The company immediately halted sales of the upgrade kit three days later and began investigating the cause.

In the Mustang’s control system, Level 1 software constantly compares throttle input from the driver against actual throttle position, stepping in if it detects a fault such as a sticking or unresponsive throttle actuator. The Level 2 system acts as a secondary, independent monitor of that logic. When L2 is disabled, the car still maintains L1 protections, but loses that additional layer of verification—an issue Ford determined could increase crash risk in rare failure scenarios.

Luckily, the automaker reported no field complaints, warranty claims, or accidents related to the issue. Owners of affected vehicles will be asked to visit a Ford Performance dealer to have their PCM software reflashed using a dedicated tool included with the supercharger kit.

The supercharger kit—offered as a factory-approved performance upgrade for the 5.0L Mustang—remains unavailable for sale until Ford completes the software revision and resumes distribution. When equipped, the Ford Performance supercharger kit offers 810 hp and 615 lb.-ft. of torque.

This article was co-written using AI and was then heavily edited and optimized by our editorial team.

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