DEARBORN -- Ford Motor Co. has halted production of its high-performance 2003 SVT Mustang Cobra due to quality concerns, according to a company official.

Ford stopped building the limited-edition version of the Mustang about two weeks ago, said Alan Hall, a spokesman for Ford's Special Vehicle Team operations.

Hall would not specify the problems that led to the stoppage, but said that they have been fixed and that production at the Dearborn Assembly Plant will resume Nov. 12.

"It was something that was caught at the plant and it's something that hopefully has been resolved," Hall said. "It was part of our regular process to ensure quality."

In 1999, Ford recalled 5,300 1999 SVT Mustang Cobras after admitting the vehicle's engine did not produce its advertised 320 horsepower.

The recall came after Mustang Cobra owners complained of a shortfall of as much as 50 horsepower. Ford traced the power problem to the engine's cast aluminum intake manifold and its exhaust system.

The issues with the 2003 Mustang Cobra, which produces 390 horsepower, are not related to horsepower, Hall said.

The automaker still plans to build 12,000 Mustang Cobra coupes and convertibles this year. The $35,000 car is popular among weekend racers.

Ford has been expanding is stable of high-performance cars and trucks, which can pad profits and stimulate consumer interest in the entire brand.

 

Right after I found the last post I find this !

And they said it was not a motor issue.


[b][b]

Ford says assembly to resume Nov. 12

October 30, 2002


Ford Motor Co. has halted production of its high-performance 2003 SVT Mustang Cobra due to a problem with the car's supercharged engine, union sources say.

Ford confirmed that production at its Dearborn assembly plant was suspended Oct. 7 and is to resume Nov. 12. The problem involves the Cobra's 390-horsepower, 4.6L V8 engine. The automaker would not deny that a problem with the engine was responsible, saying the problem is "the sort of thing that happens quite a bit at any assembly plant. It's not an issue we need to go into detail about. It was the sort of quality issue we find in our normal processes."

None of the cars with the defect was shipped to dealers or customers, Ford said. "No cars got into the field with the problem. Our dealers were informed, and we have rescheduled all the customers."

Engineers corrected the problem in about two weeks, Ford said. The remainder of the production halt is due to time it takes to reschedule parts supplies for the low-volume car.

Ford began producing the limited-edition Cobra in June. The Dearborn plant usually builds 80 a day, but Ford said the shutdown would not affect its target of selling 12,000 of the cars for the model year. Ford will increase assembly line speed or keep the car in production longer than planned. The SVT coupe sells for $34,750 and the convertible $38,995, making it one of Ford's most profitable models.