Mario So Funny

WASHINGTON — Federal safety regulators have dropped a probe into 29,807 2011-’12 Ford Mustangs equipped with manual transmissions after consumer complaints alleging an inability to shift into gear while driving.

“There is no indication of loss of motive power or unreasonable safety risk associated with the alleged defect in the subject vehicles,” said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in a statement on its Web site. “The preliminary evaluation is closed.”

NHTSA said it analyzed data provided by Ford and “364 unique reports indicating various shift quality issues while driving” from consumers.

“Ford identified several factors that may contribute to shift quality concerns in the subject vehicles, including cold transmission, clutch stay-out at high engine speeds, gear clash or grinding, and gradual loosening of clutch plate bolts in some early production vehicles,” said NHTSA in its defect investigations summary.

It said the largest percentage of complaints indicated higher-than-expected shift efforts in cold ambient temperatures. The complaints “resolved themselves with the drivetrain warming,” said NHTSA.

It noted that its analysis also identified “only five complaints alleging an inability to shift into gear due to loose clutch plate bolts.

“A revised fastener was designed and implemented into production and is available for service,” NHTSA noted.

Such an investigation can sometimes lead to a recall.

Inside Line says: No recall or any other action as NHTSA drops a federal probe into the 2011-’12 Ford Mustangs with manual transmissions.