NHTSA Investigating New Ford Mustang, VW Jetta TDI

Every now and then we find out that National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is hard at work investigating complaints received from consumers, which may or may not result in recalls. This time, the agency announced it has opened an investigation centered on the new Ford Mustang and the Volkswagen Jettas equipped with TDI.

Taken separately, the ponies in question are those from the 2011 and 2012 model year equipped with a manual transmission, with reports from owners stating an inability to shift into gears while merging into high speed traffic or while turning left across oncoming traffic. A total of 32 complaints have reached the NHTSA on the Mustang, and about 26,000 units are to be recalled for erratic shifting issues, if proved true.

As for the Volkswagen Jetta TDI models involved, seven complaints alleging leakage from the fuel line to the fuel injector have gone through the agency. Incidents are being reported between 2,470 to 7,764 miles and could impact 40,000 Jetta TDI vehicles if the investigation finds enough evidence.

The NHTSA generally investigates for up to a year before deciding whether to upgrade an investigation into an engineering analysis, but it usually happens that an automaker voluntarily recalls the vehicle before then.

On its end, Ford made no real comment yet, limiting itself at saying that the NHTSA will have its full collaboration. "We will fully cooperate with the government as they review this matter," spokesman Wes Sherwood said to The Detroit News. Volkswagen on the other hand is yet to provide a feedback.