Ford Mustang reliability and problems by year
Owners have filed 3,599 complaints about the Ford Mustang with NHTSA since 2010, most often about airbags and transmission and drivetrain. Ford has filed 1 warranty extension and 4 service campaigns for it, and there are 60 safety recalls on file.
From NHTSA's public data files, downloaded 2026-10-10.
How reliable is the Ford Mustang? What NHTSA's records show
We don't give the Mustang a reliability score. NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. Here is what's on file for model years 2010 on.
- Owner complaints
- 3,599
- Filed with NHTSA, all model years
- Warranty extensions
- 1
- Filed by Ford
- Service campaigns
- 4
- Filed by Ford
- Safety recalls
- 60
- Each covers part of the model
Every model year compared
Complaints rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so a newer or rarer year will show fewer. Compare years of the Mustang with each other.
| Year | Complaints | Most named | Recalls | Warranty / campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | Engine (38%) | 5 | 0 |
| 2025 | 18 | Exterior lights (28%) | 6 | 1 |
| 2024 | 82 | Electrical system (46%) | 12 | 1 |
| 2023 | 15 | Steering (33%) | 6 | 2 |
| 2022 | 50 | Other or unspecified (16%) | 9 | 2 |
| 2021 | 55 | Fuel system (18%) | 6 | 1 |
| 2020 | 120 | Transmission and drivetrain (21%) | 8 | 0 |
| 2019 | 149 | Engine (34%) | 6 | 1 |
| 2018 | 194 | Engine (29%) | 3 | 1 |
| 2017 | 266 | Backup camera and rear sensors (24%) | 6 | 1 |
| 2016 | 378 | Engine (20%) | 5 | 1 |
| 2015 | 438 | Other or unspecified (17%) | 11 | 1 |
| 2014 | 359 | Airbags (68%) | 3 | 0 |
| 2013 | 271 | Airbags (54%) | 5 | 0 |
| 2012 | 469 | Transmission and drivetrain (38%) | 6 | 1 |
| 2011 | 466 | Transmission and drivetrain (43%) | 4 | 0 |
| 2010 | 261 | Airbags (69%) | 5 | 1 |
Look up one model year, or a VIN
See the complaints, recalls and warranty extensions for a single Mustang model year, with the typical mileage when owners reported each problem.
Acknowledged by Ford
Warranty extensions and service campaigns Ford filed with NHTSA for the Mustang, in its own words. A warranty extension means Ford pays for the repair beyond the normal warranty.
- Warranty extensionAug 2021· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2012
This program extends the warranty coverage of the automatic transmission molded leadframe to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle, whichever occurs first. This is a one-time repair program.
- Service campaignApr 2026· Other or unspecified· model years 2015–2019
Customer Satisfaction Program 25N15 - Supplement #1 Certain 2015-2019 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Inspection For One-Time Replacement
- Service campaignMar 2026· Backup camera and rear sensors· model years 2021–2023
Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Replacement If Required After Dealer Evaluation
- Service campaignMar 2026· Other or unspecified· model years 2022–2025
Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: * Harsh 3-4, 4-5 upshifts * Harsh 5-3, 4-3 downshifts * Harsh reverse engagements These symptoms may be worse when cold.
- Service campaignSep 2011· Equipment and accessories· model years 2010
Emissions label does not meet requirements.
What owners report most
The parts of the car owners named in their complaints, across every Mustang model year. Unverified, and not a failure rate.
- Airbags866 (24%)
- Transmission and drivetrain683 (19%)
- Engine441 (12%)
- Electrical system409 (11%)
- Other or unspecified333 (9%)
- Body and structure205 (6%)
- Backup camera and rear sensors185 (5%)
- Cruise control and speed control106 (3%)
Safety recalls
60 recalls cover at least one Mustang model year. Each covers a range of VINs, not every car. Check one car at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
The engine compartment wiring harness ground connections may fracture and result in a loss of drive power, or a loss of function in the windshield washing system, headlights, air conditioning, or engine cooling fan.
The engine piston domes may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in piston dome failure and lead to a loss of drive power.
During certain cold temperature conditions, the windshield wipers may function only at their high-speed setting and the washing system may fail to function properly.
At vehicle start-up, the Instrument Panel Cluster Assembly (IPC) may not function, showing a blank display.
The engine piston circlips may have been incorrectly installed during manufacturing, which can result in piston failure and engine damage, leading to a loss of drive power.
The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak.
The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
The brake fluid level sensor may not activate the visual warning indicator when the brake fluid is low.
Water and road salt may corrode the front seat belt anchor pretensioner cables.
The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Water may enter the body control module and cause a loss of communication with the exterior lighting, including the license plate light, side marker, and tail lights.
The Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) may not illuminate at startup or while driving.
The LED Driver Modules may contain a burnt diode, which can cause the low-beam and high-beam headlights, daytime running lights, front position lights, and front turn signals to fail in the affected headlight.
The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can result in an engine stall while driving.
And 45 more recalls on NHTSA.
NHTSA investigations
Defect investigations NHTSA opened. Many close without a recall.
- EA21002Engineering analysis· opened Sep 2021, still open· Airbags· model years 2015–2017
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
- RQ21002Recall query· opened Aug 2021, still open· Backup camera and rear sensors· model years 2020
Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance
Led to recall 26V104.
- RQ19005Recall query· opened Dec 2019, closed Feb 2022· Doors, latches and locks· model years 2015
Door Latch Failures
Led to recall 20V177000.
- PE16001Preliminary evaluation· opened Jan 2016, closed Oct 2016· Doors, latches and locks· model years 2015
Door Latch Failure
Led to recall 16V643000.
- PE11024Preliminary evaluation· opened Aug 2011, closed Dec 2011· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2011–2012
Inability to shift gears on acceleration
NHTSA's own page for the 2026 Ford Mustang has the complaint text and every document.
Common questions
Is the Ford Mustang reliable?
We don't score reliability: NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. What's on file for model years 2010 on: 3,599 owner complaints, 1 warranty extension and 4 service campaigns Ford filed, and 60 safety recalls. The model years with the most complaints are 2012 (469), 2011 (466), 2015 (438). Whether a known problem was fixed on one car is what its service records show.
What are the most common problems with the Ford Mustang?
Across every model year since 2010, owners' complaints to NHTSA most often name airbags (24%), transmission and drivetrain (19%), engine (12%). Ford has filed 1 warranty extension covering the Mustang, listed on this page.
Which Mustang model years have the most complaints?
2012 (469), 2011 (466), 2015 (438). Complaint counts rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so compare years of the Mustang with each other rather than with other models.
Has Ford extended the warranty on the Mustang?
Yes: transmission and drivetrain (model years 2012). A dealer does a covered repair for free within the extended time or mileage.
How do I check recalls on a Mustang?
Enter the car's 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. That answers for one vehicle; the 60 recalls listed here are for the model, and each covers only part of it.