What's Wrong with the 5th Generation (2005–2014) Mustang?

Mustang owners have made 980 complaints about the 2005–2014 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 75th out of 94 Ford generations in overall reliability, with some body and electrical concerns.

Compare With Other Mustang Generations

Common 2005-2014 Ford Mustang Problems

Some of the worst issues 5th generation Mustang owners have to deal with.

  1. Why Do Ford Hoods Corrode So Easily?

    Cars are prone to rust, unfortunately that's just the way it is. This is especially true for those who live in rust belt states where salt is used to clear ice from roads. We can fight the onslaught with regular washes and waxing ... unless…

    Continue reading article "Why Do Ford Hoods Corrode So Easily?" A large patch of hood paint is missing right above the grille, revealing the hood's bare metal.

What Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

What Breaks the Most

Years to Avoid

5th Generation (2005–2014) Mustang Key Numbers

  1. 10 model years

    Grouping all models by their year can reveal some baddies.

  2. 980 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  3. 75th in reliability

    Overall reliability rank out of 94 eligible generations.

Recent Lawsuits for 5th Generation Mustang Owners

  • Partially dismissed

    Gregorio, et al., v. Ford Motor Company

    1. Partially dismissed

      Ford's motion to dismiss was denied because the judge says the latest amended lawsuit is the 'operative complaint' and as long as the California plaintiffs provided Ford with 30 days notice prior to the filing of the third amended lawsuit, the judge found this was good enough to satisfy the notice requirement of the California Consumers Legal Remedies Act.

    2. Case Filed

      According to the Mustang class action lawsuit, the cars contain defects that cause the MT82 transmissions to slip, jerk, engage harshly, clash gears, suffer premature wear and eventually fail.

    Class Vehicles
    • 2011-2019 Mustangs with MT82 manual transmissions
    Class Members
    TBD
    Location
    Michigan

Recent 5th Generation (2005–2014) Mustang News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. Ford may have used obsolete Takata replacement parts during a previous recall, extending what already feels like a never-ending airbag saga.

    Some Ford dealerships kept defective parts on their shelves long after they should have been tossed, and those wound up being used in vehicles as part of a collision of theft repair. Now Ford needs to re-recall 154,000 vehicles to inspect part numbers and replace the inflators if neccessary.…

    keep reading article "Ford Recalls Trucks That Received Obsolete Replacement Takata Parts"

  3. Ford has reluctantly settled a class-action lawsuit for using defective Takata airbags.

    Although agreeing to settle the case without the court deciding right or wrong, Ford continues to deny all liability and wrongdoing concerning the vehicles. The automaker says it decided to settle to get the matter over with and avoid the cost of further litigation.

    This isn't the first time Ford has acted reluctant when it comes to Takata problems. Owners can expect to see the following benefits regardless of Ford doing it out of the kindness of their heart or the protection of their checkbooks.…

    keep reading article "Takeways from Ford's Takata Class-Action Settlement"

  5. Earlier this year Ford issued a regional recall for vehicles with Takata airbag inflators in areas of high humidity.

    The thought was humidity is to blame for the inflators failing under pressure, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) believes the product is doomed to fail regardless of location.

    Ford is taking NHTSA's advice and issuing a new recall for over 500,000 cars nationwide. The recall includes the 2005-2008 Mustangs and 2005-2006 GT.

    keep reading article "Regional Takata Recall Expanded Nationwide for Mustang and GT"

  6. Ford is issuing a recall for 59,000 Takata airbag inflators.

    The automaker has named the affected vehicles as the 2005-2007 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, and 2004 Ranger vehicles.

    What – Inflators are controlled exposions that deploy the airbags in the event of a crash. Takata's inflators are failing under pressure and exploding with too much force, so when the airbag deploys, sharp metal shrapnel from the inflator also shoots out into the cabin. The inflators were first recalled in 3 million vehicles, none of them Fords, last year.

    Where – The inflators are failing in places of higher humidity which is why this is a regional recall limited to vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

    When – Neither Ford or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released a date for the recall. You can call Ford at 800-392-3673 and reference recall number 14B04.

    keep reading article "Ford Recalls Exploding Takata Airbag Inflators"