Ford Mustang Reliability Problems

Mustang owners have made 1,402 complaints over 31 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 30th in overall reliability out of 42 Ford models, with real body and engine concerns.

5 Common Ford Mustang Problems

A list of some of the most common issues 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.

  2. Rodent Damage to Soy-Based Wire Coating

    Newer Ford vehicles use an electrical wire coating that is a more eco-friendly, soy-based material. But maybe it's a little too eco-friendly? There's been an uptick in owner complaints about rodents using the coating as a chew toy and causi…

    Continue reading article "Rodent Damage to Soy-Based Wire Coating" A chewed wiring harness showing exposed copper wiring

  4. Spark Plugs Stuck in Triton Engine

    Replacing spark plugs in cars has been a relatively simple task since Henry Ford mastered the assembly line, that is unless you have a Ford V8 engine from 2004-2008. Those 3-valve engines hold on to their spark plugs like an anaconda choki…

    Continue reading article "Spark Plugs Stuck in Triton Engine"

  5. MyFord Touch Complaints

    Ford's customer satisfaction has been in steady decline since 2010. MyFord Touch was also released in 2010. This is not a coincidence. The system was Ford's attempt at an all-in-one, in-dash communication and entertainment system. What owne…

    Continue reading article "MyFord Touch Complaints"

What Mustang 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

Full Lists on CarComplaints.com

Mustang Generations

The Mustang has 4 generations, each with their own issues. Using the same PainRank™ system we've determined that you're better off avoiding the 5th generation (2005–2014).

Mustang Key Numbers

  1. 1,402 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  2. 815 service bulletins

    Documenting the process of troubleshooting common problems.

  3. 66 recall campaigns

    Time-sensitive, free repairs for widespread safety problems.

Mustang Class-Action Lawsuits

The Mustang has been named as a class vehicle in the following lawsuits.

  • Enrique Rodriguez, v. Ford Motor Company.

    1. Case Filed

      A Ford Mustang class action lawsuit alleges the cars have defective wiring harnesses in the trunk lids that cause failures of the backup cameras, trunk releases, trunk lights and satellite radio reception.

    Class Vehicles
    • 2015-2017 Mustangs
    Class Members
    Illinois residents
    Location
    Illinois
  • Dismissed

    William Mickens and Mark Solomon v. Ford Motor Company

    1. Dismissed

      The judge ruled any claims against Ford for damages to Mustangs before the 2005 model year are false because Ford could not have had any knowledge that galvanic corrosion of aluminum hoods would occur in the 2000-04 models. Those cars did not have aluminum hoods but had hoods made of sheet molded compound.

    2. Proceed

      A federal judge says that a class action suit claiming corrosion on aluminum body panels has reduced the value of millions of cars and trucks made by Ford should proceed with depositions being taken this year.

  • 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

  • Silvia Franco, et al, v. Ford Motor Company.

    1. Case Filed

      A Ford sudden deceleration lawsuit alleges a host of vehicles have defective electronic throttle body control systems that cause the vehicles to suddenly and dangerously lose power.

    Problem
    ETB Puts Escape in Limp Home Mode
    Class Vehicles
    • 2011-2016 Edge (3.5L engine)
    • 2011-2014 Edge (3.7L engine)
    • 2015-2016 Mustang (3.7L engine)
    • 2011-2014 Mustang (GT and Shelby)
    • 2013-2015 Taurus (3.5L engine)
    • 2011-2014 F-150 (3.7L engine)
    • 2015-2016 F-150 (3.5L Duratec V6)
    • 2011-2016 Explorer (3.5L Duratec V6)
    Location
    California

Recent 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"

  2. Technical problems in over 4,300 Ford and Lincoln vehicles mean the panel cluster might be blank when the vehicle starts up.

    The affected models are all from the 2019 model year and include the Ford Mustang, Lincoln Navigator, and Lincoln Nautilus. Ford says they will update the panel cluster’s software.

    The automaker’s ongoing technical problems remind me of another type of cluster.

    keep reading article "Blank Instrument Clusters Being Recalled in the Navigator and Nautilus"

  5. 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"

  6. You know what feels like a long time ago? The first Takata inflator recall in May of 2013.

    That’s back when we were young and optimistic that the issue would be resolved quickly.

    Now I can hardly remember what it feels like to have hope at all. Especially as we stare down the barrel of another recall expansion for passenger-side inflators in the Mustang, Edge, Fusion, and Ranger. CarComplaints.com has information on which model years and zones.…

    keep reading article "It Never Ends. Takata Recalls Expanded by 328,000 Vehicles"

  7. Defective electronic throttle bodies (ETB) are causing Ford vehicles to suddenly decelerate and enter "limp home" mode, which is like trying to drive a snail through a molasses puddle.

    A lawsuit that is seeking class-action certification wants Ford to fix their ETBs.

    "The plaintiff wants Ford to pay damages and equitable relief, fix all vehicles named in the lawsuit by replacing the electronic throttle bodies, inform consumers through advertising campaigns about the dangers of sudden unintended deceleration and educate consumers about their pre-purchase or pre-lease legal rights once all the facts are known."…

    keep reading article "Another Ford Throttle Body Lawsuit"

See All Mustang News

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