Ford Mustang problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 9 model years (2018–2026), NHTSA has logged 695 owner complaints and 40 safety recalls for the Ford Mustang. That averages 14.6 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.36 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Sports & muscle cars segment it ranks #2 of 2 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 12.3.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 63% above the 2018 and 2019 models (38 early complaints per model year versus 27).
The 2024 model year has the highest rate (30.1 complaints per year) and the 2023 model year the lowest (4.0). Model years 2018 and 2024 run at least 50% above this model's average of 14.6 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years. The 2023 model year runs at least 40% below this model's average of 14.6 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (27.1% of complaints), followed by Electrical (21.7%) and Transmission / powertrain (13.5%). 51 complaints (7.3%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 24 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 172 complaints versus 165 in the previous 12 months — up 4%. The 2018 model year generated the most recent reports (34). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 41 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 40 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (12), 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 1 NHTSA investigation has covered this model, 1 still open; the latest is “Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance” (recall query, opened 2021-08-03, still open).
Every other tracked model among Sports & muscle cars has fewer complaints per year, including Dodge Charger.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 ▲50%+ | 195 | 22.2 | 0.55 | 34 | 4 | Engine | View › |
| 2019 | 150 | 19.3 | 0.48 | 30 | 6 | Engine | View › |
| 2020 | 120 | 17.7 | 0.44 | 26 | 8 | Electrical | View › |
| 2021 | 55 | 9.5 | 0.24 | 15 | 6 | Fuel system | View › |
| 2022 | 50 | 10.4 | 0.26 | 16 | 9 | Fuel system | View › |
| 2023 Fewest complaints | 15 | 4.0 | 0.1 | 2 | 6 | Steering | View › |
| 2024 ▲50%+ | 84 | 30.1 | 0.75 | 26 | 12 ⚠ | Electrical | View › |
| 2025 Too new to rank | 18 | 10.1 | 0.25 | 15 | 6 | Engine | View › |
| 2026 Too new to rank | 8 | 8.0 | 0.2 | 8 | 5 | Engine | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 172 · Previous 12 months: 165 Within ±30% year on year
Problem areas
Engine ›
188 · 27.1% · 1.21 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Electrical ›
151 · 21.7% · 1.38 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Transmission / powertrain ›
94 · 13.5% · 1.16 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Body & structure ›
57 · 8.2% · 0.9 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Unspecified or other ›
54 · 7.8% · 0.86 vs. all vehicles · Falling
Brakes
36 · 5.2% · 0.86 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
25 · 3.6% · 0.56 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Fuel system
24 · 3.5% · 0.8 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Airbags & seat belts
22 · 3.2% · 0.83 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Wheels, tires & suspension
21 · 3.0% · 1.21 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Driver-assist systems
9 · 1.3% · 0.23 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
7 · 1.0% · 0.55 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
7 · 1.0% · 0.65 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 41 months
What owners report
Vehicle Information: 2022 Ford Mustang Date of Incident: XXX Description of Safety Defect & Crash: On XXX, this vehicle suffered a catastrophic concurrent failure of the electronic throttle control and steering systems, resulting in a violent injury crash.
Recalls on 2024 Ford Mustangs: On 09/22/2026, at approximately 11:34AM, my Ford Mustang suffered a catastrophic malfunction. When I was braking on the offramp, the brakes did not engage and remained firm and unresponsive.
The 2.3L EcoBoost engine failed due to coolant leaking into the combustion chambers. The dealer found coolant present in cylinders 1 and 4, the cylinder 4 piston washed, and vertical scoring on the cylinder 4 wall.
COMPONENT / SYSTEM FAILED: The Electronic Power Steering Assist / Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) and vehicle electrical ground system failed. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
My car would not start so I had it towed to the Ford Dealership where I bought the car - The car would not start even though the battery had power - it also had a burning wire smell which is consistent with the recall The dealer has not looked at the car…
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Sports & muscle cars
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dodge Charger | 444 | 9.9 | 0.25 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 19 | Airbags & seat belts |
| 2 | Ford Mustang | 695 | 14.6 | 0.36 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 40 | Engine |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 40
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 1
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (4) · 2019 (6) · 2020 (8) · 2021 (6) · 2022 (9) · 2023 (6) · 2024 (12) · 2025 (6) · 2026 (5)
Investigations
- Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance Open
On September 23, 2020, Ford Motor Company (Ford) filed a noncompliance recall report under 49 CFR Part 573 (NHTSA Recall No. 20V-575), recalling 620,246 Model Year (MY) 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles for a noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 111, Rea…