Ford Mustang problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 658 owner complaints and 37 safety recalls for the Ford Mustang. That averages 14.8 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.35 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Sports & muscle cars segment it ranks #2 of 2 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 12.7.
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
Across eight model years from 2018 to 2025, the Ford Mustang has logged 658 owner complaints and 37 safety recalls, averaging 14.8 complaints per year which is far fewer than typical at an index of 0.35 against all tracked vehicles. While the 2023 model year recorded only 4.1 complaints per year, the 2024 model year reached the highest rate of 27.3 complaints per year and runs at least 50% above the model's own average. The most common problem areas are Engine issues accounting for 26.3% of complaints, followed by Electrical at 21.6% and Transmission or powertrain at 13.8%, with recurring terms including "ecoboost", "coolant", "camera", "head gasket" and "intrusion". Owners report 22 injuries and 0 deaths across all model years, while the latest open investigation covers Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance opened on 2021-08-03.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.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 66% above the 2018 and 2019 models (38 early complaints per model year versus 27).
The 2024 model year has the highest rate (27.3 complaints per year) and the 2023 model year the lowest (4.1). The 2024 model year runs at least 50% above the model's own average — the one to research most carefully. The 2023 model year sits well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (26.3% of complaints), followed by Electrical (21.6%) and Transmission / powertrain (13.8%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “ecoboost”, “coolant”, “camera”, “head gasket” and “intrusion”. 48 complaints (7.3%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 22 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 156 complaints versus 171 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace. The 2018 model year generated the most recent reports (32). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 42 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 37 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (11), 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 1 NHTSA defect investigation has covered this model, 1 still open; the latest is “Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance” (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 | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 187 | 21.6 | 0.51 | 30 | 0.34 | 32 | 4 | Engine | View › |
| 2019 | 147 | 19.2 | 0.46 | 24 | 0.3 | 29 | 6 | Engine | View › |
| 2020 | 118 | 17.7 | 0.42 | 21 | 0.37 | 27 | 8 | Electrical | View › |
| 2021 | 55 | 9.7 | 0.23 | 10 | 0.16 | 16 | 6 | Fuel system | View › |
| 2022 | 49 | 10.5 | 0.25 | 9 | 0.12 | 18 | 9 | Fuel system | View › |
| 2023 Fewest complaints | 15 | 4.1 | 0.1 | 13 | 0.16 | 2 | 6 | Steering | View › |
| 2024 Years to research carefully | 73 | 27.3 | 0.65 | 63 | 0.9 | 21 | 12 ⚠ | Electrical | View › |
| 2025 | 14 | 8.4 | 0.2 | — | — | 11 | 6 | Body & structure | View › |
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: 156 · Previous 12 months: 171 Steady
Problem areas
Transmission / powertrain ›
91 · 13.8% · 1.19 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- transmission52
- gear33
- shifting24
- clutch13
Brakes
34 · 5.2% · 0.85 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- brake18
- pedal10
- hydraulic4
- broke4
Steering
24 · 3.6% · 0.56 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- steering21
- wheel12
- scene3
- loose4
Fuel system
24 · 3.6% · 0.85 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- system gasoline16
- fuel system16
- notification fuel13
- received notification14
Airbags & seat belts
21 · 3.2% · 0.84 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- knee5
- deployed7
- side seat5
- belts retract3
Wheels, tires & suspension
20 · 3.0% · 1.22 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- tire11
- lug nuts6
- swollen3
- inner3
Driver-assist systems
9 · 1.4% · 0.24 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- pre-collision4
- front camera3
- assist4
- cruise control4
Lighting
7 · 1.1% · 0.68 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
5 · 0.8% · 0.42 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- ecoboost51
- coolant74
- camera72
- head gasket35
- intrusion36
- hotline44
- cylinders30
- diagnosed119
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 42 months
What owners report
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood. The vehicle was unoccupied. The contact inspected the vehicle.
The vehicle experienced a sudden steering malfunction involving the electronic steering gear. While backing out of a parking structure, the steering wheel suddenly jerked and locked instead of naturally correcting, resulting in collision with a pillar.
I took my car to ford and the guy working hit a curb in there own buisness and they had to replace my two tires and rims and I just don’t trust anything because it took them 2 months to fix it , happened like a year ago
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that upon start the check engine warning light was illuminated.
2020 Ford Mustang with the 2.3L EcoBoost engine. The vehicle has a documented history of coolant loss with no visible external leak, consistent with the known coolant-intrusion defect in Ford's 2.3L EcoBoost engines where coolant leaks internally into the…
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 | 431 | 10.5 | 0.25 | Improving | Steady | 18 | Airbags & seat belts |
| 2 | Ford Mustang | 658 | 14.8 | 0.35 | Worsening | Steady | 37 | Engine |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 37
- 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)
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…
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Mustang model year has the most complaints?
The 2024 model year has the highest rate (27.3 complaints per year) and the 2023 model year the lowest (4.1).
Is the Ford Mustang getting better or worse?
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 66% above the 2018 and 2019 models (38 early complaints per model year versus 27). In the last 12 months owners filed 156 complaints versus 171 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace.
What are the most common Ford Mustang problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (26.3% of complaints), followed by Electrical (21.6%) and Transmission / powertrain (13.8%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “ecoboost”, “coolant”, “camera”, “head gasket” and “intrusion”.
How does the Ford Mustang compare with other Sports & muscle cars?
Within the Sports & muscle cars segment it ranks #2 of 2 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 12.7. Every other tracked model among Sports & muscle cars has fewer complaints per year, including Dodge Charger.
Does the Ford Mustang have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 37 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (11), 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 1 NHTSA defect investigation has covered this model, 1 still open; the latest is “Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance” (opened 2021-08-03, still open).