NHTSA has received 195 owner complaints about the 2018 Ford Mustang, or 22.2 per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical (complaint index 0.55, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 76 model-year 2018 vehicles we track, it ranks #37 of 76 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest). Against other Ford models its rate is 56% lower; against other Sports & muscle cars it is 81% higher.
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
Complaints filed between 2018-01-25 and 2026-10-13. Median delay from incident to filing: 14 days.
195Complaints
22.2Complaints per year on the road
0.55Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
4Recalls
4.1%Share involving a crash or fire
34Last 12 months
Analysis
The following model year (2019) drew 19.3 per year, fewer than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2018 model collected 30 complaints, 65% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Engine (32.8% of complaints), followed by Transmission / powertrain (20.5%) and Electrical (17.4%). 8 reports (4.1%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 5 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 62 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was after five years (51% of incidents). In the last 12 months 34 new complaints were filed, versus 36 in the 12 months before — down 6%.
NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for this model year.
Complaint index
vs. all tracked vehicles0.55
vs. other Ford models0.44
vs. other 2018 models0.47
vs. other Sports & muscle cars1.81
Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (30)0.35
I was driving down the road in my 2018 Mustang ecoboost. When all of the sudden slowing down it locked the rear wheels up. I slid off the road and fortunately I didn’t hit anything but it did pop my side skirt off in the rear of the car.
Transmission / powertrain · 2025-12-31 · ODI 11708074 · Crash
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at 63 MPH, the steering wheel was guided to drive forward, however, the steering wheel independently steered to the left direction.
Steering · 2024-04-24 · ODI 11584933 · Crash
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.
Engine · 2026-10-13 · ODI 11770803
Check engine light came on Sunday night. Monday had AutoZone check the codes - indicated misfire on two cylinders recommended spark plug replacement - Spark plugs purchased with intent to change Tuesday evening- Tuesday morning -Engine overheated on the way…
Engine · 2026-10-02 · ODI 11768592
The electrical components in the vehicle stopped functioning - for the lights on the interior the overhead stopped working on and off and then dimmed until one day never came back on.
Electrical · 2026-09-24 · ODI 11766779
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA Campaign 25V572000 · 2025-09-04
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Risk: A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 8, 2025.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER Campaign 18E035000 · 2018-05-24
Summary: Roush Performance Products, Inc. (Roush) is recalling certain aftermarket supercharger kits, part number R1318-6006P1-AA, sold for installation on 2018 Ford Mustangs. The hose barb fittings on the supercharger kits may be manufactured incorrectly, possibly causing damage to the fuel lines and resulting in a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Roush will notify the known owners and replace the defective fuel rail subassemblies, free of charge. The recall began on May 31, 2018. Owners may contact Roush customer service at 1-800-597-6874. Roush's number for this recall is REMay2018.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Campaign 18V213000 · 2018-04-04
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-150 and 2018 Ford Expedition and Mustang and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions. A roll pin may not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of the "Park" function.
Risk: Despite the transmission shift lever being placed in 'Park' and the instrument panel display indicating 'Park,' the vehicle may roll away after it has been exited if the parking brake has not been applied, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission to make sure it has the roll pin, installing one if it is missing, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S09.
Summary: Ford Motor Company is recalling certain 2018 Ford Mustang vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission and a 12.4" digital instrument cluster. If the ignition is turned off when the transmission is not in PARK, the instrument cluster may not illuminate the PRNDL gear position display and the operator may not receive the "Key in Ignition" chime when the driver's door is opened. As such, these vehicles fails to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence/Starter Interlock/Transmission Braking Effect," and number 114, "Theft Protection."
Risk: Without a visual or audible warning to the driver that the vehicle is in PARK, the vehicle may roll away after it has been exited if the parking brake has not been applied, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 5, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C21.
