TRACTION CONTROL APPLYING WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC .THIS WAS NOT UNDER HARD ACCELERATION. *TR
2011 Ford Mustang
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Mustang years
Owner complaints for the 2011 Ford Mustang are substantially higher than the model-year median of 81.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Mustang years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
338 reports with mileage · 128 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 200 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 125 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints
14 reportsTWICE WHILE ACCELERATING TO GET UP TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ON CLEAR, FLAT, DRY, AND SMOOTH PAVEMENT THE ADVANCTRAC SYSTEM ACTIVATED FOR NO REASON. IT STARTS BY VERY AGGRESSIVELY PULSING THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE, FOLLOWED BY THE REAR LEFT BRAKE, THEN ALTERNATING BRAKES ALL THE WAY AROUND CAUSING THE CAR TO SWERVE ALMOST OUT OF CONTROL, A…
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TWICE WHILE ACCELERATING TO GET UP TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ON CLEAR, FLAT, DRY, AND SMOOTH PAVEMENT THE ADVANCTRAC SYSTEM ACTIVATED FOR NO REASON. IT STARTS BY VERY AGGRESSIVELY PULSING THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE, FOLLOWED BY THE REAR LEFT BRAKE, THEN ALTERNATING BRAKES ALL THE WAY AROUND CAUSING THE CAR TO SWERVE ALMOST OUT OF CONTROL, AT HIGHER SPEEDS LIKE 65-70 IT PROBABLY WOULD CAUSE TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL. THE ADVANCTRAC ALSO CUTS ENGINE POWER ALONG WITH THE HARD SWERVING MAKES IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO AVOID A CRASH IN MULTIPLE LANE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. THIS LAST FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS, BUT IT IS 15 SECONDS OF OUT OF CONTROL HIGHWAY TERROR. AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE CAR ON THE 2 OCCASIONS IT THEN DRIVES FOR A WHILE LIKE IT NEVER HAPPENED. WHEN THE FORD DEALER CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND IT DOES NOT RECORD ANY ERROR OR DIAGNOSTIC CODES IN THE CARS COMPUTER SYSTEM. SO FORD SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO FIX THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. TALKING WITH OTHER MUSTANG OWNERS I FOUND OUT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH ADVANCTRAC, AND ONE OTHER THAT I KNOW OF SAID HE ALSO FILLED A COMPLAINT ON HERE, HE SAID IT WAS COMPLAINT NUMBER - 10430166. HE ALSO SAID THAT FORD COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND HE ALSO HAD NO CODES, SO FORD WOULD NOT FIX HIS PROBLEM. SOMEHOW WE HAVE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS MALFUNCTION, IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SAFETY SYSTEM TO HELP PROTECT YOU FROM A CRASH, NOT A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION THAT CAUSES A CRASH WHEN THE DRIVER IS DOING NOTHING WRONG ON GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS. PLEASE HELP! *TR
THE "SERVICE AUTOTRACK" LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS PULLING OUT FROM A PARKING SPACE IN THE MORNING, AND THE POWER TO THE BACK WHEELS WAS REDUCED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, AND WAS INFORMED OF A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE GPAS SYSTEM THAT COULD CAUSE THE STEERING TO FAIL. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT THE VEHICLE, AS …
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THE "SERVICE AUTOTRACK" LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS PULLING OUT FROM A PARKING SPACE IN THE MORNING, AND THE POWER TO THE BACK WHEELS WAS REDUCED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, AND WAS INFORMED OF A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE GPAS SYSTEM THAT COULD CAUSE THE STEERING TO FAIL. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT THE VEHICLE, AS IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THIS GPAS SYSTEM DEFECT. FORD IS NOT CURRENTLY MANUFACTURING REPLACEMENT GPAS SYSTEMS, THEY HAVE OUTSOURCED TO AN OUTSIDE COMPANY (PER THE FORD CUSTOMER CARE REPRESENTATIVE) AND IT IS GOING TO TAKE SIX WEEKS TO GET THE PART. *TR
APPROX. 1-2 TIMES A MONTH, AFTER LEAVING MY HOUSE AND DRIVING A SHORT, PAVED STREET GOING TO THE MAIN ROAD, MY ADVANCETRAC LIGHT ON THE DASH WILL START BLINKING, INDICATING THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. ALONG WITH THIS THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE WILL BE ACTIVATED BY THE ABS SYSTEM. TYPICALLY WILL HAPPEN FOR 10-15 S…
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APPROX. 1-2 TIMES A MONTH, AFTER LEAVING MY HOUSE AND DRIVING A SHORT, PAVED STREET GOING TO THE MAIN ROAD, MY ADVANCETRAC LIGHT ON THE DASH WILL START BLINKING, INDICATING THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. ALONG WITH THIS THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE WILL BE ACTIVATED BY THE ABS SYSTEM. TYPICALLY WILL HAPPEN FOR 10-15 SECONDS THEN AS I COME TO A STOP TO TURN ON TO THE MAIN ROAD IT WILL STOP. WHEN I THEN TURN ON TO THE MAIN ROAD, AS I AM ACCELERATING, THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. SOMETIMES THE BRAKE PULSATING THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL IS LIGHT AND NOT TOO INTRUSIVE. SOMETIMES, IF ACCELERATING HARD ENOUGH, THE SYSTEM WILL CUT ENGINE POWER, AND ALTERNATELY PULSATE THE FRONT RIGHT AND REAR LEFT BRAKES, NEARLY PULLING ME OUT OF MY LANE, AS I FIGHT TO DRIVE STRAIGHT. AGAIN THIS LASTS FOR ABOUT 10-15 SECONDS. AFTER WHICH CAR BEHAVES PERFECTLY FINE, LIKE IT NEVER HAPPENED. IT NEVER LEAVES ANY DIAGNOSTIC CODES IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM, OR ANY TRACE THAT IT EVER HAPPENED, THE FORD TECHS HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND I CAN NOT MAKE IT HAPPEN ON COMMAND. IS TOTALLY RANDOM. *TR
Official recalls
421V081000 · Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Feb 16, 2021
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
Air Bags:frontal
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
19V001000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jan 7, 2019
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Ford is also recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2010-2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, and 2010-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 19S01.
16V384000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
May 31, 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Any vehicle not included in "Zone A", or "Zone B" is not included in the safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on July 15, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.
15V319000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
May 28, 2015
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2014 Mustang vehicles manufactured April 6, 2004, to June 21, 2014, and 2005-2006 GT vehicles manufactured February 20, 2004, to September 22, 2006. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2016. Even if interim repairs were performed under safety recall 14V-802, owners must bring their vehicles in for the final remedy. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S21. Note: This recall supersedes safety recall 14V-802.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE11024 · Inability To Shift Gears On Acceleration
Opened Aug 3, 2011 · Closed Dec 14, 2011
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:manual Transmission
The Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) analyzed complaint data provided by Ford as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers.In total, there were 364 unique reports indicating various shift quality issues while driving.Ford identified several factors that may contribute to shift quality concerns in the subject vehicles, including cold transmission, clutch stay-out at high engine speeds, gear clash or grinding, and gradual loosening of clutch plate bolts in some early production vehicles.The largest percentage of complaints indicated higher than expected shift efforts in cold ambient temperatures.These complaints were related to transmission fluid viscosity and the higher shift efforts resolved themselves with the drivetrain warming.Ford published technical service bulletin TSB 11-3-18 to inform technicians that a lower viscosity fluid was available for use to address the cold shift issues.The clutch stay-out condition typically occurs at engine speeds greater than 4000 rpm.It does not prevent the selection of any gear, but may delay clutch re-engagement depending on how long the driver maintains the higher engine speed.Ford identified rotating inertia of the clutch components as the root cause and replacement clutch pedal parts were made available under Ford TSB 10-19-4.A number of reports alleged increasing difficulty selecting gears along with gear clash or grinding.Grinding or notchy gear shifts may be caused by gradual loosening of clutch plate fasteners, which is promoted by certain aggressive shifting.This condition is progressive in nature and initially results in symptoms related to shift quality/feel.Clutch plate bolt loosening will not result in inability to select any gear unless the progressive symptoms are ignored until complete clutch failure occurs.ODI?s analysis identified only five complaints alleging an inability to shift into gear due to loose clutch plate bolts.None of these resulted in a stall and gear shifting could occur before engine start.A revised fastener was designed and implemented in production and is available for service through a special service message.There is no indication of loss of motive power or unreasonable safety risk associated with the alleged defect in the subject vehicles.This preliminary evaluation is closed.
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