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.

20 crash reports1 fire reports10 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

7 reports

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60,800 miles · Feb 27, 2014

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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I WAS TRAVELING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT (75 MPH IN THIS AREA OF TEXAS) AND HAD JUST CHANGED LANES WHEN THE CAR WOULD NOT GO, I KEPT PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ABLE TO GO UP AN OFF RAMP AND PULL OFF THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE MUSTANG STARTED TO MAKE A NOISE AND SHUTTERED, SO I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE BEING AFRAID THAT THE ENGINE WOULD BE DAMAGED. I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT AND CALL FOR HELP. THE ENGINE STARTED TO SHUTTER AGAIN AND THE ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT WORK. ALSO, LUCKILY A FORD DEALERSHIP WAS WITH A MILE SO I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO IT AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A STUCK THROTTLE BODY AND CHARGED A DEDUCTABLE FOR A DEFECTIVE PART THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE HAD A RECALL ON A LONG TIME AGO. I COULD HAVE BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND WHILE ON THE BUSY HIGHWAY AND INJURED OR KILLED. ALSO MY TRANSMISSION FILLS VERY "JERKY" AT TIMES WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR AFTER STOPPING AND STARTING AGAIN FROM A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. I AM VERY GLAD THAT MY MUSTANG IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #10567185

3,500 miles · Jan 23, 2012

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainWheels

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JUST A FEW OF THE ISSUES I HAD WHILE MY CAR . I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AFTER I ALMOST GOT KILLED TWICE BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT DOWN SHIFT INTO LOWER GEARS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TRANS WILL LOOK UP ONCE SHIFTER IS IN BETWEEN GEARS AND WILL NOT GO INTO GEARS STILL SPEED AND RPM SLOW DOWN. MOST EVIDENT WHEN TRYING TO GO FROM 6TH TO 4TH. I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT TWICE BECAUSE I WAS NOT ABLE TO DOWN SHIFT TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF A ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HAD A CRACKED RIM THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY A CASTING DEFECT. HAD A TICKING IN THE ENGINE AFTER LONG TRIPS. . 5.0 SOUNDED LIKE A DIESEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10444933

800 miles · Dec 20, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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BOUGHT THIS 2011 FORD MUSTANG ON APRIL 8 2011. EVERYTHING WAS FINE FOR ABOUT THIS FIRST MONTH. CAR DID NOT WANT TO START WHEN CLUTCH WAS PRESSED DOWN HAD 800 MILES AT THE TIME, CLASSIC FORD 1ST DEALER SAID NEEDED A CLUTCH ADJUSTMENT? ITS HYDRAULIC THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT ON THEM! THEY HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 6 HOURS TO TELL ME THAT. CLUTCH STILL FELT FUNNY ,STARTED HEARING GRINDING, SHIFTER WOULD GET STUCK IN R,1,2,3,4 GEARS THEN IT WENT OUT STUCK IN 2ND GEAR! 2ND DEALER JIM HUDSON FORD TOOK IT TO HAD IT FOR 3 WEEKS BEFORE I GOT IT BACK CAR HAD 6,000 MILES ON IT NEEDED A BRAND NEW CLUTCH SYSTEM FROM WHAT FORD SAID. IT WAS NOT A RECALL ON THE CAR THEY SAID IT WAS A BAD DESIGN! STILL IS NOT RIGHT FOR FORD TO PUSH IT UNDER THE RUG LIKE ITS NOT A BIG DEAL. THESE CARS COST TOO MUCH FOR US TO BE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEM AND MOST OUR CHILDREN THAT RIDE WITH US. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE INFO ABOUT THIS PLEASE THANKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10440527

6,477 miles · Oct 24, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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2011 MUSTANG GT WITH 6477 MILES, WITH 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. TAKING OFF FROM A STOP SIGN AND ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR, RESULTED IN ONLY BEING ABLE TO SHIFT FROM 1ST GEAR TO NEUTRAL. ONCE THE SHIFTER MOVED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION, THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER ABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. HAD TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOPPING POINT WITH NO ENGINE POWER AND TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER FOR REPAIR. THIS IS THE 2ND INCIDENT WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR, WITH THE PRIOR INCIDENT BEING A FAULTY SLAVE CLUTCH CYLINDER. (THIS VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE 'SKIP SHIFT' FEATURE THAT IS MEANT TO INCREASE GAS MILEAGE BY LOCKING OUT CERTAIN GEARS.) *TR

NHTSA ODI #10432637

1,500 miles · Sep 3, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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HEADING UP A HILL AND HEARD A LOUD GRINDING SOUND. CAR STOPPED IN PLACE AND WOULD NOT GO ANYWHERE WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS. TRIED PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE AND WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. ALSO TRIED PUTTING IN NEUTRAL AND IT STILL WOULD NOT MOVE. HAD CAR TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION "GRENADED" AS IT STATED ON THE WORK ORDER. I GOT TO SEE WHAT THE TRANSMISSION LOOKED LIKE. IT HAD PIECES OF METAL EVERYWHERE AND THE LONG BEARINGS WERE ALL SHATTERED INTO PIECES. A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS ORDERED AND PLACED IN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10423168

4,700 miles · Aug 9, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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2011 MUSTANG GT WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION- INABILITY TO SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR. IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS I WAS STUCK SLOWING DOWN INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. THE CAR IS BEEN IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES. ALSO HAS SEVERE KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE THAT GOES WAY AFTER 5 MINUTES. FORD STATES THIS IS PISTON RATTLE AND THEY TRIED A SOFTWARE FIX. NOTHING HELPED.I'M AFRAID OF THE ENGINE DAMAGE OR CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. THERE ARE YOUTUBE VIDEOS POSTED LABELED 2011 MUSTANG KNOCK. FORD IS AWARE... THEY REFERRED ME TO IT(AT LEAST THE SERVICE TECH DID. FORD IS DOING NOTHING!!! THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5-6 TIMES AND THERE IS UNDER 5000 MILES. THE CAR HAD ONLY 300 MILES ON IT WHEN THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE GAS TANK PUMP BECAUSE IT DROPPED TO ZERO AT WITH A HALF TANK OF GAS LEFT. THERE IS A BULLETIN ON THIS. HELP BEFORE SOME GETS HURT BY THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OR THE ENGINE BLOWING OUT!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10418260

7,800 miles · Jun 23, 2011

Engine And Engine Cooling

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE AFTER MARKET PROGRAMMER AND AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE EXHIBITED AN INTERNAL MOTOR FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE AND VOIDED THE WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7, 800.

NHTSA ODI #10408677

Official recalls

21V081000 · 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

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

Air Bags:frontal

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

PE11024 · 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.