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

Power Train complaints

200 reports

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10,800 miles · Sep 17, 2011

Power Train

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(NOTE: CAR IS A MUSTANG GT 5 LITER) THIS INCIDENT FOLLOWED MY INITIAL DRIVETRAIN COMPLAINTS TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEIR REPLACEMENT OF MY CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY. ENTERING A HIGHWAY, I APPROACHED A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH IN 3RD GEAR, TAKING THE ENGINE CLOSE TO 6K RPM. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO 4TH WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL FULLY PRESSED TO THE FLOOR, THE STICK WOULD NOT BUDGE INTO THE 4TH GEAR SLOT. AS THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN, I TRIED OTHER GEAR SLOTS: 5TH, THEN 6TH, 4TH AGAIN, TO 3RD. NOTHING. FINALLY, I REMOVED MY LEFT FOOT FROM THE PEDAL ALTOGETHER AND NOTICED THE PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOOR. AFTER PUMPING IT TO NO AVAIL, I WEDGED MY FOOT UNDER THE PEDAL TO KICK IT BACK UP. MY DRIVETRAIN WAS ONCE AGAIN RESPONSIVE. I WAS ALREADY AWARE OF A RUMOR THAT LATER MODEL MUSTANGS HAD HIGH RPM GEAR-SHIFTING ISSUES, BUT THIS WAS THE FIRST PERSONAL OCCURRENCE FOR ME. BASED ON THIS SUSPICION, I ATTEMPTED TO RECREATE IT ON THE WAY BACK HOME AND I WAS ONCE AGAIN ABLE TO FREEZE MY CLUTCH TO THE FLOOR. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY IN FOR REPAIR, AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE REPLACING THE CLUTCH AND PRESSURE PLATE FOR THEIR NEXT FIX ATTEMPT. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10425888

Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2011

Power Train

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AT 150 MILES ON THE ODOMETER THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO GRIND SECOND GEAR WHILE TURNING LEFT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY CHANGED THE FLUID AS PER T.S.B. THERE WAS ZERO CHANGE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL AND WAS A 'BREAK IN' ISSUE. DESPITE DISAGREEING I DROVE IT UNTIL THERE WAS AROUND 10,000 MILES ON IT. AT THIS POINT IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT INTO SECOND WHEN TURNING LEFT WITHOUT PHYSICALLY FORCING IT TO THE POINT I WAS SKIPPING TO THIRD. ALSO THIRD GEAR HAD DEVELOPED THE SAME ISSUES INTERMITTENTLY. I TOOK IT BACK IN, AND THEY BLED THE CLUTCH. AFTER RECEIVING THE CAR I TOOK IT BACK THE NEXT WEEK, AS OBVIOUSLY IT DID NOT FIX ANYTHING. FORD DECIDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE TECHNICIAN REPORTED ALL SYNCROS AND BLOCKING RINGS WERE EXTREMELY WORN AND SECOND AND THIRD GEARS SHOWED SIGNS OF WEAR. HE ALSO REPORTED THE INPUT SHAFT BEARING HAD SHOWED SIGNS THAT IT HAD BEEN VERY HOT. AFTER RECEIVING MY CAR BACK I NOTICED A DIFFERENCE, NOW THE SHIFTER LINKAGE HAD A NOTICEABLE POPPING/BINDING FEELING IN THE LINKAGE WHEN MOVING THE SHIFTER BACK AND FORTH IN THE NUETRAL POSITION. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS ABNORMAL, BUT THAT OTHER CARS ON THE LOT HAD THE SAME ISSUE. WHICH LATER I FOUND OUT TO BE A LIE. AFTER ABOUT 100 MILES IT HAS SHOWN THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS AS BEFORE INCLUDING THE NEW LINKAGE ISSUE. I DROVE THE CAR WITH THE TECHNICIAN WITH ME FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. I WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE WHEN TURNING LEFT. THE TECHNICIAN WAS ALSO ABLE TO NOTICE THIS ISSUE WHEN HE WAS DRIVING. EVEN THOUGH IT HAPPENS ONLY WHEN TURNING LEFT AND ONLY WHEN CHANGING TO SECOND GEAR, HE AGAIN LIED TO ME AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NORMAL, AND THAT IN ALL CARS YOU HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE BIT FOR THE SYNCRO'S TO CATCH UP AND IT IS NORMAL TO HAVE TO WAIT A FEW SECONDS WHILE HOLDING IT UP TO THE SYNCROS FOR IT TO SLIDE IN. PLEASE CONTACT ME. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10425694

11,900 miles · Sep 15, 2011

Power Train

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MY 2011 MUSTANG JOINED THE LIST OF BROKEN 6 SPEED MANUAL CARS. WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 5 GEAR CAUSING A STALL AT 45MPH OR SKIP A GEAR AND THATS SAYING IT LETS YOU HAVE 3RD GEAR. THIS PROBLEM IS SO BAD THAT FORD IS PAYING FOR RENT CARS WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE TO. I'VE ALREADY TRADED 1 2011 MUSTANG IN FOR FOR THIS ONE WITH BOTH HAVING TRANSMISSON HAVING ISSUES AT 12,000 MILES. THIS IS BECOMING A BAD JOKE OF A CAR TO SAY THE LEAST. IT IS ALSO VERY EASY TO GO BACKWARDS WITH FIRST GEAR GOING INTO REVERSE INSTEAD. TRANSMISSON IS A BAD JOKE. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10425660

8,200 miles · Sep 14, 2011

Power Train

2011 FORD MUSTANG 3.6L ,6SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. 1ST AND 2ND GEAR IS HARD TO SHIFT INTO, ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNINGS. I HAVE TO COME TO ALMOST A COMPLETE STOP AND LET THE RPMS DROP DOWN TO ALMOST A IDLE BEFORE SHIFTING INTO 2ND. IF I DIDN'T DO THAT AND DROVE IT NORMAL 2ND GEAR WOULD "RAKE" BUT I LOVE MY MUSTANG AND WOULD NEVER…

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NHTSA ODI #10425501

1,500 miles · Sep 9, 2011

Power Train

6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION HANGS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST - 2ND OR 2ND - 3RD UNDER ACCELERATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES BUT BEGAN TO HAPPEN SOON AFTER PURCHASE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY HAZARDOUS ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC FROM A STOPPED POSITION. BARELY AVOIDED BEING REAR ENDED DUE TO LOSS OF FORW…

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NHTSA ODI #10424470

2,309 miles · Sep 4, 2011

Power Train

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I AM HAVING DIFFICULTY UPSHIFTING GEARS 2 TO 3 AND 3 TO 4 AND I AM AT TIMES UNABLE TO DOWNSHIFT WHICH HAS CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF OTHER VEHICLES AND IT'S DISTRACTION TO ME DRIVING. I HAVE TAKEN MY MUSTANG TO WINTER HAVEN FORD DEALER AND DESCRIBED IN DETAIL THE ISSUES I AM HAVING, THEY SAID THERE ARE NO ISSUES WITH MY TRANSMISSION, I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL OTHER MUSTANGS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND HAVE NEVER HAD TROUBLE SHIFTING GEARS. I HAVE ASKED OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2011 MUSTANGS AND EVERYBODY SEEMS TO HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT

NHTSA ODI #10424794

1 miles · Sep 3, 2011

Power Train

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IF I TAKE MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS THE CAR SEEMS TO LOWER IT'S RPMS BY ITSELF ALMOST TO THE POINT OF IT FEELING LIKE IT IS BRAKING WITHOUT ANY HELP FROM ME. THIS HAPPENS PRETTY MUCH AT ANY SPEED. ALSO THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WHEN SLOWING/STOPPING AND ACCELERATING. WHEN I START SLOWING DOWN AND THEN HAVE TO PRESS THE GAS THE CAR JOLTS LIKE IT GOES FROM 1ST GEAR TO 4TH GEAR INSTANTLY. THIS IS NOT A GOOD FEELING AT ALL AND KIND OF SCARY. IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS GOING TO TAKE OFF WITHOUT ME. HAD THIS ISSUE BEFORE AND AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 1500 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10423169

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

75 miles · Sep 2, 2011

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST INTO SECOND GEAR A ROUGHNESS IN THE RESPONSE OCCURRED WITH AN UNUSUAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE TRANSMISSION OPERATED PROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APP…

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NHTSA ODI #10423083

2,600 miles · Sep 2, 2011

Power Train

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OWNER OF A 2011 MUSTANG GT WITH 6 SPD MANUAL TRANSMISSION. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH ROUGH SHIFTING SINCE 2000 MILES. HAVE TAKEN IT INTO FORD DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES SO FAR. ONE TIME MY TRANSMISSION ACTUALLY STARTED LEAKING AND FORD WAS ABLE TO FIX THE LEAK BUT NOT THE SHIFTING. ROUGH SHIFTING OCCURS IN 1ST-2ND-3RD GEAR. SOMETIMES I GET STUCK AT LIGHTS TRYING TO FORCE IT INTO FIRST GEAR. FORD HAS HAD TECH'S DRIVE IT MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY TELL ME ITS NORMAL, THAT'S AS FAR AS THE INVESTIGATION HAS GONE. I HAVE 10,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE SHIFTING IS ONLY GETTING WORSE. TAKING IT INTO A NEW FORD DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY WILL BE MORE HELPFUL IN FINDING OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND ACTUALLY FIXING IT. VERY DISAPPOINTING WITH THE WAY FORD TREATS THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10423027

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.