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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3,600 miles · Aug 8, 2011

Power Train

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CAR: 2011 MUSTANG V6 WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION MILES: 3600 THE PROBLEM: THE GEAR SHIFT IS VERY NOTCHY AND ROUGH, ESPECIALLY FROM 1-2 AND 2-3. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I WANTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT A LIGHT AND MISTAKENLY GONE INTO THIRD GEAR FROM NEUTRAL BECAUSE THE GEAR REFUSES TO GO INTO 1 EASILY. SO I END UP NOT HAVING ENOUGH ACCELERATION TO BEAT ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE ALMOST HAD THREE CRASHES THIS WAY. OTHER TIMES SHIFTING FROM 1-2 OR 2-3 CAUSES AN INCOMPLETE SHIFT BECAUSE OF SOME RESISTANCE IN THE GEAR BOX. THIS LEADS TO A JARRING, LOUD GRINDING NOISE EMANATING FROM THE GEAR BOX. THIS ALSO LEADS TO LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND I HAVE BEEN ALMOST REAR ENDED A FEW TIMES. THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR ON AND OFF MOSTLY WHEN STARTING OFF FROM A STOP (FROM NEUTRAL) AND AT HIGH RPM GEAR CHANGES. RESOLUTION: I'VE TAKEN THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AS PER THE FORD TSB. THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR A MILE AND THE PROBLEM STARTED OCCURRING AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN ON THE INSISTENCE OF THE SERVICE MANAGER AND HE DROVE IT AROUND AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE AS WELL. HE SAID HE WOULD GET IN TOUCH WITH FORD TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY FIX. HE GOT BACK TO ME A FEW WEEKS LATER AND SAID THAT FORD DOESN'T HAVE ANY RESOLUTION AND DOESN'T SEEM TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE. FINAL THOUGHTS: I THINK THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT A NEW CAR HAS THESE ISSUES. IT IS A GREAT CAR OTHERWISE. FORD NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AND FIX IT SOON. I'VE ALSO FOUND THAT SOME 2012 MUSTANGS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE GEAR BOX. IT IS APPALLING TO THINK THAT THE COMPANY WOULD CONTINUE TO USE THE SAME TRANSMISSION PARTS IN SPITE OF THE ISSUES IN THE 2011 MODELS. THIS IS AMOUNTS TO A BLAZEN DISREGARD TO CONSUMER SAFETY AND EXPERIENCE. I STRONGLY SUGGEST THE NHTSA PRESSURES THE CAR COMPANY TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND IF NO SUCH RESOLUTION IS FORTHCOMING TO FORCE THEM TO ISSUE A RECALL. SINCERELY AN UNHAPPY FORD DRIVER *TR

NHTSA ODI #10417966

20,100 miles · Aug 8, 2011

Power Train

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TRANSMISSION GRINDS 1-2, 2-3,3-4 SHIFTS INTERMITTENTLY. OCCASIONALLY LOCKED OUT OF GEARS. TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT FORD DEALER ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RETURN. AFTER MY TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT IT SHIFTED NICELY FOR ABOUT A MONTH. NOW IT IS BEGINNING TO GRIND AGAIN AND TODAY I WAS LOCKED OUT OF SECOND GEAR AND THIRD GEAR. I WAS LEAVING A LIGHT ON A HILL IN FIRST GEAR, WENT TO SHIFT INTO SECOND AND COULDN'T ENGAGE IT (NOT SKIP SHIFT RELATED AS I WAS OVER 3000 RPM), WENT FOR THIRD AND NO LUCK THERE, BY THIS TIME THE CAR WAS ALMOST BACK TO A COMPLETE STOP AND PEOPLE WERE SWERVING AROUND ME (VERY FRIGHTENING WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR). I PUT THE CAR BACK IN FIRST GEAR AND WAS ABLE TO SHIFT NORMALLY THROUGH 6TH GEAR. SINCE REBUILD DEALER CLAIMS TO BE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS APART I WAS ABLE TO SEE THAT 2ND GEAR WAS MISSING MORE THAN HALF OF THE DOG TEETH ON THE SYNCHRO RING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10417964

9,500 miles · Aug 8, 2011

Power Train

2011 FORD MUSTANG 6 SP MANUAL TRANSMISSION. SPORADIC PROBLEMS SHIFTING INTO AND FROM HIGHER GEAR. CAR HAS A TENDENCY TO ALMOST STALL FROM STOP. I HAVE LONG EXPERIENCE WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. VEHICLE DELIVERED 09/10/2010-SPECIAL ORDER MUSTANG PREMIUM V-6. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10417915

11,800 miles · Aug 8, 2011

Power Train

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2011 MUSTANG GT, MANUAL TRANSMISSION, WITH 11,000 MILES ON IT. STARTED HAVING SOME TROUBLE SHIFTING GEARS WITH GRINDING NOTED AROUND 10,000 MILES AT 11,800 MILES WHILE ON VACATION, CLUTCH LOCKED UP COMPLETELY AND WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR AT ALL. THE PRESSURE PLATE BOLTS HAD WORKED OUT AND SHEARED OFF VARIOUS PIECES. THE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. MUSTANG FORUMS HAD WARNED US THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN. DEALER TOLD US ALL THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER FOR UNKNOWN TIME BUT WAS ABLE TO HAVE THE PARTS SHIPPED FROM ANOTHER DEALER 1500 MILES AWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10417908

15,000 miles · Aug 8, 2011

Power Train

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TRANSMISSION HAS SHIFTED ROUGH ALMOST FROM THE START BUT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. CURRENTLY HAVE 15,000 MILES ON IT. TRANSMISSION IS OFTEN SLOW TO UPSHIFT AND FREQUENTLY SLAMS INTO LOWER GEARS. MOST DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN ACCELERATING BACK UP FROM A STOP OR SLOWING DOWN TRANSMISSION DELAYS SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE ENGAGING WHICH HAS CAUSED ME TO HAVE SEVERAL NEAR MISSES WHEN THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO ME GIVING IT GAS. FORD DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM OR FIND ANY CODES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10417886

100 miles · Aug 7, 2011

Power Train

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I OWN A 2011 MUSTANG GT WITH THE MT-82 TRANSMISSION. I'VE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 10 MONTHS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED VERY UNUSUAL SHIFTING BEHAVIOR FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION OF OWNING THIS CAR. THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE THE SHIFTING ACTION IS THAT IT IS REALLY NOTCHY, ESPECIALLY BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS AND IT SOMETIMES TAKES QUITE A BIT OF EFFORT TO GET THE CAR TO GO INTO ANY GEAR. NOTE THAT THIS HAPPENS NO MATTER THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AND NO MATTER HOW LONG THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING. I HAVE VISITED THE DEALER THREE SEPARATE TIMES AND BEEN TOLD THAT, ACCORDING TO FORD, THE OPERATION OF THE TRANSMISSION IS "NORMAL." THIS, TO ME IS ANYTHING BUT NORMAL AS I HAVE 15 YEARS EXPERIENCE DRIVING MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS EXCLUSIVELY, HAVING OWNED 14 CARS DURING THAT SPAN, ALL OF THEM WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10417810

4,713 miles · Aug 4, 2011

Power Train

DURING THE FIRST 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING (BEFORE THE CAR HAS HAD A CHANCE TO REACH ITS OPERATING TEMPERATURE), THE TRANSMISSION GRINDS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND SOMETIMES 2ND TO 3RD. TODAY WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR OR BACK INTO 1ST LEAVING ME COASTING FOR SEVERAL SECONDS WHILE TRYING …

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NHTSA ODI #10416996

1,500 miles · Aug 2, 2011

Power Train

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EXCESSIVE VIBRATION DURING DECELERATION - SPECIFICALLY WHEN LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR, BUT NOT PRESSING THE BRAKES. THE VIBRATION IS STRONG ENOUGH TO VIBRATE THE CENTER CONSOLE AND THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER. THE CONCERN IS THAT THIS EXCESSIVE VIBRATION COULD DAMAGE PARTS OR LOOSEN COMPONENTS, EVENTUALLY RESULTING IN A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION OR DRIVELINE FAILURE. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN WHILE DECELERATING. THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FLUID HAS BEEN REPLACED, WHICH VERY BRIEFLY SEEMED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, BUT IT THE VIBRATION RETURNED IN JUST A FEW DAYS. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10416780

5,500 miles · Jul 29, 2011

Power Train

2011 MUSTANG V6 MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION REFUSED TO GO INTO 2ND GEAR DURING A SLIGHT LEFT TURN. ANOTHER CAR HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID RUNNING INTO THE BACK OF ME. IF HE HAD IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS FAULT BUT THAT'S NOT MUCH CONSOLATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10416295

3,000 miles · Jul 29, 2011

Power Train

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I AM INTERMITTENTLY UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO 1ST 2ND AND NOW 3RD GEAR. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE ALMOST REAR ENDED ME WHEN I COULD NOT GET THE CAR INTO 1ST GEAR AFTER STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT. THIS ISSUE IS POTENTIALLY A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IF SOMEONE WERE TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY NEEDED TO MOVE THEIR CAR QUICKLY AND COULD NOT GET THE CAR IN GEAR TO MOVE. THE CAR ALSO HAS A VIBRATION WHEN RUNNING BETWEEN 2500-3000 RPM. I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY DRIVING THIS CAR. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THIS CAR TO THE DEALER DUE TO THEIR OWN AMBITION THAT THIS IS NORMAL AND THERE IS NO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10416238

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.