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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12,000 miles · Dec 1, 2011

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS AND INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH HAD BURNED OUT. AS A RESULT, THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,700.

NHTSA ODI #10438008

8,000 miles · Nov 28, 2011

Power Train

THE CLUTCH MAKES A CRACKING NOISE. WHEN I SHIFT BETWEEN 1ST AND 3RD IT CAN BE DIFFICULT AT TIMES DEPENDING ON THE TEMPERATURE. THE SYMPTOMS ARE NOT CONSISTENT. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10437598

8 miles · Nov 20, 2011

Power Train

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I TOOK DELIVERY ON MY 2011 FORD MUSTANG GT/CS IN LATE OCTOBER OF 2010. IT HAD APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES ON IT. FROM THAT DAY FORWARD IT WAS A LITTLE STIFF TO GET IT TO GO IN TO ANY GEAR. I HAD GROWN A CUSTOM TO IT AND JUST ASSUMED IT WOULD SMOOTH OUT SINCE IT WAS A NEW CAR. NOW THAT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY CAR AS A DAILY DRIVER FOR A YEAR THE ISSUES HAVE JUST INCREASED. SOMETIMES YOU CANNOT GET THE CAR TO SHIFT IN TO 1ST GEAR WITHOUT ATTEMPTING SEVERAL TIMES. IN EARLY SEPTEMBER 2011 I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND SHIFTED FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL REMAINED ON THE FLOOR. I HAD READ ABOUT THIS BUT IT HAD NOT HAPPENED TO ME YET. SO I WAS NOT TO SHOCKED WHEN IT HAPPENED. MY CURRENT INCIDENT AS OF 19 NOV 2011 WAS ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM 4TH TO 5TH ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS UNABLE TO GET IT TO SHIFT IN TO 5TH GEAR. I HAD SLOWED DOWN AND ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT FROM 2ND THROUGH 6TH AND AGAIN, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT IN TO 5TH GEAR. ON 20 NOV 2011, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT IN TO ANY GEAR. I AM NOT SURE IF IT IS JUST THE TRANSMISSION OR CLUTCH, MAYBE IT IS BOTH OF THEM BUT IT IS FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU HAVE A NEW CAR AND PAY ALMOST $40,000 FOR IT AND IT DOES NOT WORK WELL. THIS IS SOMETHING I DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS AND IT HAPPENS MORE IN COLDER WEATHER FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING IN TO THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10436479

13,000 miles · Nov 18, 2011

Power TrainSeats

INABILITY TO SHIFT INTO GEARS WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC OR WHILE TURNING LEFT ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER POWER SEATS WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10436312

444 miles · Nov 3, 2011

Power Train

BRAND NEW MUSTANG GT/CS 2011 HARD SHIFTING IN 1ST, 2ND, 3RD AND 4TH. HARD SHIFTING INCLUDED GRINDINGS, LOUD NOISE AND SOME TIMES SIMPLY CAN NOT SHIFT. PROBLEM IS MORE EVIDENT WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED IN THE MORNING. OCCASIONALLY WHILE SHIFTING I COULD FEEL THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS PUSHING THE SHIFT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION I AM T…

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NHTSA ODI #10434161

15,000 miles · Nov 1, 2011

Power Train

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MY 2011 MUSTANG HAS HAD SOME TRANSMISSION ISSUES FOR THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS. AFTER READING SOME OF THE FORUMS AND GETTING AN IDEA OF SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING (MANY OF WHICH I AM AS WELL), I CAN REPORT THE PROBLEM WHICH GOT NOTICEABLY WORSE OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, 1. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR (EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED YOU REALLY NEED TO EXERT A LITTLE STRENGTH). 2. 1ST TO 2ND SHIFTS VERY ROCKY, AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET A SMOOTH SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND WITHOUT THE CAR BUCKING. 3. WHEN SHIFTING AT A HIGHER RPM FROM THIRD TO FOURTH (SUCH AS WHEN ACCELERATING ON AN ONRAMP TO MERGE ONTO A HIGHWAY WHEN THE RPM MAY BE EXCEEDING 3500-4000 RPMS), THERE IS A TREMENDOUS GRIND IN THE SHIFT, AND TO AVOID I MUST SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL FROM THIRD WAIT A SECOND AND THEN ENGAGE INTO FOURTH. 4. WHEN DOWNSHIFTING I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT END SEEMS TO BE ALMOST LOCKING UP ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED (THIS IS WITHIN THE LAST WEEK), AND ALL OF THESE ISSUES HAVE EXACERBATED THEMSELVES SINCE THE COLD WEATHER HAS ARRIVED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10433876

2,000 miles · Nov 1, 2011

Power Train

MANY TIMES UNABLE TO SELECT AND ENGAGE GEARS WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHILE ACCELERATING. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE MOST FREQUENT WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION BY PULLING OUT INTO FAST MOVING TRAFFIC, BUT UNABLE TO ACCELERATE DUE TO GEAR LOCK-OUT (USUALLY SECOND GEAR, BUT SOMETIMES THIRD AS WELL). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10433874

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2011

Power Train

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2011 FORD, MUSTANG GT 5.0, MANUAL 6 SPEED: EARLY 2011 (JAN-FEB) I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN NUMEROUS TIMES TO THE RODEO FORD SERVICE REPAIR CENTER ABOUT THE GRINDING AND ROUGH SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD. A FORD SERVICE TICKET HAS BEEN OPENED TO TRACK THE ISSUE AND DEALER REPAIRS MADE. THE DEALERS SERVICE MANAGER HAS DRIVEN THE VEHICLE, WITH ME PRESENT, AND HAS NOTICED THE SAME GRIND AND ROUGH SHIFT PATTERN AS DESCRIBED. THE SERVICE CENTER IMPLEMENTED THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB 11-3-18, 'THE INCREASED SHIFT EFFORT MAY BE THE RESULT OF THE INCREASED VISCOSITY OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IN COLD WEATHER'?. THE WEATHER IN AZ DOES NO''T GET THAT COLD AND IT CONTINUED EVEN DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. I HAD ALSO REQUESTED THAT THE 1ST TO 4TH SKIP SHIFT BE DISABLED, WITH NO CHANGE IN SHIFTING. I DRIVE THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES A DAY TO GET TO WORK, BUT I DO NO''T DRIVE IT LIKE I WOULD LIKE TO, I HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL NOT TO PULL OUT IN FRONT OF ANYONE. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 2,900 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10433621

1,100 miles · Oct 30, 2011

Power Train

VERY NOTCHY TRANSMISSION AND CAN'T SHIFT GEAR AT CERTAIN RPM'S. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WOULD POP OUT OF GEAR ON THE HIGHWAY. ALL PROBLEMS STARTED APPEARING AFTER THE FIRST 1000 MILES. WHEN COMPLAINED TO FORD, I WAS TOLD THAT ALL OF THOSE PROBLEMS ARE NORMAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10433594

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

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.