Ford Mustang

Owners filed 8,877 complaints across 37 model years of the Ford Mustang. The 2005 drew the most (705); the 2026 the fewest (6).

Model years37
Complaints8,877
Recalls287
Fires247
Deaths27

Every Ford Mustang model year compared

Complaints per year
YearComplaintsRelative volumeRecallsFiresCrashesMost reportedStatus
20266
51Service BrakesRoutine
202517
61Exterior LightingRoutine
202477
125Electrical SystemDo not drive
202315
65SteeringRoutine
202249
913Fuel System, GasolineRoutine
202155
64Fuel System, GasolineRoutine
2020120
8513Electrical SystemRoutine
2019148
613EngineRoutine
2018191
418EngineRoutine
2017265
6814Back Over PreventionAbove average
2016376
5613EngineFatalities reported
2015436
11726Unknown or OtherAbove average
2014359
4130Air BagsDo not drive
2013271
6216Air BagsDo not drive
2012469
7220Air BagsDo not drive
2011466
5120Air BagsDo not drive
2010261
6213Air BagsDo not drive
2009181
6217Air BagsDo not drive
2008347
821Air BagsDo not drive
2007615
9546Air BagsDo not drive
2006424
9319Air BagsDo not drive
2005705
9731Air BagsDo not drive
2004116
620Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator PedalRoutine
2003145
6419Engine and Engine Cooling › EngineRoutine
2002118
6619Air Bags › FrontalRoutine
2001173
8237Air Bags › FrontalFatalities reported
2000311
9956Air Bags › FrontalFatalities reported
1999213
10250Air Bags › FrontalFatalities reported
1998236
141244Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › GasolineFatalities reported
1997176
11317Parking Brake › ConventionalFatalities reported
1996246
12617Engine and Engine Cooling › EngineAbove average
1995602
162948Engine and Engine Cooling › EngineFatalities reported
1994356
131922Engine and Engine Cooling › EngineFatalities reported
1993101
72922Air Bags › FrontalFatalities reported
199269
52111Electrical System › Ignition › SwitchHigh concern
199177
6225Electrical System › Ignition › SwitchHigh concern
199085
52910Electrical System › Ignition › SwitchHigh concern

Which Ford Mustang years should you avoid?

On raw complaint volume the 2005 is the weakest year on record, with 705 complaints concentrated in the air bags. It carries 9 recalls.

Read these numbers with sales volume in mind. A model year that sold in huge numbers naturally accumulates more reports than a rare one, and older cars have had more years to fail. The stronger signal is the severity columns and whether the same component keeps coming up year after year.

Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, September 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.