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Ford MustangYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 9,257 NHTSA owner complaints across 59 model years, the Ford Mustang years to avoid are 1995, 2005 and 2007, and the strongest years are 1986, 1987, 2021 and 2022. The Mustang has 105 safety recalls on record.

Ford Mustang
Years to avoid'95 '05 '07Use caution: 1994, 2000, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016Best years'86 '87 '21 '22Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints9,257Top: Air bagsSafety recalls1051967–2026 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Mustang Joe, CC0.

Best & worst years

Ford Mustang years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Mustang median. Tap a year for its full report.

'67'68'69'70'71'72'73'74'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2026Too new–/1008 complaints · 5 recalls2025Too new–/10020 complaints · 6 recalls2024Solid48/10085 complaints · 12 recalls2023Not rated–/10015 complaints · 6 recalls2022Best70/10051 complaints · 9 recalls2021Best73/10055 complaints · 6 recalls2020Solid56/100122 complaints · 8 recalls2019Solid60/100153 complaints · 6 recalls2018Solid56/100197 complaints · 3 recalls2017Solid48/100269 complaints · 6 recalls2016Caution41/100380 complaints · 5 recalls2015Caution37/100439 complaints · 11 recalls2014Caution40/100359 complaints · 3 recalls2013Solid49/100271 complaints · 5 recalls2012Caution37/100470 complaints · 6 recalls2011Caution37/100466 complaints · 4 recalls2010Solid50/100261 complaints · 5 recalls2009Solid57/100181 complaints · 5 recalls2008Solid43/100347 complaints · 5 recalls2007Avoid28/100615 complaints · 5 recalls2006Caution39/100424 complaints · 5 recalls2005Avoid27/100705 complaints · 5 recalls2004Solid64/100116 complaints · 1 recall2003Solid59/100145 complaints · 1 recall2002Solid63/100118 complaints · 0 recalls2001Solid50/100173 complaints · 1 recall2000Caution38/100311 complaints · 2 recalls1999Solid47/100213 complaints · 3 recalls1998Solid44/100236 complaints · 4 recalls1997Solid57/100176 complaints · 2 recalls1996Solid49/100246 complaints · 3 recalls1995Avoid28/100602 complaints · 5 recalls1994Caution40/100356 complaints · 4 recalls1993Solid57/100101 complaints · 2 recalls1992Best68/10069 complaints · 1 recall1991Best70/10077 complaints · 2 recalls1990Solid63/10085 complaints · 1 recall1989Solid61/100109 complaints · 1 recall1988Solid61/100108 complaints · 1 recall1987Best81/10038 complaints · 1 recall1986Best85/10030 complaints · 1 recall1985Not rated–/10016 complaints · 2 recalls1984Not rated–/10018 complaints · 3 recalls1983Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls1982Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1981Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1980Not rated–/1004 complaints · 0 recalls1979Not rated–/1000 complaints · 5 recalls1978Not rated–/1003 complaints · 4 recalls1977Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1976Not rated–/1002 complaints · 3 recalls1974Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1973Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1972Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1971Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1970Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1969Not rated–/1003 complaints · 3 recalls1968Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1967Not rated–/1002 complaints · 4 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Ford Mustang problems

All model years combined: 9,257 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags2393384
Electrical system1151250
Power train114961
Engine and engine cooling98567
Vehicle speed control540113
Engine53430
Structure52640
Steering32365
Fuel system, gasoline32132
29 other systems2952383
105 recalls

Ford Mustang recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Engine: hard parts internal/mechanical26V-548 · 2026 · Aug 25, 2026 · 10,427 vehicles–Electrical system: wiring26V-547 · 2024–2026 · Aug 25, 2026 · 148,663 vehicles7%Windshield wiper/washer: motor26V-418 · 2024–2026 · Jun 30, 2026 · 67,994 vehicles45%Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel26V-372 · 2019 · Jun 9, 2026 · 2,349 vehicles88%Engine: hard parts internal/mechanical26V-205 · 2026 · Mar 31, 2026 · 278 vehicles39%Emission control: gas recirculation valve (egr valve)26V-122 · 2025 · Mar 3, 2026 · 47,804 vehicles–Engine25V-828 · 2026 · Dec 1, 2025 · 6 vehicles1%Sensing system: camera25V-695 · 2020 · Oct 13, 2025 · 1,448,655 vehicles43%Electrical system: body control module/bcm25V-689 · 2021–2023 · Oct 10, 2025 · 2,101 vehicles–Seat belts: pretensioner25V-614 · 2015–2017 · Sep 12, 2025 · 332,778 vehicles21%Sensing system: camera25V-572 · 2015–2019 · Sep 3, 2025 · 1,456,417 vehicles66%Exterior lighting25V-546 · 2024–2025 · Aug 22, 2025 · 105,545 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 105 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

39 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Mustang

  1. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · 2015–2017 · still open
    Open
  2. Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 NoncomplianceRQ21002 · 2020 · still open
    Led to recall 26V-104
  3. Door Latch FailuresRQ19005 · 2015 · closed Feb 7, 2022
    Led to recall 20V-177
  4. Door Latch FailurePE16001 · 2015 · closed Oct 29, 2016
    Led to recall 16V-643
  5. Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA15001 · 2005–2008 · still open
    Led to recall 14V-668
  6. Air Bag Inflator RupturePE14016 · 2005–2008 · closed Mar 2, 2015
    Led to recall 13V-172
  7. Inability to shift gears on accelerationPE11024 · 2011–2012 · closed Dec 14, 2011
    No recall
  8. Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion AuditAQ10001 · 2005–2008 · closed Dec 28, 2015
    No recall
  9. TIRE VALVE CRACKINGPE08060 · 2007–2008 · closed Apr 9, 2009
    No recall
  10. SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEADDP05005 · 1997–2004 · closed Jan 4, 2006
    No recall