repaired · 2022 Q4
Air bags: frontal
Risk. 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…
2005 Ford MustangProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 705 owner complaints about the 2005 Ford Mustang, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 17V-024 the manufacturer reports only 22% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 5, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: Cutlass, CC0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2005 Ford Mustang has problems
705 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
235Air bags16 crash/fire/injury
225Electrical system6 crash/fire/injury
68Fuel system, gasoline
56Structure3 crash/fire/injury
54Vehicle speed control13 crash/fire/injury
27Fuel/propulsion system
25Power train
25Engine and engine cooling
22Parking brake
11917 other systems13 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 235 | 16 |
| Electrical system | 225 | 6 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 68 | 0 |
| Structure | 56 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 54 | 13 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 27 | 3 |
| Power train | 25 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 25 | 1 |
| Parking brake | 22 | 0 |
| 17 other systems | 119 | 13 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2005 Ford Mustang recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2019 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Do not driveRisk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2019 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Do not driveRisk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2017 Q3
Driver side: inflator module
Do not driveRisk. 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…
Show 1 more recall
no report yet
Air bags: frontal
Risk. DURING AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, IF A SMALL FEMALE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS NOT WEARING THE SAFETY BELT, AND HAS THE SEAT IN THE FULL FORWARD POSITION,…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Mileage at failure
When do air bags problems start?
57kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 42 air bags complaints. 76% were reported before 100,000 miles.
13under 30k miles32under 100k miles10100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Electrical system
21 owners mentioned a cost$750median
Middle half: $600 – $950
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2005 vs. every other Mustang year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Mustang median. How we score
21300000203040151816303810810985776910135660224617623621331117311814511670542461534718126146647027135944038126919715412255511585208
'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
NHTSA crash tests
2005 Ford Mustang safety ratings
2005 Ford Mustang Convertible in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2005 Ford Mustang, and the recalls they led to.
- Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion AuditNo recall
- Air Bag Inflator RuptureLed to recall 14V-668
- Air Bag Inflator RuptureLed to recall 13V-172
In owners' words
What Mustang owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that during inclement weather, water was entering the cabin of the vehicle through the passenger’s side glove box. The contact stated that due to the failure, mold had developed throughout the vehicle on the carpet, doors, and interior seats.…
Took the 2005 Mustang GT in several years ago to have one airbag replaced. Dealer (Autonation Torrance, California) stated parts were not available for the other side. One of the airbags has never been replaced. I now read there is a "Do Not Drive" recall for vehicles of this year and model in…
I have done all my airbag recalls and the light came on a few months ago and is steady flashing. Called Cresent Ford in High Pint and they looked up my VIN and my car replacement history. They told me it had been replaced but it was still under warranty and to make an appointment to have it looked…
Own a 2005 Mustang?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.