no report yet
Seat belts: pretensioner
Risk. A corroded cable can break, preventing the seat belt from properly restraining an occupant, and increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
2016 Ford MustangProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 380 owner complaints about the 2016 Ford Mustang, most often about the engine. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 25V-572 the manufacturer reports only 21% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 21, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Xnatedawgx, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 Ford Mustang has problems
380 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
76Engine5 crash/fire/injury
73Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
52Back over prevention1 crash/fire/injury
29Power train
28Structure
27Latches/locks/linkages
20Fuel/propulsion system
17Service brakes
15Air bags
9315 other systems9 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 76 | 5 |
| Electrical system | 73 | 3 |
| Back over prevention | 52 | 1 |
| Power train | 29 | 0 |
| Structure | 28 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 27 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 20 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 17 | 2 |
| Air bags | 15 | 9 |
| 15 other systems | 93 | 9 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2016 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 · 2026 Q3
Sensing system: camera
Risk. A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2025 Q2
Sensing system: camera
Risk. A rearview camera that displays a blank or distorted image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2018 Q2
Cooling system: hoses/lines/piping/fittings
Risk. A sudden loss of engine oil may cause engine failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Show 1 more recall
repaired · 2017 Q1
Tether: connector/clip
Risk. If the restraint components do not function as intended, the occupants may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
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 engine problems start?
35kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 43 engine complaints. 91% were reported before 100,000 miles.
20under 30k miles39under 100k miles4100k 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
11 owners mentioned a cost$600median
Middle half: $339 – $916
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
2016 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
21300000203040151816303810810985776910135660224617623621331117311814511670542461534718126146647027135943938026919715312255511585208
'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
2016 Ford Mustang safety ratings
2016 Ford Mustang C RWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Rollover: 5 stars (8.1% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2016 Ford Mustang, and the recalls they led to.
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
In owners' words
What Mustang owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Coolant intrusion caused by a crack in the engine block coolant leaking into cylinder 3, engine replacement needed. 50k miles on the vehicle.
Brought the car in for service. The tech called me back and said the engine was blown. Condensation in cylinder 3. This was due to the cylinder walls being engineered to small. Which caused a leak in the coolant jacket. I paid out of pocket nearly $10,000 to have it replaced because the third party…
Nelson v. Ford Motor Company is a class action lawsuit targeting a defect in Ford's 2.3-liter EcoBoost engines. The suit highlights coolant leaks into engine cylinders, overheating, and catastrophic engine failures. I have had my 2016 ford mustang ecoboost in and out of mechanic shops for months…
Own a 2016 Mustang?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.