2016 Ford Mustang Engine Problems
Owners have filed 75 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2016 Ford Mustang, 20% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 35,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “head gasket” (11% of reports).
- 75engine complaints
- 35,000median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $8,700typical repair cost reported by owners
- 38%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Head gasket: mentioned in 8 of 75 complaints (11%)
- Engine block: mentioned in 6 of 75 complaints (8%)
- Shelby GT350: mentioned in 5 of 75 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2016 Ford Mustang at $8,700, and half of them between $3,500 and $10,000.
Based on 5 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2022–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 43 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 75 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 3 an injury.
Ford Mustang engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Mustang | 3 | 38% | — |
| 2025 Mustang | 3 | 17% | — |
| 2024 Mustang | 10 | 12% | — |
| 2023 Mustang | 2 | 13% | — |
| 2022 Mustang | 5 | 10% | — |
| 2021 Mustang | 8 | 15% | 700 |
| 2020 Mustang | 25 | 21% | 66,500 |
| 2019 Mustang | 52 | 35% | 26,769 |
| 2018 Mustang | 58 | 30% | 11,000 |
| 2017 Mustang | 27 | 10% | 28,000 |
| 2016 Mustang | 75 | 20% | 35,000 |
| 2015 Mustang | 51 | 12% | 23,500 |
| 2014 Mustang | 18 | 5% | 13,000 |
| 2013 Mustang | 22 | 8% | 52,000 |
| 2012 Mustang | 30 | 6% | 45,599 |
| 2011 Mustang | 48 | 10% | 57,800 |
| 2010 Mustang | 8 | 3% | 72,500 |
| 2009 Mustang | 3 | 2% | 38,438 |
| 2008 Mustang | 6 | 2% | 71,845 |
| 2007 Mustang | 15 | 2% | 73,500 |
| 2006 Mustang | 11 | 3% | 78,500 |
| 2005 Mustang | 19 | 3% | 77,000 |
| 2004 Mustang | 3 | 3% | 83,000 |
| 2003 Mustang | 6 | 4% | 166,000 |
| 2002 Mustang | 4 | 3% | 148,000 |
| 2001 Mustang | 2 | 1% | 105,000 |
| 2000 Mustang | 3 | 1% | 111,014 |
| 1999 Mustang | 1 | 0% | 75,000 |
| 1998 Mustang | 1 | 0% | 112,000 |
| 1997 Mustang | 2 | 1% | 128,000 |
| 1996 Mustang | 2 | 1% | 40,242 |
| 1995 Mustang | 1 | 0% | 277,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system:hoses/lines/piping/fittings
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles manufactured February 24, 2015, to August 30, 2016. A hose may separate from the engine oil cooler tube assembly causing an oil leak.
Risk: A sudden loss of engine oil may cause engine failure, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, an oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil cooler tube assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March 23, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S40.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
At about 75k miles my mustang started misfiring at about 2,500 rpmâs and higher. Turns out it was a blown head gasket. This engine model is prone to what happened to it. Ford should have a recall for these engine and a solution as theyâre ticking time bombs. I wish I could drive with the peace…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2016 Ford Mustangs have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 75 owner complaints about engine for the 2016 Ford Mustang (20% of the 378 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Ford Mustang engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 35,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2016 Ford Mustang?
Owners report a typical cost of $8,700 (half paid between $3,500 and $10,000), from 5 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2016 Ford Mustang?
The most frequent phrase is “head gasket”, in 8 of 75 complaints, followed by “engine block” (6).
Other 2016 Ford Mustang problems
See all 2016 Ford Mustang problems or engine problems across all Mustang years.