Ford Mustang Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 762 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Ford Mustang across 28 model years. The 1995 model year has the most (339). The words owners use most often: “head gasket” (24% of reports).
- 762engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 11mention a crash
- 10mention an injury
- 5related recalls
- $2,200typical repair cost reported by owners
- 36%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 181 of 762 complaints (24%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the Ford Mustang at $2,200, and half of them between $1,100 and $3,700.
Based on 47 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2011), 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 and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 220 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 762 complaints, 11 mention a crash, 26 a fire, 10 an injury.
Ford Mustang engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Mustang | 1 | 6% | 14,000 |
| 2022 Mustang | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2021 Mustang | 2 | 4% | — |
| 2020 Mustang | 3 | 3% | 86,000 |
| 2019 Mustang | 11 | 7% | 68,625 |
| 2018 Mustang | 8 | 4% | 54,500 |
| 2017 Mustang | 8 | 3% | 55,500 |
| 2016 Mustang | 8 | 2% | 85,080 |
| 2014 Mustang | 1 | 0% | 1,000 |
| 2013 Mustang | 1 | 0% | 46,000 |
| 2012 Mustang | 3 | 1% | 4,600 |
| 2011 Mustang | 7 | 2% | 4,700 |
| 2010 Mustang | 4 | 2% | 800 |
| 2009 Mustang | 1 | 1% | 4,948 |
| 2008 Mustang | 2 | 1% | 33,300 |
| 2007 Mustang | 5 | 1% | 25,750 |
| 2006 Mustang | 16 | 4% | 47,800 |
| 2005 Mustang | 25 | 4% | 7,190 |
| 2004 Mustang | 6 | 5% | 12,750 |
| 2003 Mustang | 39 | 27% | 4,500 |
| 2002 Mustang | 22 | 19% | 30,250 |
| 2001 Mustang | 24 | 14% | 56,847 |
| 2000 Mustang | 34 | 11% | 72,558 |
| 1999 Mustang | 31 | 15% | 59,000 |
| 1998 Mustang | 40 | 17% | 98,500 |
| 1997 Mustang | 38 | 22% | 109,175 |
| 1996 Mustang | 82 | 33% | 71,000 |
| 1995 Mustang | 339 | 56% | 74,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (5)
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical
Model years: 2026
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer, Bronco, Bronco Sport, Mustang, and Ranger vehicles. The engine piston domes may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in piston dome failure and lead to a loss of drive power.
Risk: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the engine pistons and replace the engine long block, if necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 3, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in December 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S61. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on August 28, 2026.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical
Model years: 2026
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer and Mustang vehicles. The engine piston circlips may have been incorrectly installed during manufacturing, which can result in piston failure and engine damage, leading to a loss of drive power.
Risk: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the engine for missing or mis-installed circlips and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S23. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 2, 2026.
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:gas recirculation valve (egr valve)
Model years: 2025
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ranger, Lincoln Nautilus, Mustang, Maverick, Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Corsair, Bronco Sport, and Bronco vehicles. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
Risk: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the EGR valves, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 31, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 4, 2026.
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system:hoses/lines/piping/fittings
Model years: 2015, 2016, 2017
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.
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan
Model years: 1995
Problem: Vehicle description: taurus/sable vehicles equipped with 3.0l and 3.8l engines and mustang vehicles with 3.8l and 5.0l engines. It is possible for the engine cooling fan bearing to seize.
Risk: Should this occur, excessive heat could be generated which could melt the fan motor electrical connector. Components inside the cooling fan motor could ignite potentially resulting in an underhood fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cooling fan assembly and install a circuit breaker. If the cooling fan is inoperative, the fan and motor assembly will be replaced. Owner notification began december 28, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
See attached document for complaint
The contact owns a 2025 Ford Mustang. The contact received notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V122000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to complete the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was…
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the engine sputtered with the check engine warning light illuminated. There was heavy white smoke coming from the tailpipe. Upon arriving at the destination, the vehicle hesitated to restart, and the…
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that the air conditioning system failed to function as intended. Additionally, the contact stated that while accelerating from a complete stop, several unknown warning lights were illuminated, and the vehicle chugged and failed to accelerate…
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle's speed did not accelerate above 20 MPH. In addition, the check engine warning light illuminated…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Mustangs have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 762 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Ford Mustang. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Mustang engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 5 safety recalls list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the Ford Mustang?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,200 (half paid between $1,100 and $3,700), from 47 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Ford Mustang?
The most frequent phrase is “head gasket”, in 181 of 762 complaints.
Other Ford Mustang problems
- Air Bags problems (2,316)
- Power Train problems (1,060)
- Electrical System problems (849)
- Engine problems (524)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (498)
- Structure problems (481)
- Steering problems (285)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (277)
See all Ford Mustang problems.