Ford Mustang Engine Problems
Owners have filed 524 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Ford Mustang across 32 model years. The 2016 model year has the most (75). The words owners use most often: “throttle body” (9% of reports).
- 524engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 12mention a crash
- 9mention an injury
- 6related recalls
- $8,600typical repair cost reported by owners
- 46%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.
- Throttle body: mentioned in 49 of 524 complaints (9%)
- Head gasket: mentioned in 43 of 524 complaints (8%)
- Coolant intrusion: mentioned in 33 of 524 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Ford Mustang at $8,600, and half of them between $4,350 and $10,150.
Based on 24 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2014–2026), 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 312 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 524 complaints, 12 mention a crash, 16 a fire, 9 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 (6)
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
Model years: 2026
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer, Mustang, Lincoln Corsair, and 2025 Maverick vehicles. The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak.
Risk: An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components increases the risk of a fire. In addition, the loss of oil can result in engine seizure and loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly, free of charge. All affected vehicles are still within dealership inventory and therefore no owner notification letters will be mailed. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SD3. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 24, 2025.
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.
I have attached a complaint which sets for the odometer fraud resulting in severe damage to my engine. I have also attached mileage discrepancies and the documentation created and maintained by AutoNation Ford Valencia which records my odometer at 26,250 in September 2022 and after taking my…
The 2.3L EcoBoost engine failed due to coolant leaking into the combustion chambers. The dealer found coolant present in cylinders 1 and 4, the cylinder 4 piston washed, and vertical scoring on the cylinder 4 wall. The dealer's recommendation is complete engine replacement. Yes, the engine is…
Known engine coolant intrusion problem with the Ford EcoBoost engine. It misfires and was confirmed by a service center that a whole new engine was needed. Car shaking and rumbling-- gas smell. Afraid of it catching fire.
I own a 2024 Ford Mustang (VIN above) subject to safety recall 26V547 / Ford 26C40 for engine wiring-harness ground eyelets that can fracture and cause loss of motive power. As of Oct 10, 2026, Ford's VIN lookup still shows the recall incomplete with no remedy or parts available and no dealer able…
Check engine light came on Sunday night. Monday had AutoZone check the codes - indicated misfire on two cylinders recommended spark plug replacement - Spark plugs purchased with intent to change Tuesday evening- Tuesday morning -Engine overheated on the way to class added more coolant - got the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Mustangs have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 524 owner complaints about engine 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?
Yes: 6 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Ford Mustang?
Owners report a typical cost of $8,600 (half paid between $4,350 and $10,150), from 24 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Ford Mustang?
The most frequent phrase is “throttle body”, in 49 of 524 complaints, followed by “head gasket” (43).
Other Ford Mustang problems
- Air Bags problems (2,316)
- Power Train problems (1,060)
- Electrical System problems (849)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (762)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (498)
- Structure problems (481)
- Steering problems (285)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (277)
See all Ford Mustang problems.