The best Mustang years to buy are 2019 and 2020. Avoid the 2012: manual transmission shifting problems and Takata air bag recalls give it the highest complaint rate of recent Mustangs.
Best years: 20192020 Years to avoid: 2012
Every Mustang year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known Mustang problems
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 85 | - | 12 | Electrical | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 15 | - | 0 | Electrical | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 51 | 107 | 9 | Fuel System | Good year |
| 2021 | 55 | 105 | 6 | Fuel System | Good year |
| 2020 | 122 | 200 | 8 | Electrical | Good buy |
| 2019 | 153 | 211 | 6 | Engine | Good buy |
| 2018 | 197 | 260 | 4 | Engine | Average |
| 2017 | 269 | 329 | 6 | Backup camera | Average |
| 2016 | 380 | 359 | 5 | Engine | Average |
| 2015 | 439 | 359 | 11 | Other | Average |
| 2014 | 359 | 434 | 4 | Air bags | Average |
| 2013 | 271 | 351 | 6 | Air bags | Average |
| 2012 | 469 | 563 | 7 | Transmission and drivetrain | Skip this year |
About the Mustang
The Mustang is Ford's sports car. The 2011-2014 cars drew many complaints about the manual gearbox being hard to shift and about air bag recalls, and the 2015 redesign brought its own early complaints. The 2.3-liter EcoBoost can have head gasket and coolant issues. Note that the Mustang Mach-E electric SUV is a different vehicle and is not included here.
- 2010-2014: Fifth generation. Manual transmission complaints and Takata recalls.
- 2015-2023: Sixth generation. EcoBoost coolant and head gasket complaints.
- 2024 on: Seventh generation, too new to judge.
Mustang warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Ford files with NHTSA. 626 Mustang bulletins are on file in total.
Advance Notice Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Replacement If Required After Dealer Evaluation
Customer Satisfaction Program 25N15 - Supplement #1 Certain 2015-2019 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Inspection For One-Time Replacement
Certain 2011-2012 model year F-150 and 2012 model year Expedition, navigator and Mustang vehicles equipped with a 6r80 transmission - molded leadframe extended coverage
This program extends the warranty coverage of the automatic transmission molded leadframe to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle, whichever occurs first.
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Mustang
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Engineering analysis EA21002 · 2015–2017 · opened Sep 2021
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L.
Recall query RQ21002 · 2020 · opened Aug 2021 · led to recall 26V104
On September 23, 2020, Ford Motor Company (Ford) filed a noncompliance recall report under 49 CFR Part 573 (NHTSA Recall No.
Recall query RQ19005 · 2015 · opened Dec 2019, closed Feb 2022 · led to recall 20V177000
In December 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 235 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging doors failed to latch when closed, and/or inadvertently opened while driving, on model year (MY) 2012-2014 Ford Fiesta, and 2013-2014 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ.
Preliminary evaluation PE16001 · 2015 · opened Jan 2016, closed Oct 2016 · led to recall 16V643000
In January, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation based on consumers' allegations of doors failing to latch and/or inadvertently opening on model year (MY) 2012-2013 Ford Focus vehicles (subject vehicles).ODI has received 464 unique reports related to the alleged problem, with ...
Preliminary evaluation PE11024 · 2012 · opened Aug 2011, closed Dec 2011
The Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) analyzed complaint data provided by Ford as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers.In total, there were 364 unique reports indicating various shift quality issues while driving.Ford identified several factors that may contribute to shift quality concerns in the ...
Mustang vs rivals
Questions
What is the best year for the Ford Mustang?
2019 and 2020. The best Mustang years to buy are 2019 and 2020. Avoid the 2012: manual transmission shifting problems and Takata air bag recalls give it the highest complaint rate of recent Mustangs.
Which Ford Mustang years should I avoid?
2012. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the Ford Mustang average.
Does the Mustang EcoBoost have head gasket problems?
Some 2.3-liter EcoBoost engines leak coolant into the cylinders or through the head gasket, causing misfires and overheating. Watch the coolant level and check for white smoke.
Based on 2,865 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2012 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.