Ford Mustang Engine Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Not unusually. 512 of the 4,141 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Ford Mustang (12.4%) name the engine, below the 19.4% median share across the 152 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2016, 2018 and 2019.
Engine complaints
512
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
12.4%
of 4,141 complaints for this model
Engine recalls
3
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Ford Mustang engine complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Engine and Engine Cooling. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Engine recalls | Engine TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 8 | 2.3% | 0 | — | 18 |
| 2009 | 4 | 2.2% | 0 | — | 19 |
| 2010 | 12 | 4.6% | 1 | — | 20 |
| 2011 | 55 | 11.8% | 0 | — | 33 |
| 2012 | 33 | 7% | 1 | — | 30 |
| 2013 | 23 | 8.5% | 1 | — | 31 |
| 2014 | 19 | 5.3% | 2 | — | 30 |
| 2015 | 51 | 11.6% | 4 | 16V779000 | 33 |
| 2016WORST | 83 | 21.8% | 5 | 16V779000 | 41 |
| 2017 | 34 | 12.6% | 2 | 16V779000 | 31 |
| 2018WORST | 66 | 33.5% | 1 | 18E035000 | 18 |
| 2019WORST | 64 | 41.8% | 0 | — | 15 |
| 2020 | 27 | 22.1% | 4 | — | 18 |
| 2021 | 10 | 18.2% | 1 | — | 13 |
| 2022 | 6 | 11.8% | 0 | — | 8 |
| 2023 | 2 | 13.3% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | 11 | 12.9% | 0 | — | 10 |
| 2025 | 4 | 20% | 0 | 26V122000 | 10 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the engine.
Common Ford Mustang engine problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 512 engine complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Ford Mustang years to avoid for the engine
2016 Ford Mustang
83 engine complaints (21.8% of the year's 380). Most often described: overheating or coolant loss. Covered by engine recall 16V779000.
2018 Ford Mustang
66 engine complaints (33.5% of the year's 197). Most often described: overheating or coolant loss. Covered by engine recall 18E035000.
2019 Ford Mustang
64 engine complaints (41.8% of the year's 153). Most often described: overheating or coolant loss.
Worst years are those with at least 10 engine complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Ford Mustang years to avoid.
Ford Mustang engine recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Engine for any Ford Mustang model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 26V122000 · 2026-03-04 · 2025 models
The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
- 18E035000 · 2018-05-24 · 2018 models
The hose barb fittings on the supercharger kits may be manufactured incorrectly, possibly causing damage to the fuel lines and resulting in a fuel leak.
- 16V779000 · 2016-10-26 · 2015–2017 models
A hose may separate from the engine oil cooler tube assembly causing an oil leak.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2016 Ford Mustang have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 83 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2016 Ford Mustang, 21.8% of all 380 complaints for that year. The most common description is "overheating or coolant loss" (27 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 16V779000. 5 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2018 Ford Mustang have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 66 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2018 Ford Mustang, 33.5% of all 197 complaints for that year. The most common description is "overheating or coolant loss" (35 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 18E035000. 1 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2019 Ford Mustang have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 64 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2019 Ford Mustang, 41.8% of all 153 complaints for that year. The most common description is "overheating or coolant loss" (40 complaints).
Which Ford Mustang years have the most engine complaints?
2016 (83), 2018 (66) and 2019 (64), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the engine. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Ford Mustang engine problems?
In the 512 engine complaints, owners most often describe misfire or check-engine light (31.1%), overheating or coolant loss (27%) and engine failure, seizure or replacement (22.3%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a engine failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Ford Mustang model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a engine complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Engine and Engine Cooling.
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 engine complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration