2013 Ford Mustang Reliability
The 2013 Ford Mustang has 271 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby Mustang model years (2011–2015), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Mustang's typical year, while the 2012 drew 470 complaints.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
271
NHTSA owner complaints
6
Recall campaigns
16
Complaints citing a crash
2
Complaints citing a fire
2013 Ford Mustang complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 model year, filed between 2012 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 145 | 54% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 48 | 18% |
| Engine | 22 | 8% |
| Speed control / throttle | 19 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 18 | 7% |
| Unknown or other | 14 | 5% |
| Steering | 10 | 4% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 10 | 4% |
2013 Ford Mustang recalls
6 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2013 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12V190000 | May 3, 2012 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | Ford is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford f-150, 2012 expedition and lincoln navigator, and 2012-2013 Mustang vehicles, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard nos. 102, "transmission shift lever… |
| 15V319000 | May 28, 2015 | Air bags — frontal / driver side / inflator module | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2014 Mustang vehicles manufactured April 6, 2004, to June 21, 2014, and 2005-2006 GT vehicles manufactured February 20, 2004, to September 22, 2006. The affected vehicles are equipped with a…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 18V046000 | Jan 11, 2018 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 19V001000 | Jan 7, 2019 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 21V081000 | Feb 16, 2021 | Air bags — frontal | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or… |
| 21E013000 | Feb 16, 2021 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain air bag inflator and/or module replacement service parts that may have been used as part of a collision repair. The parts include certain driver-side air bag inflators and/or modules, designed to fit 2005-2014… |
How the 2013 compares with nearby Mustang years
Verdicts compare these Mustang model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 466 | 5 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2012 | 470 | 7 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2013 (this page) | 271 | 6 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2014 | 359 | 4 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2015 | 439 | 11 | Unknown or other | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2013 Ford Mustang
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 6 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2013 Ford Mustang can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2013 Ford Mustang reliability FAQ
Is the 2013 Ford Mustang reliable?
The 2013 Ford Mustang has 271 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby Mustang model years (2011–2015), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Mustang's typical year, while the 2012 drew 470 complaints.
What are the most common 2013 Ford Mustang problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Ford Mustang are air bags (145), powertrain / transmission (48), engine (22), speed control / throttle (19). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2013 Ford Mustang have recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2013 Ford Mustang, including 12V190000 (powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)) and 15V319000 (air bags — frontal / driver side / inflator module). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2013 Ford Mustang compare with the 2012 and 2014 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2012 has 470 complaints and 7 recalls (avoid); the 2014 has 359 complaints and 4 recalls (solid). The 2013 has 271 complaints and 6 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2013 Ford Mustang?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Ford Mustang research
Other Ford Mustang model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2013 Mustang, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.