Power Train. Review the 200 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 125 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

20 crash reports1 fire reports10 injury reports

Power Train complaints

200 reports

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4,500 miles · Aug 10, 2011

Power Train

CAR GET STUCK IN GEAR,CLUTCH WONT WORK SO YOU CANT PUT IN GEAR AT A STOPLIGHT OR SLOW DOWN!,ROUGH SHIFTS,TRANS WHINES REAL LOUD,CLUTCH PEDAL STICKS TO THE FLOOR! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10418454

3,000 miles · Aug 10, 2011

Power Train

PROBLEMS SHIFTING CAR INTO GEAR. GEARS ARE NOTCHY AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT INTO FIRST WHEN CAR IS COLD. TRANSMISSION MAKING WHINING NOISES IN 1-4 GEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10418451

700 miles · Aug 10, 2011

Power Train

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CAR HAS 8200 MILES ON AS OF 8-1-11.. MT-82 TRANSMISSION ISSUES.. GRINDING IN 1-3 GEARS SINCE 700 MILES, WITH OCCASIONAL LOCKOUT OF 2 GEAR AND NO INDICATIONS OF SKIPSHIFT SHOWING ON THE DISPLAY, THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WHEN TURNING LEFT.. WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR STOP-SIGN UNABLE TO GET THE CAR IN ANY GEAR WHEN WITH THE CLUTCH ALL THE WAY DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR, THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST GET REAR ENDED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN THE PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING YOU TO MOVE AND YOU DON'T.. WHEN THE CAR IS COLD OR TEMP OUTSIDE UNDER 50* WILL BE EXTREMELY "NOTCHY" AND GRINDING IN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AND WILL FREQUENTLY PREVENT YOU FROM ENGAGING 1ST OR 2ND GEAR AT A STOP UNTIL SEVERAL MILES ARE DRIVEN. THIS AGAIN HAS ALMOST GOT ME REARENDED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.. THE SHIFTER ALSO VIBRATES IN YOUR HAND IN 3RD AND 5TH GEAR ALL OTHER GEARS ARE SMOOTH.. THIS WAS ALL BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT VISITS STARTING IN JAN '11. THE FIRST 2 TIMES INTO THE DEALER THEY DIDN'T EVEN PULL THE CAR INTO THE GARAGE AND TOLD ME THAT FORD IS AWARE OF AN ISSUE SINCE DEC. 2010 AND NO FIX AT THIS TIME. THE 3RD TIME IN LATE MARCH '11 I FINALLY CONVINCED THEM TO LET A TECH COME OUT FOR A RIDE, HE SAID "IT'S ALL NORMAL", SORRY A VIBRATING SHIFTER IN ANY GEAR IS NOT NORMAL, GRINDING IS NOT NORMAL. I REFUSE TO BRING MY CAR BACK INTO ANY DEALER UNTIL SOME REAL FIX IS FORCED UPON FORD THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THESE ISSUES, I'M AWARE OF THE TSB REGARDING CHANGING THE FLUID, FLUID WILL NOT FIX VIBRATIONS, OR THE ABILITY TO PUT A TRANSMISSION INTO A GEAR WHEN STOPPED NOR WILL IT FIX "GRINDING" WHICH IS SYNCHRO ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10418434

12 miles · Aug 10, 2011

Power Train

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO 1ST, 5TH AND 6TH GEAR. FORD REPLACED 2000 DOLLARS WORTH OF EQUIPMENT IN MY MUSTANG AND IT IS MUCH WORSE THAN BEFORE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10418408

4,000 miles · Aug 10, 2011

Air BagsPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2011 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 100 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO 5TH GEAR. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR ALSO PERIODICALLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS …

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NHTSA ODI #10418400

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2011

Power Train

SEVERE GRINDING AND NOTCHINESS WHEN TRANSMISSION IS COLD. SECOND GEAR WILL NOT ENGAGE AT ANYTHING GREATER THAN 1500RPM. ENTERING A 50MPH ROAD REQUIRES SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 3RD WHEN TRANSMISSION IS COLD. OFTEN TIME VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO GET BACK INTO 1ST GEAR AT A STOP LIGHT, EVEN AFTER 40 MINUTES OF STRAIGHT DRIVING - ISSUE NO…

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NHTSA ODI #10418303

8,000 miles · Aug 9, 2011

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE HAD TO PUMP THE CLUTCH SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD GEAR AND IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE AT ALL UNLESS THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING A SUITABLE REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,600.

NHTSA ODI #10418287

4,700 miles · Aug 9, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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2011 MUSTANG GT WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION- INABILITY TO SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR. IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS I WAS STUCK SLOWING DOWN INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. THE CAR IS BEEN IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES. ALSO HAS SEVERE KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE THAT GOES WAY AFTER 5 MINUTES. FORD STATES THIS IS PISTON RATTLE AND THEY TRIED A SOFTWARE FIX. NOTHING HELPED.I'M AFRAID OF THE ENGINE DAMAGE OR CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. THERE ARE YOUTUBE VIDEOS POSTED LABELED 2011 MUSTANG KNOCK. FORD IS AWARE... THEY REFERRED ME TO IT(AT LEAST THE SERVICE TECH DID. FORD IS DOING NOTHING!!! THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5-6 TIMES AND THERE IS UNDER 5000 MILES. THE CAR HAD ONLY 300 MILES ON IT WHEN THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE GAS TANK PUMP BECAUSE IT DROPPED TO ZERO AT WITH A HALF TANK OF GAS LEFT. THERE IS A BULLETIN ON THIS. HELP BEFORE SOME GETS HURT BY THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OR THE ENGINE BLOWING OUT!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10418260

7,847 miles · Aug 9, 2011

Power Train

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I ORIGINALLY TOOK MY 2011 MUSTANG TO THE FORD DEALER WITH A COMPLAINT OF VERY DIFFICULT 1-2 AND 2-3 SHIFTING IN COLD WEATHER (BELOW 30 DEGREES AMBIENT TEMPERATURE). FORD WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM (SPECIAL SERVICE MESSAGE 21661) AND SAID THERE WAS NO RECOMMENDED SOLUTION. THIS WAS NOT A SATISFACTORY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM, SO I TOOK THE CAR BACK ON MARCH 24TH, 2011AND REQUESTED THAT THEY CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO MOTORCRAFT FULL SYNTHETIC TRANSMISSION FLUID, JUST TO SEE IF IT HELPED. IT MADE THE PROBLEM LESS PRONOUNCED, BUT DID NOT SOLVE IT. ON APRIL 4TH, 2011 THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT FORD FINALLY CAME UP WITH A RECOMMENDED SOLUTION FOR MY PROBLEM AND THAT I SHOULD BRING THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED TO MOTORCRAFT DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE FLUID, BUT I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE IF THE PROBLEM HAS GONE AWAY BECAUSE IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE MORNING TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW 30 DEGREES, WHICH HASN'T HAPPENED SINCE THE FLUID WAS CHANGED THE SECOND TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10418223

3,000 miles · Aug 9, 2011

Power Train

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I PURCHASED MY 2011 FORD MUSTANG V6 IN SEPT 2010. WHEN THE WEATHER GOT COLD (APPROX LATE NOV), I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT SHIFTING THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR WHEN LEAVING HOME IN THE MORNING, OR LEAVING WORK AT THE END OF THE DAY, ENGAGING 2ND GEAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT. WHENEVER THE WEATHER WAS BELOW FREEZING, AND THE CAR WAS FIRST DRIVEN AFTER COLD START, IT WOULD EXHIBIT THIS BEHAVIOR. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO ME DEALER FOR THIS AND ANOTHER ISSUE (KNOWN AS "COLD ENGINE TICK" - UNIQUE TO V6). THE DEALER HAD DIFFICULTY SOLVING THE COLD TICK ISSUE, BUT ULTIMATELY DID. THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS NO TSB OR SSM FOR THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND TO CHECK BACK PERIODICALLY. THOUGH I REQUESTED THE DEALER TO DOCUMENT THE COMPLAINT AT THAT TIME, THEY DID NOT. WHAT SCARES ME ABOUT THIS ISSUE IS THE LAG TIME REQUIRED TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A RED LIGHT WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. TWICE I WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED AS A RESULT OF THIS (I CAN ACCELERATE WELL IN 1ST, THEN SUDDENLY, I'M COASTING TO A STOP WHILE FIGHTING TO GET THE CAR INTO 2ND GEAR - BY THE WAY, THE V6 DOES NOT HAVE A SKIP SHIFT FEATURE). ONLY 2ND GEAR EXHIBITS THIS ISSUE, AND ONLY WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMP IS BELOW FREEZING AND THE CAR HASN'T BEEN DRIVEN FROM MORE THAN ABOUT 5 MILES. AFTER ABOUT 5 MILES IT SEEMS THE TRANSMISSION WARMS AND THE DIFFICULTY SHIFTING IS REDUCED (THOUGH 2ND GEAR ALWAYS HAS MORE RESISTANCE THAN THE OTHER 5 GEARS). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10418175

Official recalls

21V081000 · Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Feb 16, 2021

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 passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Air Bags:frontal

19V001000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jan 7, 2019

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 Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Ford is also recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2010-2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, and 2010-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 19S01.

16V384000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

May 31, 2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Any vehicle not included in "Zone A", or "Zone B" is not included in the safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on July 15, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.

15V319000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

May 28, 2015

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 dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2016. Even if interim repairs were performed under safety recall 14V-802, owners must bring their vehicles in for the final remedy. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S21. Note: This recall supersedes safety recall 14V-802.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE11024 · Inability To Shift Gears On Acceleration

Opened Aug 3, 2011 · Closed Dec 14, 2011

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:manual Transmission

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 subject vehicles, including cold transmission, clutch stay-out at high engine speeds, gear clash or grinding, and gradual loosening of clutch plate bolts in some early production vehicles.The largest percentage of complaints indicated higher than expected shift efforts in cold ambient temperatures.These complaints were related to transmission fluid viscosity and the higher shift efforts resolved themselves with the drivetrain warming.Ford published technical service bulletin TSB 11-3-18 to inform technicians that a lower viscosity fluid was available for use to address the cold shift issues.The clutch stay-out condition typically occurs at engine speeds greater than 4000 rpm.It does not prevent the selection of any gear, but may delay clutch re-engagement depending on how long the driver maintains the higher engine speed.Ford identified rotating inertia of the clutch components as the root cause and replacement clutch pedal parts were made available under Ford TSB 10-19-4.A number of reports alleged increasing difficulty selecting gears along with gear clash or grinding.Grinding or notchy gear shifts may be caused by gradual loosening of clutch plate fasteners, which is promoted by certain aggressive shifting.This condition is progressive in nature and initially results in symptoms related to shift quality/feel.Clutch plate bolt loosening will not result in inability to select any gear unless the progressive symptoms are ignored until complete clutch failure occurs.ODI?s analysis identified only five complaints alleging an inability to shift into gear due to loose clutch plate bolts.None of these resulted in a stall and gear shifting could occur before engine start.A revised fastener was designed and implemented in production and is available for service through a special service message.There is no indication of loss of motive power or unreasonable safety risk associated with the alleged defect in the subject vehicles.This preliminary evaluation is closed.