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2011 Ford Mustang

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Mustang years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Ford Mustang are substantially higher than the model-year median of 81.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

338 reports with mileage · 128 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • 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

Unknown Or Other complaints

15 reports
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77,123 miles · Sep 8, 2013
Unknown Or Other

DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS IN MY APARTMENT COMPLEX AND THE WRENCH LIGHTS COMES ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING IDLE BUT NOT THROTTLE WHAT SO EVER. IT IS A REOCCURRING PROBLEM AND I FEAR FOR ME AND MY CHILD'S SAFETY SO FRIGHTENED THIS WILL HAPPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTE…

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DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS IN MY APARTMENT COMPLEX AND THE WRENCH LIGHTS COMES ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING IDLE BUT NOT THROTTLE WHAT SO EVER. IT IS A REOCCURRING PROBLEM AND I FEAR FOR ME AND MY CHILD'S SAFETY SO FRIGHTENED THIS WILL HAPPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE SOMEWHERE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR HARM TO MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY FORD AT NO COST TO CONSUMERS, WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ME 850.00 TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. CLEARLY THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED

NHTSA ODI #10542537

280 miles · Sep 27, 2011
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

FAULTY 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ANY TIME THE VEHICLE IS ON AN INCLINE 20 DEGREES OR HIGHER AND BEING SHIFTED FROM 2ND GEAR (AROUND 18-20MPH) TO ANY OTHER GEAR THE SHIFTER GETS STUCK IN NEUTRAL WITH INABILITY TO GO TO ANY OTHER GEAR UNTIL THE ENGINE RPM DROPS. THIS SHIFTING DELAY CAN TAKE ANYWHERE FORM 3 TO 7 SECONDS, BEFORE…

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FAULTY 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ANY TIME THE VEHICLE IS ON AN INCLINE 20 DEGREES OR HIGHER AND BEING SHIFTED FROM 2ND GEAR (AROUND 18-20MPH) TO ANY OTHER GEAR THE SHIFTER GETS STUCK IN NEUTRAL WITH INABILITY TO GO TO ANY OTHER GEAR UNTIL THE ENGINE RPM DROPS. THIS SHIFTING DELAY CAN TAKE ANYWHERE FORM 3 TO 7 SECONDS, BEFORE ANOTHER GEAR IS AVAILABLE TO ENGAGE. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10427533

1,001 miles · May 11, 2011
Unknown Or Other

THE MUSTANG IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS SINCE THE 900MI (1.5 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE). THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AND TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY ARE HAVING TO BE REPLACED BY FORD BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ENGAGING CORRECTLY. FORD DEALERSHIP TRIED TO BLAME IT ON MODIFICATIONS DONE TO THE CAR. BUT AFTER GETTING AN ENGINEE…

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THE MUSTANG IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS SINCE THE 900MI (1.5 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE). THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AND TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY ARE HAVING TO BE REPLACED BY FORD BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ENGAGING CORRECTLY. FORD DEALERSHIP TRIED TO BLAME IT ON MODIFICATIONS DONE TO THE CAR. BUT AFTER GETTING AN ENGINEER ON SITE FROM FORD, THEY FOUND IT BE FAULTY CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY FROM THE FACTORY.

NHTSA ODI #10400532

1,012 miles · Apr 24, 2011
Unknown Or Other

I WAS PROCEEDING FROM A STOP SIGN TO MERGE WITH ON-COMING TRAFFIC AND WAS NOT ABLE TO ENTER 2ND GEAR AND ONLY AFTER SHIFTING INTO 3RD INSTEAD WAS ABLE TO AVERT BEING HIT. IT WAS NOT DUE TO THE 1ST TO 4TH SKIP SHIFT FEATURE. THE CAR HAS ALREADY BEEN INTO FORD (FOR A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REPAIR FOR THE TRANSMISSION) TO FIX T…

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I WAS PROCEEDING FROM A STOP SIGN TO MERGE WITH ON-COMING TRAFFIC AND WAS NOT ABLE TO ENTER 2ND GEAR AND ONLY AFTER SHIFTING INTO 3RD INSTEAD WAS ABLE TO AVERT BEING HIT. IT WAS NOT DUE TO THE 1ST TO 4TH SKIP SHIFT FEATURE. THE CAR HAS ALREADY BEEN INTO FORD (FOR A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REPAIR FOR THE TRANSMISSION) TO FIX THE SHIFTING PROBLEM, BUT THE VEHICLE IS STILL HARD TO SHIFT IN LOWER GEARS AND NOW HAS TRANSMISSION WHINE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! MANY OTHERS ARE AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #10397789

3,600 miles · Apr 14, 2011
Unknown Or Other

THE CAR HAS A MANUAL 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION. WHEN WEARING LOAFERS AND WITH DEPRESSION OF THE CLUTCH TO SHIFT, THE HEEL OF THE LOAFER UPON RELEASING THE CLUTCH WILL CATCH ON THE FLOOR MAT AND THE SHOE WILL DISLODGE FROM MY FOOT. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES AND CAN/WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. IT HAS HAPPENED WITH 3 DIFFERE…

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THE CAR HAS A MANUAL 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION. WHEN WEARING LOAFERS AND WITH DEPRESSION OF THE CLUTCH TO SHIFT, THE HEEL OF THE LOAFER UPON RELEASING THE CLUTCH WILL CATCH ON THE FLOOR MAT AND THE SHOE WILL DISLODGE FROM MY FOOT. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES AND CAN/WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. IT HAS HAPPENED WITH 3 DIFFERENT PAIRS OF SHOES. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED. THE EVENT DESCRIBED ABOVE WAS WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY BUT IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE SHIFTING NORMALLY. I HAVE NOTIFIED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE TODAY AND THEY MAY PROVIDE ME WITH A DIFFERENT FLOOR MAT HOWEVER THIS IS A CONCERN WITH THE DESIGN OF THIS FLOOR MAT AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY FORD.

NHTSA ODI #10396493

Official recalls

4

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

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: 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

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: 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

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: 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.

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

1

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.