Power Train. Review the 177 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 158 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 35 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 reports2 fire reports9 injury reports

What owners actually said

469 reports

55,000 miles · Sep 29, 2014

Structure

THE LEADING EDGE OF THE HOOD IS SHOWING SIGNS OF CORROSION UNDER THE PAINT. FORD KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND WILL NOT COVER THE DEFECT PAST THE STANDARD RUST THROUGH WARRANTY MILEAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639798

30,100 miles · Sep 28, 2014

Electrical SystemPower Train

ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. DASH LIGHT CAME ON AS VEHICLE STARTED LIMPING TO STOP IN TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639649

45,100 miles · Sep 9, 2014

Power Train

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I HAD JUST LEFT MY HOUSE AND PULLED OUT ONTO THE ROAD. AS THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR SUDDENLY SHOOK AND SHUDDERED AND WOULDN'T RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDAL. THE WRENCH SYMBOL CAME ON THE DASH. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AND WOULDN'T GO OVER 3 OR 4 MILES AN HOUR. I PUT ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS, AS THERE WERE VEHICLES COMING UP BEHIND ME ON THE TWO-LANE ROAD AND THEY HAD TO GO AROUND ME. IT WAS VERY SCARY NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND GET OUT OF THE WAY OF OTHER VEHICLES. THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE, NO PRIOR WARNING OF ANY ISSUES. PRELIMINARY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT OTHER FORD VEHICLES HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THROTTLE BODY FAILURES, WITH VERY SIMILAR DESCRIPTIONS TO THIS ISSUE WITH MY 2012 FORD MUSTANG.

NHTSA ODI #10631956

39,000 miles · Sep 6, 2014

Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

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AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON I-295 IN MODERATELY HEAVY TRAFFIC, THERE WAS AN AUDIBLE "CLUNK" AND VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN DECELERATING. PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL DID NOT POWER THE VEHICLE. DRIVER WAS ALREADY IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE PREPARING TO EXIT, SO SAFELY MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER. HAD DRIVER BEEN IN ANOTHER LANE, THERE WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT RISK OF COLLISION AS THE VEHICLE LOST POWER SO QUICKLY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FORD DEALER, WHO REPORTED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY HAD FAILED. FORD DENIED THAT THROTTLE BODY FAILURE WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE MUSTANG, ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN IN SEVERAL OTHER FORD MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10631234

52,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014

EnginePower Train

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2012 FORD MUSTANG THROWS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WRENCH GOING INTO "LIMP MODE" (CAR CUTS ALL ACCELERATION, AND JUST IDLES). I HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND SHUT VEHICLE OFF. VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER ONE OR TWO TURN ONS. THIS WILL OCCUR EVERY OTHER DAY, AND MULTIPLE TIMES IN A DAY. VERY DANGEROUS IF IT WAS TO HAPPEN WHILE MERGING IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER FORD POWERTRAIN OR EMISSIONS WARRANTY, THEY CLAIM THAT IT IS AN "ATTACHMENT" TO THE ENGINE, NOT A PART OF IT. THIS ISSUE HAS CAUSED THEM TO EXTEND THEIR WARRANTIES ON THE FORD ESCAPE AND FUSION, BUT NOT THEIR OTHER VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE. THEY HAVE QUOTED ME $700 DOLLARS TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE THROTTLEBODY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE, THAT IS LINKED TO MORE THAN JUST THE FORD ESCAPE AND FUSION, AND FORD HAS NOT GIVEN THEIR OTHER VEHICLES OWNER'S THE SAME WARRANTY. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10617374

62,500 miles · Jul 26, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

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THE 2012 MUSTANG IS EQUIPPED WITH AN SYSTEM CALLED ADVANCTRAC. IT IS AN ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM THAT WORKS IN COORDINATION WITH THE ELECTRONIC ASSISTED POWER STEERING. THIS MORNING WHILE DRIVING MY CAR TOTALLY SHUT DOWN NOSE DIVED AND TURNED RIGHT BACK ON. WHEN IT RETURNED TO POWER THE ADVANCTRAC SYSTEM HAD TOTALLY SHUT. THE WHEEL WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN DUE TO THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM SHUTTING DOWN. HAD THIS BEEN IN A CORNER AT SPEED ON A HIGHWAY I WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY LEFT THE ROAD. UPON INVESTIGATING MY CAR I FOUND A BLOWN 100AMP FUSE BY MY BATTERY. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. ALL ANYONE NEEDS TO DO IS HIT THE INTERNET AND SEE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS EXACT ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. BE IT FROM THE FUSE OR SOMETHING ELSE THIS SHUTDOWN IS FREQUENT. IN LIEU OF RECENT ISSUES WITH GM I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT FORD IS IGNORING THIS. THIS CAN AND COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ANYONE. I CONTACTED FORD AND THE DEALER TODAY AND THEY BLEW ME OFF SO NOW I AM CONTACTING YOU. HOPEFULLY I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HAD THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10616512

24,500 miles · Jul 7, 2014

Power Train

ACCORDING TO MY FORD DEALERSHIP, THE SYNCHRONIZERS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND BEARS FAILED. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THIS TRANSMISSION PREVIOUSLY, CAUSING THE CAR TO FAIL TO SHIFT WHILE ACCELERATING. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS, AS FAILURE TO ACCELERATE WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THANKFULLY, I WAS …

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NHTSA ODI #10608776

63,000 miles · Jul 1, 2014

Electrical SystemExterior LightingPower Train

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MY 2012 FORD MUSTANG HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS STARTING WITH THE VEHICLE IN THE PARK POSITION. ALL OF THE APPROPRIATE LIGHTS ON THE DASH COME ON, BUT THE CAR WILL NOT CRANK UNTIL I PLACE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THIS HAPPENS WITH THE CAR PARKED ON LEVEL GROUND AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKES APPLIED AND I HAVE VERIFIED THAT THE INDICATOR SHOWS THE P FOR PARK. AFTER, DOING RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT FORD RECALLED SOME 2012/13 MUSTANGS FOR THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR (TRS) WHICH WAS NOT PROPERLY CALIBRATED AFFECTING THE STARTER INTERLOCK PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION IS PLACED IN NEUTRAL. THE RECALL WAS 12C23, NHTSA # 12V190000, MY 2012 MUSTANG WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL, BUT I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH AN IMPROPERLY CALIBRATED (TRS). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10607549

22,000 miles · Jun 18, 2014

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILU…

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NHTSA ODI #10604374

22,000 miles · Jun 18, 2014

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,…

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NHTSA ODI #10604364

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.

17V024000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jan 10, 2017

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ 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 2009 Ford Ranger, Edge, Fusion and Mustang, Lincoln MKX, MKZ and Zephyr and Mercury Milan 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." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Ford is recalling certain 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ, 2005-2008 Ford Mustang and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, 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. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing March 1, 2017. 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.

16V248000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Apr 27, 2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford F-150 trucks, 2012 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Mustang vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with an automatic transmission that may unexpectedly downshift to first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An unexpected downshift into first gear can cause the vehicle to slow down suddenly without warning and the rear tires may slide or lock, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S19.

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.

12V190000 · Exterior Lighting:back Up Lights; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

May 3, 2012

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 SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT" AND 108 LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR (TRS) THAT WAS CALIBRATED OUT OF SPECIFICATION FOR REVERSE GEAR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION MAY NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR WHEN THE DRIVER PUSHES THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE REVERSE R POSITION AND THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION DOES GO IN REVERSE, THE R MAY NOT ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD OF THE F-150, EXPEDITION, OR NAVIGATOR MODELS AND/OR THE BACKUP LAMP ON THE REAR OF THE F-150, EXPEDITION, NAVIGATOR, OR MUSTANG VEHICLES MAY NOT ILLUMINATE. THESE CONDITIONS INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH OR A PEDESTRIAN BEING STRUCK DUE TO THE VEHICLES NOT SIGNALING IT IS IN REVERSE.

Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE TRS AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Exterior Lighting:back Up Lights

Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION MAY NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR WHEN THE DRIVER PUSHES THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE REVERSE R POSITION AND THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION DOES GO IN REVERSE, THE R MAY NOT ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD OF THE F-150, EXPEDITION, OR NAVIGATOR MODELS AND/OR THE BACKUP LAMP ON THE REAR OF THE F-150, EXPEDITION, NAVIGATOR, OR MUSTANG VEHICLES MAY NOT ILLUMINATE. THESE CONDITIONS INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH OR A PEDESTRIAN BEING STRUCK DUE TO THE VEHICLES NOT SIGNALING IT IS IN REVERSE.

Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE TRS AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

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.