Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Ford Mustang - part 1

Check engine light came on Sunday night. Monday had autozone check the codes - indicated misfire on two cylinders recommended spark plug replacement - spark plugs purchased with intent to change Tuesday evening- Tuesday morning -engine overheated on the way to class added more coolant - got the vehicle home and towed to local Ford dealership the next day to learn that the coolant was leaking into the engine due to head gasket failure. Ford said the engine needed to be replaced.

See all problems of the 2018 Ford Mustang 🔎.

Recalls on 2024 Ford Mustangs: on 09/22/2026, at approximately 11:34am, my Ford Mustang suffered a catastrophic malfunction. When I was braking on the offramp, the brakes did not engage and remained firm and unresponsive. The car immediately accelerated, despite my efforts on the brakes accompanied by the use of the emergency brake. The car continued to accelerate as I was trying to brake, navigating the terrain off the ramp on onto a grassy area. I maneuvered the car between two trees, trying in vain to use the brakes. The Mustang continued accelerating across 25a, until it hit a car on my passenger side, which spun me around- no air bags deployed ! the car ended up going backwards hitting an I-beam that was supporting the street sign, bending it significantly. I hit my head on the side glass window. Thankfully, this stopped the propulsion of the runaway car and it finally came to a stop. Thank goodness I survived, as did everyone else in the vicinity of the malfunctioning out of control 2026 Ford Mustang.

While driving my 2025 Ford Mustang gt at highway speed, the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly lost power. The vehicle was unable to maintain normal power while I was traveling in active highway traffic. This created a serious safety risk because surrounding vehicles were traveling at highway speeds, and the sudden loss of propulsion could have resulted in a rear-end collision or other crash while I attempted to safely get the vehicle out of traffic. I subsequently learned that my vehicle is included in Ford safety recall 26c40 / NHTSA recall 26v547. The recall information states that an engine wiring harness ground may break under normal vehicle use and that this condition may result in a loss of motive power and other electrical functions. The recall states that loss of motive power while driving can increase the risk of a crash. At this time, a permanent recall remedy is not available. Ford has indicated that the remedy is anticipated to become available at a later date. I have contacted Ford regarding the incident and expressed concern about continuing to operate the vehicle after already experiencing a loss of power.

See all problems of the 2025 Ford Mustang 🔎.

I own a 2018 Ford Mustang ecoboost premium with the 2. 3l ecoboost engine. The vehicle initially developed a check-engine light and was diagnosed with p0303 (cylinder 3 misfire), p0316 (startup misfire), and p018c. On August 24, 2026, all four spark plugs and one ignition coil were replaced and a fuel/induction cleaning was performed. On September 10, the vehicle suddenly started with an extremely rough idle and produced a large cloud of white, sweet-smelling exhaust smoke. The check-engine light illuminated and the previous codes returned along with additional codes. The vehicle continued producing white exhaust smoke after several hours of diagnostic testing. Later that day, the engine shook violently while I was stopped at a traffic light and the tachometer fluctuated significantly. On September 11, the check-engine light returned and the previous diagnostic codes were again present. Firestone documented that coolant was present in the exhaust, that the coolant level was low again after coolant had been added the previous day, that the engine was burning coolant and producing white smoke, and that coolant was mixed with the engine oil. Firestone stated the engine may have a cracked head, failed head gasket, or internal engine crack and recommended complete engine replacement. The engine has now suffered a serious internal failure severe enough that the repair facility recommends replacement. The vehicle has exhibited violent shaking, unstable engine speed, repeated misfires, rapid coolant loss, coolant contamination of the engine oil, and coolant burning through the exhaust. I am concerned that continued operation could result in complete engine failure or sudden loss of engine power while driving, creating a significant safety hazard in traffic. Before September 10, the vehicle had never produced white exhaust smoke or experienced this severe shaking. I am reporting this as a potential safety defect involving the 2. 3l ecoboost engine.

Vehicle suffered sudden, total loss of motive power while driving. No dashboard warning lights or error codes were produced. Vehicle is currently grounded at anderson Ford (SC) under active recall 26v547 / 26c40. Manufacturer and dealer are refusing alternative safe transportation, attempting to force the consumer to drive an unremedied, unsafe vehicle because the intermittent total-ground failure did not store a code. ".

I own a 2018 Ford Mustang ecoboost premium with the 2. 3l ecoboost engine. The vehicle initially developed a check-engine light and was diagnosed with p0303 (cylinder 3 misfire), p0316 (startup misfire), and p018c (fuel pressure sensor circuit low). On August 24, 2026, all four spark plugs and one ignition coil were replaced, and a fuel/induction cleaning service was performed. The p018c repair was declined at that time. On September 10, 2026, the vehicle started with an extremely rough idle and produced a very large cloud of white, sweet-smelling exhaust smoke. The check-engine light came on. The original codes, including the misfire codes, were present along with additional codes. The vehicle underwent approximately three hours of diagnostics and road testing. The codes were cleared, and afterward only p018c returned. Testing reportedly did not identify a head-gasket leak, but visible white smoke was still coming from the exhaust when I left the repair facility. Possible coolant intrusion involving the turbocharger was discussed, but the source was not confirmed. Later that day, the vehicle would not crank in park but started in neutral. While driving home, the engine began idling so violently at a traffic light that the entire vehicle shook and the tachometer fluctuated significantly. Before September 10, the vehicle had never produced white exhaust smoke, never shaken violently at idle, and always started. The repair facility attempted to inspect the cylinders with a borescope, but both of its borescopes were not functioning. I am concerned about possible coolant intrusion or another engine defect because of the cylinder 3/startup misfire history, heavy white sweet-smelling exhaust, and severe intermittent rough running. The cause has not yet been confirmed, and I am concerned about possible engine failure or loss of power while driving.

Vehicle has 396 miles on the odometer. While preparing to back up, with the engine idling , the engine shut off without warning and I had no control of the steering and would not restart when I attempted to do so. This could have put anyone behind me at sever risk or maybe caused an accident should I have been on the highway. The car was towed to my Ford dealer (varsity Ford, ann arbor, mi) and after inspection they informed the engine had a failure and needed to be replaced and gave me a price of $19,900. No other warning lights or messages prior to complete engine failure.

See all problems of the 2020 Ford Mustang 🔎.

My car has a recall that has to do with the engine possibly shutting off completely while driving normally and there is no remedy or solution for the recall it states in the recall that it may cause an accident. I would like to know what can be done for me because the idea of having to wait for my car to basically just shut off and crash on me seems a little crazy. I would just like to know what my options are!.

2020 Ford Mustang with the 2. 3l ecoboost engine. The vehicle has a documented history of coolant loss with no visible external leak, consistent with the known coolant-intrusion defect in Ford's 2. 3l ecoboost engines where coolant leaks internally into the cylinders. The vehicle previously threw a cylinder misfire code (p0301) and now shows a crankshaft/camshaft timing correlation fault (p0017). A scan tool confirmed the exhaust camshaft is approximately 18–19 degrees out of correlation. A new variable valve timing oil control solenoid was installed and did not resolve the fault, confirming the problem is mechanical — a worn/stretched timing chain. This wear is consistent with the oil dilution and contamination caused by internal coolant intrusion. The problem has been confirmed by an independent service center via scan data. The vehicle is available for inspection. Warning symptoms included the check engine light, a loud rattle on cold startup, and occasional hard/no-start conditions. This is a safety concern because internal coolant loss can cause overheating, cylinder head cracking, and potential engine failure or fire while driving. Repair cost quoted at approximately $2,000. Mileage approximately 54,400.

Head gasket blew, and car overheated immediately on the freeway, with no warning signs, and at only 43,000 miles when a failure like this should not occur. Had to find a place to pull over and be towed to avoid more engine damage. Both independent mechanic and Ford dealership has confirmed this. Official diagnosis is "remove and replace cylinder head assembly and replace head gasket – coolant intrusion cylinder 1, p0316, p0301. ” apparently it's a known issue with this particular engine and has a pending lawsuit.

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Engine coolant leaked into the cylinders. Overheating. Coolant leaked into catalyst. Odb error codes attached . Independent service center replaced short block, see attached invoice. Engine light on.

My 2019 Ford Mustang equipped with the 2. 3l ecoboost engine developed a check-engine light, rough startups, engine misfires/rough running, and some engine knocking. The vehicle had approximately 87,453 miles. I took the vehicle to an authorized Ford dealership for diagnosis. The dealer brought the engine to operating temperature, pressurized the cooling system to 21 psi, removed the ignition coils and spark plugs, and inspected the cylinders with a borescope. The dealer documented coolant intrusion into cylinder #2 due to a failed cylinder head and recommended replacement of the complete long-block engine due to the extent of the damage. The dealer also documented diagnostic trouble codes p0300 and p0316 for misfires, along with p008a and p018c related to low-side fuel pressure. I am concerned that internal coolant intrusion causing misfires, rough operation and engine knocking could result in significant loss of engine power or engine failure while driving, creating a safety hazard, particularly at highway speeds or in traffic. Ford customer relations was notified but declined financial assistance because the vehicle is outside the factory warranty and stated that there is no applicable recall for my vehicle. The vehicle has not been repaired and is available for inspection. The Ford dealership's written diagnostic report and photographs of the cylinder inspection are available.

2019 Ford Mustang with 3. 2 ecoboost engine has coolant intrusion into the engine thru a defectively made engine block. Diagnosed by the Ford dealer in hinesville,GA on August 11,2026. Car has 52,731 miles on it and has always been maintained by the local Ford service department. Car is a daily driver, no abuse or rough driving. Car is available for inspection upon request coolant intrusion can cause sudden engine failure, loss of power and sudden stoppage at any speed. Overheating due to loss of coolant, engine fire, loss of control of the car. Check engine light came on and engine ran rough on cold start up on [xxx] & I then took it in to be checked out by Ford service. Service advisor stated that this coolant intrusion is due to a Ford known defect in the ecoboost engines; but that there has been no recall. Only solution he offered was to have a new replacement engine installed for about $13,500. I declined the replacement. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

2018 with 118,000 miles. Had to get a full block engine replacement due to coolant intrusion into the cylinders. This was diagnosed and replaced at a Ford dealership.

I am filing a formal safety complaint regarding a catastrophic electronic power assisted steering (epas) failure and severe electrical short circuit on my 2015 Ford Mustang. This vehicle is exhibiting hard fault code b137f:09 (steering wheel left switch pack: component failure / short to ground or open). This electronic failure creates an immediate, severe safety hazard that goes entirely outside the scope of normal vehicle wear and tear. While driving, the vehicle's steering wheel pulls and jerks violently on its own, actively fighting my manual steering inputs. Furthermore, this internal electronic short creates a massive parasitic electrical draw that prevents the vehicle's computer modules from entering sleep mode when turned off. This has resulted in the primary vehicle battery draining completely flat and causing the vehicle to completely shut down, stall, or lose total electrical power altogether. A vehicle that forcefully steers itself away from the intended path of travel and suffers total electrical shutdown is a clear, life-threatening safety risk to myself and others on the road. Ford motor company is fully aware of this dangerous defect. They previously issued safety recall 15s18 for a very specific, limited batch of early-production 2015 Mustangs experiencing identical epas failures, replacing their steering gears for free. For the remaining 2015 Mustang owners experiencing the exact same hazardous failure, Ford quietly shifted the issue over to a technical service bulletin (TSB / ssm 51312). By limiting the scope of recall 15s18 purely due to the financial cost of a universal recall, Ford has left an entire population of 2015 Mustang owners in direct harm's way. Some owners received a free lifetime safety fix, while the rest of us are being forced to pay thousands of dollars out-of-pocket to correct an identical factory electronic defect. I request that the NHTSA immediately open an investigation into Ford's handling of the 2015 Mustang epas and more.

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I own a 2020 Ford Mustang ecoboost with approximately 75,000 miles. My vehicle developed a check engine light with diagnostic codes p0300 (random misfire) and p0301 (cylinder 1 misfire). I also began experiencing white smoke from the exhaust during cold starts. An independent repair shop suspects coolant is entering cylinder 1 due to a possible head gasket failure. They have recommended removing the cylinder head to inspect for cracks, check for warping, pressure test the head, inspect the cylinder walls, and replace the head gasket and related components if no further engine damage is found. The vehicle was properly maintained, and these symptoms appeared unexpectedly.

Po442 evaporative emmison system leak. Heat catalyst egr set malfunctions. Primary and secondary a/c system deficiencies.

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See attached document for complaint.

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Breaks went out.

See all problems of the 2003 Ford Mustang 🔎.

Coolant intrusion. This particular motor has caused numerous issues with 2019 & older Ford models, specifically with the 2. 3l ecoboost engines. The Ford motor company should recall & replace the engines of all models affected, mine included. I spent $2200 for a new timing system, tow fees, was broke down on the side of the road when my engine overheated. I bought this car brand new. Financed $27k & owe $3900 right now. Devastated & livid describes how I feel at the present. Coolant intrusion causing hydrolock is a known issue by Ford, and they should make things right with the owners of the vehicles affected. A new motor will cost $6500. That should not be a cost that the customer has to pay.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the engine sputtered with the check engine warning light illuminated. There was heavy white smoke coming from the tailpipe. Upon arriving at the destination, the vehicle hesitated to restart, and the contact observed a significant loss of coolant. The vehicle stalled while driving at various speeds. Upon inspection, the dealer confirmed coolant intrusion in cylinders #2 and #3, resulting in total engine failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was not under recall, and there was no warranty associated with the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired out-of-pocket by the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.

The contact owns a 2025 Ford Mustang. The contact received notification for NHTSA campaign number: 26v122000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the part to complete the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle stalled, jerked forward, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The force of the jerk propelled the contact onto the steering wheel. The vehicle was restarted, and the check engine warning light was no longer illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact stated that the vehicle required several attempts to start on some occasions. A dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that the recall remedy was unavailable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or a dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 14,000.

Check engine light came on, car lost power on highway. Car continues to have the same issue after repairs have been made. Ford app says engine misfire, after every repair. Ford mechanics fix spark plugs, coils, electrical. None of which has fixed the issue of stalling on the highway which poses risk of me the driver and others driving on the highway. The only light that comes on is engine light.

Nelson v. Ford motor company is a class action lawsuit targeting a defect in Ford's 2. 3-liter ecoboost engines. The suit highlights coolant leaks into engine cylinders, overheating, and catastrophic engine failures. I have had my 2016 Ford Mustang ecoboost in and out of mechanic shops for months now accumulating well over $7k in out of pocket expenses. I have been to multiple mechanics trying to diagnose and fix the problem but in the end it was a design flaw in the 2016 Ford Mustang ecoboost 4 cylinder which caused it to leak coolant, misfire, and overheat. I have been having this problem for some time now, this put my safety and the safety of others at risk because I had to slow down dramatically in order to pull over on the freeway due to the engine overheating from coolant loss. I've also experienced problems like trouble starting, rough idling, loss of coolant, and huge clouds of white smoke coming from the exhaust upon start. I have saved every single receipt and invoice breakdown since this problem began. My mechanic has also been documenting everything including taking notes and photographs of every issue. My car is currently in the shop right now being worked on. My mechanic says that he can temporarily patch the problem with a high performance head stud, copper sealant, and an extremeheat metallic repair paste by jb weld to momentarily solve the issue. He says that he does not know how long this patch will last so he is insisting I either get a new car or to see what my options are regarding the class action lawsuit filed against Ford.

I purchased this vehicle cpo and shortly after purchase the vehicle experienced a major mechanical failure involving the clutch/transmission. The vehicle had a prior safety recall (recall #24s36) listed as “completed” before I purchased it. However, the issue has now reoccurred despite that recall being marked as repaired. The dealership is now claiming the failure is due to “wear and tear,” but the failure occurred after only approximately 1,000 miles of driving since purchase, which raises concern that the defect existed prior to sale or that the recall repair was not properly completed. The vehicle is currently unsafe to drive due to the risk of sudden loss of power and drivability issues. I do not feel safe operating the vehicle. I am requesting that this issue be investigated as a potential recall-related defect or improper recall repair, as it poses a safety risk.

See all problems of the 2024 Ford Mustang 🔎.

The car is using a lot of engine coolant and oil. It is also burning the spark plugs. The check engine light comes out 6k miles after I install new spark plugs and it starts shaking, misfiring, running poorly, not accelerating properly and blowing white smoke through the exhaust on cold start. I know the engines have a defect from factory that causes them to do this. It usually needs a new head gasket, block or engine. Please advise. I read a forum that referred me to this website. The car is well taken care of and has 115k miles.

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that it was difficult to start the vehicle. While driving at 30 mph, there was a significant amount of white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipes, reducing the visibility of the rear of the vehicle. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the engine was blown. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.

I was told by my mechanic I have a head gasket leak. Turns out there is a class action lawsuit for my 2. 3 ecoboost motor for this coolant intrusion problem. It is a known problem. It is a safety issue as I’ve heard of some engine fires. My car only has 56000 miles on it but it is a 2018 so just out of the manufacturer warranty. I’ve reached out to Ford but no definitive answer on whether they will help or not they want me to pay them to diagnose it even though I’ve already had it properly diagnosed.

A check engine light turned on and the vehicle was taken to a local dealership. The check engine light was for an engine misfire and was diagnosed further. There was an engine failure due to coolant entering the system. Upon further research, I learned this is a common issue for 2016-2020 Ford Mustangs and it is due to a faulty engine design. The dealership is recommending a new engine install with a price tag of over 13,000 despite this being known to happen because of a badly designed engine with these cars.

The vehicle was subjected to the “ecoboom” due to Ford’s lack of care when designing the engine. The car blew the head gasket and now requires an engine rebuild.

Description on your vehicles engine, one or more of the clips that retain the engines pistons to their connecting rods may be mis-installed or missing. Safety risk a mis-installed clip may result in an audible knocking noise that increases over time. Progression of this issue can lead to piston failure and engine damage, resulting in a loss of motive power and increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy parts are available to repair your vehicle. Ford motor company has authorized your dealer to inspect your vehicles engine for evidence of mis-installedmissing clips. If found, the engine long block assembly will be replaced free of charge. Recall service not available right now. We have a remedy but parts are not available right now. We will inform you when the service is available. Or, you can contact your dealer.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Mustang. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for a routine timing cover replacement. The contact believed the engine was damaged while being serviced. Upon retrieval, the check engine light was illuminated. There was an abnormal ticking noise detected. The vehicle had misfired. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

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1. Component failed and availability for inspection: the engine assembly block failed due to a manufacturing defect known as "coolant intrusion into the cylinders. " the vehicle and the defective engine are currently located at my residence and remain fully available for federal or manufacturer inspection upon request. 2. Safety risk: the safety of myself and others was severely compromised. Coolant entering the combustion chambers causes sudden, severe engine misfires across all cylinders, erratic power loss, and instantaneous stalling. Operating a vehicle where the engine can suddenly lose all power on high-speed roads creates an immediate risk of rear-end collisions and catastrophic traffic accidents. Furthermore, high-pressure internal coolant leaks pose an inherent risk of engine fires. 3. Problem confirmed by a dealer: yes. The problem has been officially diagnosed and confirmed by an authorized Ford dealership service center, which documented internal coolant intrusion. 4. Inspected by manufacturer, police, or insurance: the component was inspected and verified by the vehicle manufacturer's authorized dealership technicians. It has not been inspected by the police or insurance representatives, as no crash has occurred yet. 5. Warning lamps, messages, or symptoms prior to failure: prior to the diagnosis, the vehicle exhibited a "check engine light. " currently, the vehicle is suffering from critical failure symptoms: the check engine light is flashing constantly, the engine misfire codes are actively showing on all 4 cylinders, and the vehicle shakes violently at low rpms (rough idling). These severe symptoms first appeared approximately 2 moths ago and have progressively worsened due to the coolant intrusion.

Description of the defect: my 2019 Ford Mustang ecoboost experienced a premature engine failure caused by internal coolant intrusion, resulting in the need for complete engine replacement. This failure is not related to routine maintenance or a head gasket issue, but rather a known internal engine design defect that allows coolant to intrude into the cylinders over time. The vehicle exhibited symptoms including coolant loss without visible external leaks, rough operation, and engine malfunction. Upon inspection by a Ford dealership, the failure was diagnosed as coolant intrusion into the engine, with the only repair option being long?block (engine) replacement. Ford has acknowledged this failure mode in technical service bulletin (TSB) 19?2346, which documents coolant intrusion in ecoboost engines and states that engine replacement—not head gasket repair—is the required corrective action. This bulletin confirms the issue is caused by an internal design flaw that develops over time. Why this is a safety concern: this defect can lead to sudden engine misfires, loss of power, or complete engine failure while driving, which poses a serious safety risk to vehicle occupants and other road users. Engine failure at highway speeds or during normal driving conditions creates the potential for crashes, loss of vehicle control, or roadside breakdowns in unsafe conditions. The failure occurred at very low mileage (~36,000 miles), indicating a premature and abnormal engine defect, not normal wear and tear. Yes, it is available for inspection upon request. Yes, it is diagnostic and confirmed by autonation Ford bellevue [xxx] direct line: [xxx] no, prior warning and symptoms. First appeared on March 16, 2026. No recall exists despite Ford’s tsbs acknowledging the defect. Ford later redesigned the ecoboost engine, showing awareness of the issue, yet owners are forced to pay for costly engine replacements after warranty expiration. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle's speed did not accelerate above 20 mph. In addition, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion and a failed engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion and a failed engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.