Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Ford Mustang - part 1

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.

See all problems of the 2020 Ford Mustang 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2019 Ford Mustang 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2018 Ford Mustang 🔎.

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 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.

I was driving down the highway with heater on and defrost. All of a sudden I hear a pop and my car started bogging down. I exited the highway to get out of danger, it then had a wrench light ( transmission) pop up and when I parked the car on the access road it started smoking a lot. I turned the vehicle off immediately and when I seen smoke coming from under the hood and into the cab of the car. I lifted the hood after seeing fire in the passenger wheel well. And then in the engine block towards the windshield in the middle of the engine. I am a fire fighter and it appeared to me that the fire was being fed by some kind of substance. Fort worth fire department showed up and put the fire out and took a report.

See all problems of the 2015 Ford Mustang 🔎.

A steady check engine light came on after starting the car; brought it to Ford dealer of montebello and they stated coolant leak and got into one of the cylinders that caused misfires.

See all problems of the 2021 Ford Mustang 🔎.

The vehicle is a 2022 Ford Mustang ecoboost. While driving in traffic, the engine suddenly stalled and shut off without warning. This created an immediate safety risk as the vehicle lost power in the middle of active traffic flow, requiring me to quickly maneuver to avoid blocking traffic and potential collision. The issue appears consistent with a fuel delivery or fuel pressure failure, as the engine restarted immediately after the stall. Prior to this incident, the vehicle had shown intermittent warning signs including check engine light activation and suspected misfire-related alerts. The problem has not yet been fully reproduced or confirmed by a dealer as a root cause, although the vehicle has been presented for service and was found to have no active recall tied to the VIN according to the dealership. No formal inspection or diagnosis confirming the exact failed component has been completed yet. No police, insurance representatives, or manufacturer inspectors have examined the vehicle at this time. Warning lamps (check engine light) and possible misfire-related symptoms were present prior to the failure. These symptoms appeared intermittently over the weeks leading up to the stall, particularly after periods of low fuel operation. Based on the symptoms and behavior, the incident closely matches known fuel system issues reported in similar Ford Mustang ecoboost vehicles, including those associated with fuel pressure loss leading to engine stall while driving. The suspected system involved is the low-pressure fuel delivery system (fuel pump or related components), which is available for inspection upon request.

See all problems of the 2022 Ford Mustang 🔎.

The component that failed on my ecoboost Mustang 2019 was a failed design in the motor called the head gasket. The head gaskets broke and started leaking coolant into the engine. The engine has 39,000 miles.

Failure to notify/address a known issue during the warranty period vehicle has been serviced in accordance with Ford’s recommended maintenance schedule by joe cooper Ford of edmond, oklahoma, since purchase. At service appointment in September 2025, with 59,968 miles – just prior to the 60k mile powertrain warranty expiration – specifically requested a thorough inspection of any conditions that could potentially be addressed under warranty coverage. During that visit, joe cooper Ford documented that the “coolant was low (at minimum mark) and dirty” and recommended a coolant system fluid exchange. This finding occurred in the context of the well-documented coolant intrusion defect affecting 2017–2020 Ford Mustangs and other Ford models. When an authorized dealer observes conditions consistent with a known defect during the warranty period, reasonable warranty administration requires disclosure and further diagnostic evaluation, so the customer has a meaningful opportunity to pursue timely repair. By January 2026, at only 61,640 miles, were informed our engine had failed. No such disclosure or evaluation was provided. As a result, we were deprived of a reasonable opportunity to address the condition under warranty prior to expiration. The subsequent engine failure occurred after the warranty period but was directly preceded by these unresolved indicators. Under these circumstances, denial of warranty consideration is inconsistent with the purpose of the warranty and reasonable consumer expectations.

Random/multiple misfires and cyl 3 misfire (p0300 and p0303). Mechanic used a borescope and found coolant on the walls; visible coolant intrusion in cylinder 3. Coolant has gotten to low levels. Very rough cold start. Mechanic highly recommends to get the engine replaced.

My cars head gasket blew at only 45,000 miles. Replaced my a local well known mechanic for around $3500. 00. Now my car at 96,000 miles has blown the head gasket again. I believe the car needs a whole new block. I have seen several lawsuits regarding this and just would love my car running again. This is not cheap to fix for me.

See all problems of the 2016 Ford Mustang 🔎.

The head gasket in my 2016 Mustang eco boost failed. I have 126k miles and coolant is leaking into cylinder 2. I’ve always taken care of the maintenance on a timely matter and no modifications have been done.

While driving approximately 45 mph and entering a highway, my 2022 Ford Mustang gt California special suddenly lost power and shut off completely. The engine stalled without warning, creating a dangerous situation with surrounding traffic. I had to coast the vehicle and restart it. This vehicle has an open safety recall (NHTSA recall number 25v455 / Ford recall 25s75) related to a low-pressure fuel pump failure that can cause engine stalling while driving. The recall has been open for several months, and there is currently no available remedy or repair from the manufacturer. The incident I experienced matches the recall description exactly. Despite the known safety risk, the manufacturer has not provided a fix, leaving the vehicle unsafe to operate. I am concerned for my safety and the safety of others due to the risk of repeated engine stalling at highway speeds.

“charge system service now” came on the dash, battery lost power after about 10 seconds, screen went black, dash went black, car locked up, opened the hood and the engine was on fire, called 911 who came quickly and put the fire out without the entire car burning, insurance later total losses the car. I don’t know if it was the battery or the engine responsible for the failure, because the flames were on the engine and not the battery, but the incident was triggered by a battery warning. I was on the interstate driving 60mph when the car shut off and everything including my headlights and even hazard lights went black. Not only could I have been struck by a car on the interstate, I could have died in a car fire. Because the car locked up, I couldn’t open the trunk or use any electronics. The door could have just as easily locked and trapped us inside a burning car. The car is on a salvage yard, no attempt to replicate has been made. Progressive insurance, and columbia fire inspected it and found that it was undetermined. “charge service system now” was the only warning before the infotainment screen shut down to reduce battery usage. Every light on the dash flashed right before everything on the dash went black and power was lost to the entire vehicle.

Have a 2019 Ford Mustang 2dr 2. 3l ecoboost with 59,500 miles which I took to the dealership with a code p0302 and p0304 present, cylinder misfire, observed coolant level low, performed borescope in cylinder 2 and 4, found coolant intrusion, recommend long block engine replacement which would have cost me $10,728. 85. Concern is that the engine can stall suddenly and may cause an accident. Ford motor company knows about these kind of engine issues with ecoboost engines and have not offer any reasonable solutions. Vehicle VIN is the following: [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

When driving the car, the engine temperature light came on, pulled the car over to let it cool down, when cooled, drove home and looked in the engine compartment, found the coolant reservoir empty, filled it with proper coolant, next day the engine light came on, took to o'reilly auto parts to scan code, problem was cylinder #3 misfire, changed out spark plug, noticed that coolant reservoir was low again, searched internet for possible causes when found that many people are having the same issue, turns out Ford manufactured the 2. 3l engines with a faulty design where the cooling leaks into the cylinders "coolant intrusion". The fix that Ford has established for this issue is to replace the engine with a "long block" version, but will not issue a recall. We have contacted Ford and explained the issue, but they will not repair. This should not be happening to a car with only 27,000 miles. Now we are stuck with a car we can't drive and don't have the extra $5,000 plus dollars to replace the engine!.

2016 Ford Mustang 2. 3l ecoboost engine. Coolant intrusion into the cylinder. It's a known issue, an engine block design flaw. Ford was replacing the whole engine when those cars were under warranty. There is extensive content online about it and dozens of class actions.

Imrc actuator rod broke causing the air/fuel mix to be sporadic. Creating a misfire on random cylinders. Major loss of power and very jerky motions, causing the vehicle to loose control. Luckily it was on an open spacious road. Unfortunately this has been an ongoing problem and there is nobody selling updated parts the electronics will recognize and very difficult to find oe replacement parts, real costly. And may fix the issue for a short period of time. I have a brand new manifold off of a same totaled Mustang since Dec 2025 and the same part broke.

My 2018 Ford Mustang ecoboost experienced sudden engine failure at 70,915 miles. The dealership documented misfire codes p0300, p0301, and p0316, which match the known 2. 3l ecoboost coolant-intrusion defect. This defect causes loss of power, rough operation, misfires, and potential stalling, creating a safety risk during driving. Ford customer relationship center instructed me that the dealership must escalate the defect to the regional field service engineer. However, the dealer refused to do so, leaving the failure unresolved. This appears to be part of a widespread safety-related defect involving 2. 3l ecoboost engines, with risk of sudden loss of power, stalling, and internal engine failure.

At about 75k miles my Mustang started misfiring at about 2,500 rpm’s and higher. Turns out it was a blown head gasket. This engine model is prone to what happened to it. Ford should have a recall for these engine and a solution as they’re ticking time bombs. I wish I could drive with the peace of mind of not worrying about it. I couldn’t drive my car for months because of the warranty not even wanting to cover it. The warranty from the used car dealership. Got unlucky.

Ford's 2. 3l ecoboost engine defect that causes coolant to leak into the cylinders, leading to engine failures and potential fire risks.

Purchased just 2 months ago from Ford dealer, after 1 week noticed shimming of engine on cold start, next incident overheat warning, filled with radiator fluid, noticed slow lowering of fluid level, next day car would not start at all. Towed to mechanic in which they report blown head gasket and all 4 cylinders damaged. After searching this site I found others had same complaint but no recalls. Evidently there is a lawsuit, how do I participate so I can get my beautiful car repaired ASAP?.

My 2024 Ford Mustang has been experiencing a serious mechanical issue that the manufacturer has been unable to repair. The vehicle has been at the dealership for an extended period because a defective component cannot be replaced. Ford acknowledged that the required part has not yet been manufactured. The vehicle has remained unresolved for over five months. This creates a potential safety concern because the vehicle cannot be reliably used or repaired.

Blown 2. 3 ecoboost. At approx 4700 miles while driving got an engine light and severe misfire. Report from Ford technician says that part of a spark plug broke off in #4 cylinder and caused severe damage. Motor (long block) and turbo replaced under warranty and after 700 miles is running fine.

I had the coolant gasket problem that resulted in having to get the engine replaced. It was a 202 Mustang ecoboost premium.

Blown head gasket @ 86,000 miles due to block defect. Now I have to either pay to replace the head gasket with the expectation that it will fail again due to the block defect, or replace the whole defective block.

The evaporator is leaking and apparently is a known issue from Ford and they didn't report this. The evaporator core is leaking and it blows hot air for a good amount. It draws a lot of power form the system and drops the rpm below idling. Forcing me to rev a cold engine so that it does not stall out.

There is a coolant intrusion on my vehicle, which resulted in either cracking the engine block or head gasket. In turn, this has caused a costly repair on a car with only 56,000 miles on it. Ford is aware of the issues with these engines and the seals on them. It’s a 2018 ecoboost! it also happened to my mom’s ecoboost around the same mileage. This isn’t normal and Ford is literally turning a blind eye to a very serious issue which results in total engine failure. On top of that the repair for this issue is costing $12,000 to repair at the dealership. This is absolutely absurd for a company as big as Ford, to build a faulty engine and then not offer any support/recalls to help all of those affected by it, including me.

Engine - blown head gasket this is a common issue with these engines and is a costly repair or potential engine failure.

Head gasket failure, specifically corrosion of the engine block. One day the car just did not start at all, with no clear indication of head gasket failure until compression test was ran. Symptoms include coolant levels getting lower each week, with constant refills needed. Random misfires. Smoke randomly emitting from the exhaust when idle. Has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police or insurance.

See all problems of the 2017 Ford Mustang 🔎.