Ford Mustang - Problems, Statistics, and Analysis

Ford Mustang owners have reported a total of 9,476 problems for their cars built in the 30 model years listed in the chart below. The chart shows the number of problems reported across all service years for each given model year of the Ford Mustang. The 2005 Ford Mustang cars have the most problems reported (997 problems).

Table 1. Total number of problems by model year for Ford Mustang

🔍 Common problems of Ford Mustang

The following chart shows the 32 most common problems for Ford Mustang cars. The number one most common problem is related to the vehicle's air bags (2,419 problems). The second most common problem is related to the vehicle's engine and engine cooling (1,081 problems).

Table 2. Common problems of Ford Mustang

Problem Category Number of Problems
  Air Bag
2,419
  Engine And Engine Cooling
1,081
  Power Train
952
  Electrical System
850
  Equipment
517
  Vehicle Speed Control
483
  Structure
414
  Service Brakes
404
  Other Fuel System
276
  Gasoline Fuel System
254
   
  Seat Belt
244
  Steering
225
  Suspension
186
  Back Over Prevention
171
  Exterior Lighting
136
  Visibility
134
  Parking Brake
133
  Tire
112
  Seats
107
  Unknown Or Other
95
  Wheel
85
  Latches/locks/linkage
74
  Electronic Stability Control
64
  Forward Collision Avoidance
25
  Lane Departure
15
  Traction Control System
7
  Air Brake
5
 
2
  Interior Lighting
2
  Child Seat
2
  Diesel Fuel System
1
  None
1

📉 Compare Reliability Across Model Years Using PPMY Index

It would not be fair to compare the Ford Mustang of an older model year to newer model years since older vehicles have been in service longer and thus are expected to have more problems. In order to compare the reliability across Mustang model years, we use the PPMY index which is defined as the problems reported per thousand vehicles per Year. A smaller PPMY index indicates greater reliability of the given model year cars.

    PPMY = P / S / Y * 1000,

where P = total problems reported during the life of a Ford Mustang model year; S = total units sold of the model year; Y = years since the debut of the model year (the age of the vehicle).

The results are shown in Table 3.

Table 3. Use PPMY Index to Compare Reliability Across Mustang Model Years

Mustang
Model Year
Problems Sales [1] Vehicle
Age
PPMY Index
  2022 6244,7884    
0.35
  2021 6849,6165    
0.27
  2020 15773,6226    
0.36
  2019 17483,6587    
0.30
  2018 21768,9138    
0.39
  2017 311102,5779    
0.34
  2016 464110,37410    
0.42
  2015 609118,27711    
0.47
  2014 422121,48812    
0.29
  2013 32376,24513    
0.33
  2012 56980,93214    
0.50
  2011 57162,15915    
0.61
  2010 28873,71316    
0.24
  2009 20342,59117    
0.28
  2008 37699,95518    
0.21
  2007 692159,77719    
0.23
  2006 635154,27420    
0.21
  2005 997146,29821    
0.32
  2004 132135,97022    
0.04
  2003 206144,03123    
0.06
  2002 185134,08324    
0.06
  2001 241155,61625    
0.06
  2000 382203,69826    
0.07

📊 Number of Problems Reported During the First Year

Another way to measure the reliability across the model years of the Ford Mustang is to use the total number of problems reported during the vehicle's first year in service, as shown in the Table 4.

Table 4. Number of problems in vehicle's; first service year

Model YearProblems Reported
  2025 Mustang
8
  2024 Mustang
41
  2023 Mustang
10
  2022 Mustang
4
  2021 Mustang
9
  2020 Mustang
19
  2019 Mustang
15
  2018 Mustang
19
  2017 Mustang
16
  2016 Mustang
52
  2015 Mustang
77
  2014 Mustang
45
  2013 Mustang
20
  2012 Mustang
53
  2011 Mustang
153
  2010 Mustang
19
  2009 Mustang
14
  2008 Mustang
28
  2007 Mustang
52
  2006 Mustang
58
  2005 Mustang
95
  2004 Mustang
18
  2003 Mustang
65
  2002 Mustang
26
  2001 Mustang
51
  2000 Mustang
75
  1999 Mustang
38
  1998 Mustang
49
  1997 Mustang
22
  1996 Mustang
36


Mustang Service Bulletins
Mustang Safety Recalls
Mustang Defect Investigations
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