Power Train Problems of Ford Mustang - part 1

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.

See all problems of the 2020 Ford Mustang 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2019 Ford Mustang 🔎.

Was driving my vehicle roughly 10-15mph after a stop, noticed vehicle wasn’t shifting into the gears properly as it was only in 2nd gear and the rpms kept climbing, when it finally shifted into 3rd gear my transmission proceeded to lockup cause my rear tires to skid and stop in the middle of traffic and in the middle of an intersection disrupting the flow of traffic. Vehicle displayed a wrench light on the dash saying “see manual” as related to a powertrain issue. Vehicle is in limp mode and barely drives, any shifting after 1st gear will cause the vehicle to lockup and lose all power for several seconds. Only has 28,330 miles, did not reach the first service interval for maintenance on the transmission.

See all problems of the 2018 Ford Mustang 🔎.

Clutch assembly failed, the metal bracket weld cracked/failed resulting in the clutch pedal being inoperable. It's not available for inspection since I had it replaced and the defective assembly disposed of. My safety was at risk since I had extreme difficulty shifting gears on the road. The issue was confirmed at an independent service center - aamco of huntsville, al. No other entity inspected the part. The vehicle gave me no warning or indication of a problem other than the difficulty with starting and operating it.

See all problems of the 2015 Ford Mustang 🔎.

My car has always been a little rough on shifting since around 40k miles when I got it. I never really noticed after awhile and never had any problems. No lights flashing or codes no issues with anything under the hood. The other day my trans light popped on, but nothing was wrong the car was still driving fine. I took it in to get looked at the first shop said no codes were popping up and then I took it to another and they said the whole transmission now needs to be replaced. I went to look around and apparently a lot of people have issues with the transmission on the 2020.

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.

See all problems of the 2025 Ford Mustang 🔎.

While completing a turn at a t-intersection, the vehicle experienced a complete loss of motive power for several seconds, leaving the car stationary in the path of oncoming traffic. The transmission (10r80) failed to engage, a known symptom of internal cdf drum sleeve failure (TSB 24-2254). This follows a 'green' inspection by a dealer on March 23rd where an axle seal leak and shifting issues were overlooked. The failure to engage gear during a turn creates an unreasonable risk of a t-bone collision.

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 🔎.

My vehicle would suddenly downshifted to first, constantly seek for gears, loss of traction from not finding gears, and transmission died at 120k miles.

Rebuilt transmissions are bad. Two in the last four weeks have been placed in my 2019 California special edition Mustang, and both are bad. They both came from the Ford manufacturer. The transmission locks up at any point while driving at any speed, causing the car to jerk to a standstill, and only while you are driving. We were on 465, and the car automatically stopped in the middle of the highway while other vehicles were flying by and behind me. We were almost hit by several vehicles. This also occurred while the mechanic test drove the car with the second rebuilt transmission placed in my car. No warnings, nothing before this occurred. This is a huge safety hazard and risk for many. The dealership is aware and advised me to contact Ford motor company and not to drive my car until something can be done. I have contacted Ford motor company, and they have yet to do anything or reach back out to me regarding this safety issue. The car is available for inspection at any time needed since it is still sitting at the dealership with the second rebuilt transmission in it that is no good.

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.

My 2020 Ford Mustang ecoboost has a (p008a) and (po18b/po18c) the fuel pressure fuel system you low and fuel pressure sensor b is a well documented defects and has a customer satisfaction program 21n10 (or related tsbs). The dealer said there are no recalls under my VIN number and vehicle was not repaired. I sent a certified letter to Ford March 29, 2026 to Ford motor company and I have had no response. 2015 thru 2022 Mustangs have this well known defect. I am not sure why the 2020 Mustang has not been issued a recall. It's the same identical part as the other years Mustangs that have been recalled.

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 🔎.

I am filing a safety complaint regarding an open manufacturer recall on my vehicle that has not been completed despite being scheduled for repair. On or about 2/16/2026, I scheduled the recall repair with an authorized dealership/service center. The repair was accepted and scheduled; however, the repair has not been completed to date. It has now been approximately 50 days (or more) since the scheduled appointment, and the recall remedy remains unresolved. Despite multiple attempts to follow up, the repair has not been performed, and no reasonable timeline has been provided for completion. This ongoing delay leaves the vehicle in an unrepaired condition subject to a known safety-related recall issue. Safety concern: the unresolved recall defect presents a potential safety risk, as the manufacturer has identified the issue as significant enough to warrant a recall. The continued delay in remedy increases the risk of operating a vehicle with a known safety defect. Dealer / manufacturer response: •recall repair was scheduled and acknowledged by the dealer - suburban Ford of ferndale. •repair has not been completed after an extended period. •no adequate resolution timeline has been provided. •communication regarding the delay has been insufficient. Impact: •vehicle remains in an unsafe or potentially unsafe condition. •loss of use / inability to rely on manufacturer recall remedy. •unreasonable delay in addressing a safety recall. Requested action: I am requesting that NHTSA: •review this matter as a potential failure to timely remedy a safety recall •ensure the manufacturer and/or dealer fulfills its obligations to complete the recall repair promptly •investigate whether systemic delays or failures are occurring in the recall remedy process additional notes: this issue is not merely about the existence of a recall, but rather the failure to complete a scheduled recall repair within a reasonable timeframe after acceptance by the dealership.

This is a safety risk: transmission oil cooler leaking oil is leaking hard out of the transmission oil cooler, that sits underneath the car. This oil is being sprayed onto exhaust system generating oil smoke and potentially a fire hazard, when hot oil hits warm exhaust pipes.

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.

January 22, 2025 Ford case #chx-06716816-4w0c0 approval code: mspa699834 this vehicle was bought on June 26, 2020 with a 3 year 36,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty along with a 5 year 60,000 mile power train warranty. It has been regularly serviced by Ford dealership as documented on Ford's records. The following dates are documented Ford service and complaints of hard shifts by customer yet no work was done. July 21, 2022, 10,239 miles on vehicle. Under the bumper to bumper warranty. February 28, 2023, 14067 miles on vehicle. Under the bumper to bumper warranty. March 10, 2025. 26,088 miles on vehicle. Under the power train warranty. January 13, 2026. 30,000 miles on vehicle. 5. 4 months, 60,000 miles for power train. * January 9th brought in to spring hill Ford, for same issue, but no transmission tech available for 4 months as stated by service. Brought to flammer Ford in tarpon springs for transmission issue on Jan 13, 2026. Dealership states: transmission is bad and needs necessary rebuild. **previous technical bulletins have been sent out by Ford prior to customer complaints date of shifting concerns in 2022. The latest, most in-depth bulletin is dated may 26, 2023 on this very issue. Ford first denied to to "outt of warrenty. 2nd offered to cover an approximate 70% of repair. Final offer to cover 75% of repair. This is not acceptable by customer. Reasoning: with multiple complaints of issue to Ford dealership service, over multiple time periods, all withing the warranty period, customer request Ford to honor the warranty coverage. This was denied.

My 2019 Ford Mustang ecoboost premium fastback is having an issue with the transmission. When I shift from park to reverse or from reverse to drive, the car makes a clunking noise. There are times when I do a doubletake in my rear view mirror to see if someone has hit me in the back, this happens sometimes when I shift into reverse. Also, I have to stay back at least a car length behind vehicles as the car will sometimes lunges forward which can cause an accident. Will be taking my vehicle into service for this problem.

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.

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.

See all problems of the 2016 Ford Mustang 🔎.

The contact owns a 1965 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle unintendedly reversed on an incline of a parking lot and struck another parked unoccupied vehicle. There was no injury sustained. The contact stated that the vehicle was not designed with air bags. The vehicle sustained fenders, bumpers, and paint damage. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had unintendedly shifted from park(p) to reverse(r). The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000. The VIN was not available.

See all problems of the 2000 Ford Mustang 🔎.

While driving up hill in low gear, the vehicle suddenly will jerk, a service light will come on, and a powertrain warning will occur. When this happens, it warns that the pre-collision assist is unavailable, as well as the exhaust mode selection. Once this occurs, the vehicle becomes much more difficult to drive as the rev match no longer occurs, the vehicle no longer increases revs as you start releasing the clutch, and when in gear it becomes more jerky as you are driving along. I don't have the experience but I suspect it is essentially in a low power mode with minimal computer aid. After being able to pull off and turn the car off for a number of minutes (not off and on as that does not resolve it), the vehicle returns to normal. This has happened twice now while driving on the same section of roadway in almost the exact same spot. I previously called the dealer after the first time and they told me if it happens again to bring it in. They did not seem interested in looking at it. I will be hopefully doing that tomorrow. I am not sure if it is related, but the vehicle did seem like it was running rich earlier in the day (a slight smell of gas when driving by).

See all problems of the 2023 Ford Mustang 🔎.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to a low gear. The check engine warning light illuminated and remained illuminated after the first failure. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, restarted, and the contact continued driving. The contact stated that during the last failure, while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the residence, and a hand-held diagnostic machine retrieved dtc: p1500. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 138,000.

See all problems of the 2014 Ford Mustang 🔎.

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.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly came to a stop while attempting to shift to second gear. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving in second gear, which required the contact to release the accelerator pedal before the vehicle could shift to second gear. The vehicle was taken to o'reilly’s, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

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.

The vehicle jolts when placed from park or reverse to drive after being driven 30 or more minutes or driving 10+ miles. I had previously sent it to 3 different dealerships and only one was able to temporarily resolve the issue. They had to adjust the issue through a computer system. However, after 6-12 months, it is happening again. I feel that is a property or safety issue for drivers because, the transmission or shift change makes the vehicle jump forward and if not carefully could possibly hit another vehicle or person that passes through the front side of the vehicle.

Description of the issue: the transmission has a recurring problem with shifting. When placing the vehicle into reverse, it engages with a harsh and sudden jerk. When shifting from reverse to drive, there is a noticeable delay in engagement before the vehicle responds. These problems occur under normal operating conditions and are repeatable. Safety risk: this creates a significant safety hazard. The harsh jerking when shifting into reverse can cause unintended movement, risking collisions or injury. The delayed engagement when shifting into drive leaves the driver vulnerable in traffic situations (such as backing out of parking spaces or entering traffic), increasing the chance of an accident. Inspection/confirmation: the issue has been reproduced and confirmed by the dealership. However, it has not been permanently resolved. Ford has issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) addressing this known transmission problem through a software update. Manufacturer/dealer involvement: when the vehicle was already connected to Ford’s diagnostic system for a body control module recall, the dealer refused to apply the available TSB update for the transmission without charging an additional $280 “diagnostic” fee. This was despite the fact that Ford has officially acknowledged the issue and issued a TSB to address it. No permanent fix has been provided. Availability for inspection: the vehicle and transmission are available for inspection upon request.

VIN: [xxx] recall data refreshed on Aug 09,2025 0 unrepaired recalls associated with this VIN transmission main control valve body replacement recall incomplete information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

My vehicle experienced a blown head gasket due to a faulty engine block design at 56k miles. The car started running rough for 10 seconds upon a cold start up and was also misfiring. This is due to coolant intrusion through the gasket and it got into cylinder 3 which could have caused catastrophic engine failure or worse. There are several class-action lawsuits against Ford for the defect. Ford has not taken any steps to address this issue with the ecoboost engines on 2015-2019 models. Additionally, Ford did not provide relief to me and I had to pay out of pocket to fix this.

I have a 2018 Mustang gt with the 10r80 transmission. The transmission started giving me problems like slamming and slipping while shifting and sometimes jumping in and out of gear when drinking in the highway. The problem came from an engineering is with the cdf drum. . . Ford has updated the cdf drum and has fixed the problem. Ford never issues a recall to fix this problem with the vehicles produced with this issue but instead just used the updated production parts in the later models leaving the customers like myself to have to either pay out of pocket or rely on a warranty or after market warranty company to have this very expensive issue fixed. Right now as I am writing this, my car is in the transmission shop. Please help me. When I did a google search of the cdf drum issue, this is what was quoted: "the 2018 Ford Mustang gt with the 10r80 transmission can experience issues with the cdf (clutch-drum-forward) drum, specifically with its bushing. This problem can lead to slippage, harsh shifting, and potential transmission failure. Ford has addressed this issue with design revisions to the cdf drum, including adding a lip to the bushing to prevent it from moving and causing fluid leaks. ".

Vehicle stalled while pulling into traffic from apartment driveway.

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the transmission, on occasion, did not shift into second and third gear. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed clutch pad. The contact was informed that the clutch pad needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure and did not assist. The contact was informed to contact the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.

See all problems of the 2011 Ford Mustang 🔎.

Car has delayed shifting and is still down shifting when the car has already stopped. 2011-2012 Mustangs have some extended coverage for this problem. 16n02. My 2013 was manufactured at flat rock in 2012 but not covered.

See all problems of the 2013 Ford Mustang 🔎.

The 10-speed automatic transmission on my 2020 Mustang failed internally at approximately 18,073 miles. The vehicle began shifting harshly at low speeds with an intermittent clunk. While driving, the transmission would slip slightly and then either surge forward or hesitate with a dull thud before engaging. The behavior was unpredictable and worsened over time. No warning lamp ever appeared and no diagnostic trouble codes were stored, so the driver gets no advance notice of this condition. This is a safety hazard when pulling into traffic, turning across an intersection, or merging. When power arrives late, abruptly, or not at all, the driver cannot judge a gap in traffic reliably. An authorized Ford dealer verified the concern on a test drive, confirmed the vehicle failed the cdf clutch cylinder leak test, and documented an internal tapping noise in drive and reverse. Fluid level was in spec. The dealer performed Ford TSB 25-2475, which addresses harsh and delayed shifting on this transmission: the unit was removed, torn down on the bench, the cdf cylinder replaced, and the unit reassembled and reinstalled. It did not correct the concern. The dealer's written notes state the concern was still present, the TSB did not cure it, and the transmission has an internal failure requiring replacement. Independent transmission specialists I consulted all recommended full replacement rather than rebuild, citing known problems with this transmission in this model year. Ford has revised multiple technical service bulletins on harsh and delayed shifting for this transmission over several years. My vehicle failed at roughly 18,000 miles, far under the 60,000-mile powertrain warranty limit, but Ford declined assistance because the five-year time limit had passed.