MODELYEARINDEX

Which Ford Mustang years to avoid

Across 12 scored model years, the 2012, 2014 and 2015 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Ford Mustang Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2012 vs model median 2.1×
Model median3× median
Drivetrain 103
Airbags & Restraints 83
Engine 24
Avoid

2012 · 2014

Best

2010 · 2021

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
0.41× 59 B
2011
1.85× 322 F
2012
2.14× 345 F
2013
1.11× 197 C
2014
1.93× 323 F
2015
1.72× 230 F
2016
1.32× 192 D
2017
0.85× 129 C
2018
0.62× 106 B
2019
0.57× 84 B
2020
0.89× 100 C
2021
0.34× 50 B
2022 P
0.48× 74 B
2023 P
0.27× 28 B
2024 P
0.75× 119 C
2025 P
0.13× 20 B

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2012 F 345 reports · median 20,750 mi

  1. Drivetrain 103

    The car will not shift into reverse unless the transmission has reached full operating temperature. If you don't leave it in reverse overnight, you simply have to wait for the car to reach that temperature to back out… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Airbags & Restraints 83

    2012 mustang is a rental vehicle from avis/budget group that I have been assigned to repair. It was rented out and returned with all 4 airbags deployed. Customer seemed truthful. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Engine 24

    The contact owns a 2012 ford mustang. The contatc stated that the vehicle would suddenly lose power whenever it accelerated above 4500 RPMS. The engine would exhibit a loss of power, but would not stall. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

22 crash · 2 fire · 7 injuries

2014 F 323 reports · median 11,030 mi

  1. Airbags & Restraints 218

    I was t boned in the passenger door the kid that hit was probably traveling at about 55 .. Y car was totaled and not one air bag deployed . The light is on like they did but not one came out. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Drivetrain 14

    The contact owns a 2014 ford mustang. The contact stated that while stopped with the vehicle engaged in the accessory mode, she was able to move the gear shifter into reverse, causing her to crash into another… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Body & Interior 14

    Cpsc: x1450985a. 2014 ford mustang. Consumer stated the car have been giving her multiple problems since she bought it. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

29 crash · 1 fire · 25 injuries

The best year for the Mustang

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2021 is the best-scoring Mustang model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 76.4 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2021 0.34× 50 B
2010 0.41× 59 B
2018 0.62× 106 B

Recalls

58 campaigns on record, 6 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
20V331000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH 2015 2,147,323
16V643000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH 2015 2,046,297
16V384000 Park it AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010, 2011 1,892,343
25V572000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2015–2019 1,456,417
25V695000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2020 1,448,655
25V315000 BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE 2024 1,076,138
15V319000 Park it AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010–2014 1,018,622
25V455000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2021, 2022 850,318
19V001000 Park it AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010–2014 782,384
17V024000 Park it AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2012 654,695
20V575000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2020 620,246
25V614000 SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER 2015–2017 332,778

+ 46 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2012 were reported at a median of 20,750 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Ford Mustang years should you avoid?
2012, 2014, 2015 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Ford Mustang model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Ford Mustang?
2021 is the best-scoring Ford Mustang model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 76.4 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Ford Mustang have?
58 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Ford Mustang model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2012 Mustang
Complaints in window
345
Severity-weighted
488.5
Model median (weighted)
228
vs model median
2.14×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
13
Open investigations
0
Score 31.4 F