2022 Ford Mustang User Complaints and Problems
The Ford Mustang has been an ace performer in the past couple of years. However, some of the older iterations of the current generation have not been extremely reliable. So, to gauge a perspective of the vehicle’s true potential, it is best to analyze the recurring and most common niggles that have troubled the buyer over the past few years. While most of the complaints are mechanical, the Mustang suffers from minor electrical and structural concerns as well. Listed below are the most common issues reported by the buyers on the NHTSA website.
Safety Complaints
- Non-deployment of airbags: Across the sixth generation of the Ford Mustang, complainants have reported the improper functioning of the airbag system. In a handful of cases, the airbags have failed to deploy in case of a crash. While no fatalities have yet been reported, passengers have sustained injuries in a couple of cases.
Electric System Complaints
- Issues with the air-conditioning system: Due to an evaporator leak, buyers of the coupe have reported a complete failure of the air-con system. While it was a rampant concern in the 2016 iteration, the Ford Mustang air conditioning problems have not recurred in any other model year.
- Improper functioning of the instrument panel cluster: From 2017 to the 2020 iteration, buyers of the Ford Mustang have reported the information cluster screen to lose its power without any prior symptoms. Several users have noticed the screen going blank when the vehicle is in motion. While the functionality recovers in a couple of minutes, the malfunction causes the driver to be devoid of essential information about the vehicle including the fuel levels.
- Malfunctioning rearview camera: The Mustang’s backup camera issues have been largely concerning. Though they were most prevalent in 2017, some buyers of the other iterations have also reported similar problems. When the vehicle is put in reverse, the rearview camera displays a distorted or no image. As a result, drivers remain unaware of their surroundings, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Mechanical Complaints
- Jerky transmission unit: The Ford Mustang coupe comes with an option to choose from a manual or automatic transmission unit. However, both these options have had their fair share of problems. While the automatic transmission suffers from delayed shifting, the manual unit is not the most refined option available in the market.
- Ticking noise from the engine: Across all the model years of the current generation, buyers of the Ford Mustang coupe have reported a ticking noise from the engine bay. While the problem has been extensively reported, there is no known cause for the issue. However, if trusted sources are to be believed, Mustang’s ticking noise could be caused by the slapping of the pistons, which can lead to the failure of the engine if not treated timely.
- Unintended Acceleration: When turning into parking spots or making low-speed turns, buyers of the Ford Mustang have reported the vehicle to accelerate without any input. In two distinct cases, such an unintended acceleration has caused injuries to the passengers, due to the coupe crashing into nearby objects.
- Service Brake failure: Yet another mechanical complaint of the Ford Mustang relates to its braking system. In some cases, buyers have reported the system to lose its capabilities and fail. As a result, the braking potential is reduced, and the vehicle takes longer than the desired distance to come to a halt, increasing the chance of a crash.
The Ford Mustang’s common problems have been well dealt with. From 277 complaints in 2015, the coupe’s performance has improved considerably to just 1 complaint in 2021. However, there are still some issues that have persisted and continue to haunt the buyers of the latest iterations as well. Amongst these, a jerky automatic transmission unit lies at the top of the table.
|
Category
|
Number of complaints
|
|
Structure
|
48
|
|
Suspension
|
11
|
|
Powertrain
|
67
|
|
Miscellaneous Concerns
|
81
|
2022 Ford Mustang Recalls
The new 2022 Mustang finds itself in an almost idealistic position, with no recalls to its names. Even in the previous iterations, the coupe has not been called back excessively. However, since the Mustang has been a part of a similar generation since 2015, it is important to gauge all the recalls of the past iterations to have an understanding of the vehicle’s performance. Listed below are all the recalls started by Ford for its affordable coupe and their implications on the ownership experience.
|
S. No
|
Date
|
NHTSA ID
|
Issues Noticed
|
Additional Remarks
|
|
1.
|
16th Feb 2022
|
22V083000
|
Improper deployment of the side knee airbag
|
Due to an insufficient weld, the side knee airbag might not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of an injury in case of a crash.
|
|
2.
|
16th Dec 2021
|
21V980000
|
The side-curtain airbag might not inflate properly
|
Due to an improper amount of compressed gas, the side curtain airbags might not inflate properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
|
|
3.
|
23rd Sept 2020
|
20V575000
|
Malfunctioning rearview camera
|
Due to a poor electric connection, the rearview camera might not display an image or remain distorted in its operation. As a result, the affected vehicles fail to comply with federal laws.
|
|
4.
|
23rd Sept 2020
|
20V573000
|
Damaged brake pedal
|
In vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, the brake pedal bracket might get damaged in cases of sudden braking. If the bracket were to fracture, the braking capabilities could be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
|
|
5.
|
27th May 2020
|
20V306000
|
Improper calibration of the front-facing camera
|
Due to an improper calibration of the front-facing camera and driver-assistance features, the specifications might not perform their intended functions.
|
|
6.
|
8th May 2020
|
20V763000
|
Short warning messages
|
The “Transmission not in Park” warning message and chime are shorter than intended and might be missed by the driver.
|
|
7.
|
11th Feb 2019
|
19V076000
|
Blank instrument panel cluster
|
When the vehicle is started, the instrument panel cluster might not function as intended and display a blank screen. As a result, the affected vehicles fail to comply with federal laws.
|
|
8.
|
24th May 2018
|
18E035000
|
Possible fuel leak
|
In vehicles equipped with a supercharger kit, the hose barb fittings might have been manufactured incorrectly, increasing the risk of a fuel leak.
|
|
9.
|
4th Apr 2018
|
18V213000
|
Possible loss of park function
|
In vehicles equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission, there might be a missing roll pin in the transmission unit, which can cause a loss of the Park function.
|
|
10.
|
18th Dec 2017
|
17V814000
|
Vehicle may roll away
|
2,100 units of the 2018 Ford Mustang equipped with a 12.4-inch digital cluster and an automatic transmission might be at the risk of a roll away without input, due to lack of a “Transmission out of Park” warning.
|
|
11.
|
28th Aug 2017
|
17V529000
|
Passenger airbag inflator may rupture
|
The passenger airbag inflator might rupture upon deployment in case of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the passengers.
|
|
12.
|
13th Mar 2017
|
17V168000
|
Unlatching of driver’s door
|
Due to the loosening of the return spring, the driver-side door might unlatch in case of a crash. As a result, the affected vehicles fail to comply with federal laws.
|
|
13.
|
26th Oct 2016
|
16V779000
|
Oil leak from engine cooler hose
|
Due to the separation of the hose from the engine oil cooler tube, there might be a risk of an oil leak.
|
|
14.
|
26th Oct 2015
|
15V707000
|
Restraint components may be damaged
|
Due to damaged components including front and rear seats and child seat tether anchors, the occupant might not be properly restrained in case of a crash.
|
Compared to the 2022 Ford Mustang coupe, the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro and 2022 Dodge Challenger deliver class-competing performances and remain unscratched as of the day we write this article. However, with their outgoing iterations, the Mustang proved to be a marginally better option. While Ford had only 1 recall, the 2021 MYs of Chevrolet and Dodge’s coupes were called back 2 and 3 times, respectively.
|
Component Affected
|
2022
|
2021
|
2020
|
2019
|
2018
|
2017
|
2016
|
|
Safety
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
Exterior
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
Electric
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
Interior
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
|
Drive System
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
|
Fuel System
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
|
Engine
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
Which Ford Mustang Coupe model year should you avoid?
Into its sixth generation, the Ford Mustang has improved considerably. While a few of its iterations have been second-rate in their performance, the newer model years, especially the ones introduced after 2019 have carved a niche for themselves with their reliability. However, if we were to recommend a model year to avoid, the 2015 iteration would be our choice. The 2015 Ford Mustang has around 9 recalls and 277 complaints to its name, which does not paint the best picture for the coupe.
Should you buy a used Ford Mustang?
The Ford Mustang has been a part of the market for over a few decades now, yet its popularity seems undying. Even today, the coupe is held in the highest regard by the buyers and finds itself ranking highly on our list. It coalesces performance with luxury and gains ascendancy in the market with its top-notch reliability quotient. So, whether you credit its success to its affordability or unquestionable versatility, even a used Mustang proves to be an enticing choice.
