2010 Ford MUSTANG

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Ford MUSTANG has 296 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (61% of all complaints), specifically: braking for traffic signal engine created clunking then whistling noise. it seemed and felt like the engine had fallen onto payment. taking foot off brake the 2010 mustang accelerated on its own. drove home parked called ford and also reported that airbag light passenger airbag light always on. f. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 18 crash reports 15 injuries

296

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

180 complaints

61%

• BRAKING FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL ENGINE CREATED CLUNKING THEN WHISTLING NOISE. IT SEEMED AND FELT LIKE THE ENGINE HAD FALLEN ONTO PAYMENT. TAKING FOOT OFF BRAKE THE 2010 MUSTANG ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. DROVE HOME PARKED CALLED FORD AND ALSO REPORTED THAT AIRBAG LIGHT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ALWAYS ON. F
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH PROCEEDING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN AN OPPOSING VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACTS HEAD STRUCK THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WHICH RESULTED IN CUTS TO THE HEAD AND EYE BROW AREA. THE AIR BA
• BOUGHT A 2010 MUSTANG GT500 CONVERTIBLE ON FEB 18 2010. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TWO OF THE SAME ISSUES WITH PROBLEMS SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO SECOND GEAR AND FIFTH GEAR. IT IS IN THE SHOP NOW FOR THE SECOND TIME TRYING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, IN MARCH, MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY A CAR FROM THE R

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 8 crashes

“BRAKING FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL ENGINE CREATED CLUNKING THEN WHISTLING NOISE. IT SEEMED AND FELT LIKE THE ENGINE HAD FALLEN ONTO PAYMENT. TAKING FOOT OFF BRAKE THE 2010 MUSTANG ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. DROVE HOME PARKED CALLED FORD AND ALSO REPORTED THAT AIRBAG LIGHT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ALWAYS ON. F”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

17 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE HOOD SCOOP WOULD NOT REMAIN PROPERLY SECURED TO THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR
• 2010 FORD MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE. CONSUMER STATES REAR VINYL COVER IS POPPING OUT OF POSITION AS IF IT WERE BEING PUSHED OUT FROM BEHIND. *TGW THE CONSUMER BELIEVED IN TIME, THE BUMPER COVERING WILL COME OUT TO THE POINT, WHERE IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, IF IT FALLS ONTO THE ROAD. *JB
• HOOD PAINT BUBBLING AND CORROSION. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE HOOD SCOOP WOULD NOT REMAIN PROPERLY SECURED TO THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

14 complaints

• BOUGHT A 2010 MUSTANG GT500 CONVERTIBLE ON FEB 18 2010. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TWO OF THE SAME ISSUES WITH PROBLEMS SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO SECOND GEAR AND FIFTH GEAR. IT IS IN THE SHOP NOW FOR THE SECOND TIME TRYING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, IN MARCH, MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY A CAR FROM THE R
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHIFTING INTO THIRD GEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE UNLESS THE VEHICLE WAS ALMOST AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE YET THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE TRACTION CONTROL MO
• I PURCHASED A 2010 FORD MUSTANG ON FEBRUARY 17TH, 2010. ON DECEMBER 14TH, 2010 WITH 12,00 MILES ON THE CAR, GOING NORTHBOUND ON THE HIGHWAY THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY WENT OUT AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. ON DECEMBER 22ND, 2010 THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME WITH THE REPLACED REAR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“BOUGHT A 2010 MUSTANG GT500 CONVERTIBLE ON FEB 18 2010. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TWO OF THE SAME ISSUES WITH PROBLEMS SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO SECOND GEAR AND FIFTH GEAR. IT IS IN THE SHOP NOW FOR THE SECOND TIME TRYING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, IN MARCH, MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY A CAR FROM THE R”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

12 complaints

• BRAKING FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL ENGINE CREATED CLUNKING THEN WHISTLING NOISE. IT SEEMED AND FELT LIKE THE ENGINE HAD FALLEN ONTO PAYMENT. TAKING FOOT OFF BRAKE THE 2010 MUSTANG ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. DROVE HOME PARKED CALLED FORD AND ALSO REPORTED THAT AIRBAG LIGHT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ALWAYS ON. F
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH SHE NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF; HOWEVER, AFTER THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS CONTINUED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. TH
• THE CAR WILL PUT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL WHEN STOPPED, AND WILL REQUIRE AN ACCELERATION TO CAUSE THE CAR TO ENTER FIRST GEAR. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. THIS IS NOT EVERY TIME, BUT IS INCONSISTENT, AND LEADS TO A RISKY SITUATION WHERE THERE MAY BE A MOMENT OF UNRESPONS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

12 complaints

• THIS IS A REQUEST TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE AND ANALYSIS ON ALL FORD MUSTANG AUTOMOBILES. PLEASE INSPECT EQUIPMENT ON MUSTANGS, TIRES, DEFECTS, RECALLS. PLEASE INSPECT FOR 2010 BACK UNTIL AT LEAST 2005. PLEASE HELP TO ENSURE FREQUENT FLUID CHANGES AND NEW AUTOMOTIVE FLUID RECYCLING PROGRAMS ON A ST
• I PURCHASED A 2010 FORD MUSTANG (VIN: [XXX] ) IN APRIL OF 2009. THIS VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH PIRELLI PZERO NERO TIRES THAT WERE MANUFACTURED IN NOVEMBER OF 2008. IN APRIL 2010, I NOTICED CRACKS IN THE RUBBER IN BETWEEN THE TREAD RIBS ON ALL 4 TIRES. THESE TIRES HAD ~17K MILES ON THEM AND WERE 1
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER FANS WERE BUILT WITH A DEFECTIVE MATERIAL WHICH ALLOWED ROAD DEBRIS TO BEND THE FAN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FANS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOOK A COMPLAINT BUT O

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“THIS IS A REQUEST TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE AND ANALYSIS ON ALL FORD MUSTANG AUTOMOBILES. PLEASE INSPECT EQUIPMENT ON MUSTANGS, TIRES, DEFECTS, RECALLS. PLEASE INSPECT FOR 2010 BACK UNTIL AT LEAST 2005. PLEASE HELP TO ENSURE FREQUENT FLUID CHANGES AND NEW AUTOMOTIVE FLUID RECYCLING PROGRAMS ON A ST”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 296 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: BRAKING FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL ENGINE CREATED CLUNKING THEN WHISTLING NOISE. IT SEEMED AND FELT LIKE THE ENGINE HAD FALLEN ONTO PAYMENT. TAKING FOOT OFF BRAKE THE 2010 MUSTANG ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. DROVE HOME PARKED CALLED FORD AND ALSO REPORTED THAT AIRBAG LIGHT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ALWAYS ON. F
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE HOOD SCOOP WOULD NOT REMAIN PROPERLY SECURED TO THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: BOUGHT A 2010 MUSTANG GT500 CONVERTIBLE ON FEB 18 2010. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TWO OF THE SAME ISSUES WITH PROBLEMS SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO SECOND GEAR AND FIFTH GEAR. IT IS IN THE SHOP NOW FOR THE SECOND TIME TRYING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, IN MARCH, MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY A CAR FROM THE R
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: BRAKING FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL ENGINE CREATED CLUNKING THEN WHISTLING NOISE. IT SEEMED AND FELT LIKE THE ENGINE HAD FALLEN ONTO PAYMENT. TAKING FOOT OFF BRAKE THE 2010 MUSTANG ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. DROVE HOME PARKED CALLED FORD AND ALSO REPORTED THAT AIRBAG LIGHT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ALWAYS ON. F
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)