2011 Ford MUSTANG

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Ford MUSTANG has 583 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 7.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (35% of all complaints), specifically: rough, clunky shift, especially in cold condition. *tr. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 19 crash reports 16 injuries

583

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

7.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

203 complaints

35%

• ROUGH, CLUNKY SHIFT, ESPECIALLY IN COLD CONDITION. *TR
• WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS COLD (BELOW 35 DEGREES) 1ST, 2ND AND 3RD GEARS ARE EXTREMELT DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE. I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLE AND HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED TWICE WHEN TRYING TO ENGAGE 2ND GEAR IN MY NEW 2011 FORD MUSTANG. I HAVE VISITED KEITH HAWTHORNE FORD ONCE FOR SERVIC
• OCCASIONAL AND SOMETIMES SEVERE SHUDDER/VIBRATION WHEN DOWNSHIFTING, PARTICULARLY WHEN GOING DOWN HILL, FELT THROUGHOUT THE CAR, SEAT AND SHIFTER. WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT FEELS LIKE THE VIBRATION IS IN THE DRIVETRAIN AREA. SEEMS LIKE IT ALWAYS HAPPENS ABOVE 40MPH. THE SHUDDER/VIBRATION CLOSELY RESEM

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

“ROUGH, CLUNKY SHIFT, ESPECIALLY IN COLD CONDITION. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

125 complaints

21%

• 2011 FORD MUSTANG V-6 AFTER OWNING FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS, WE NOTICED THAT ON OCCASION THE "PASS AIR BAG' LIGHT IN THE OVERHEAD WOULD FLICKER ON INDICATION THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DISABLED. AFTER A FEW WEEKS, THE LIGHT BECAME MORE CONSISTENT TO THE POINT THAT IT WOULD REMAIN ON FOR THE MAJ
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2011 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 100 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO 5TH GEAR. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR ALSO PERIODICALLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPA
• WHEN I AM BRAKING AT ABOUT 3-5 MPH THE CAR WILL LUNGE FORWARD (FEELS LIKE I WAS REAR ENDED BUT NO CARS BEHIND ME) OCCASIONALLY I WILL GO TO ACCELERATE AND CAN'T GET ABOVE 15 MPH I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON THEN IT'S FINE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT OFF FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT WILL COME ON EVEN W

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 9 crashes

“2011 FORD MUSTANG V-6 AFTER OWNING FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS, WE NOTICED THAT ON OCCASION THE "PASS AIR BAG' LIGHT IN THE OVERHEAD WOULD FLICKER ON INDICATION THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DISABLED. AFTER A FEW WEEKS, THE LIGHT BECAME MORE CONSISTENT TO THE POINT THAT IT WOULD REMAIN ON FOR THE MAJ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

55 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE AFTER MARKET PROGRAMMER AND AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE EXHIBITED AN INTERNAL MOTOR FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WA
• 2011 MUSTANG GT WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION- INABILITY TO SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR. IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS I WAS STUCK SLOWING DOWN INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. THE CAR IS BEEN IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES. ALSO HAS SEVERE KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE THAT GOES WAY AFTER 5 MINUTES. FORD STATES THIS IS PISTON R
• HEADING UP A HILL AND HEARD A LOUD GRINDING SOUND. CAR STOPPED IN PLACE AND WOULD NOT GO ANYWHERE WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS. TRIED PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE AND WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. ALSO TRIED PUTTING IN NEUTRAL AND IT STILL WOULD NOT MOVE. HAD CAR TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE DEPARTME

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE AFTER MARKET PROGRAMMER AND AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE EXHIBITED AN INTERNAL MOTOR FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

39 complaints

• DRIVER WAS LEAVING PARKING LOT OF BANK, WHEN SHE STATES GAS PEDAL STUCK. SHE CROSSED 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND STRUCK A BUILDING. DRIVER LATER SUCCUMBED TO INJURIES. *TR
• WHILE TURNING LEFT AT A LIGHT APPLICATION OF GAS PEDDLE PRODUCED NO EFFECT, CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FOR THREE SECONDS THAN LURCH FORWARD. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE WHO LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE THROTTLE BODY.

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

“DRIVER WAS LEAVING PARKING LOT OF BANK, WHEN SHE STATES GAS PEDAL STUCK. SHE CROSSED 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND STRUCK A BUILDING. DRIVER LATER SUCCUMBED TO INJURIES. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

26 complaints

• WHILE TURNING LEFT AT A LIGHT APPLICATION OF GAS PEDDLE PRODUCED NO EFFECT, CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FOR THREE SECONDS THAN LURCH FORWARD. *TR
• WHEN SLOWING DOWN I NOTICE THE CAR HAS A DELAYED DOWN SHIFT ALMOST LIKE A HIT FROM THE BACK, I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCE THIS TYPE OF RIDE UNLESS THE CAR HAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES, I REALLY HOPE THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM THE CAR IS ONLY 2 YRS OLD AND THE WARRANTY IS GONE ON IT, I HAVE READ IN THE FORUMS ONLINE
• BAD SHIFT QUALITY,RADICAL SHIFTING, TAKE OFF JERK OR TRYING TO STALL AT TAKE OFF ON 6R80 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. FORWARD MOTION WITH BRAKE APPLIED AT STOP SOMETIMES. REAR END POPS AND JERKS LOUDLY WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPEN. BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS NOW. HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR THESE REASONS 8 TI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHILE TURNING LEFT AT A LIGHT APPLICATION OF GAS PEDDLE PRODUCED NO EFFECT, CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FOR THREE SECONDS THAN LURCH FORWARD. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 583 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: ROUGH, CLUNKY SHIFT, ESPECIALLY IN COLD CONDITION. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: 2011 FORD MUSTANG V-6 AFTER OWNING FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS, WE NOTICED THAT ON OCCASION THE "PASS AIR BAG' LIGHT IN THE OVERHEAD WOULD FLICKER ON INDICATION THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DISABLED. AFTER A FEW WEEKS, THE LIGHT BECAME MORE CONSISTENT TO THE POINT THAT IT WOULD REMAIN ON FOR THE MAJ
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE AFTER MARKET PROGRAMMER AND AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE EXHIBITED AN INTERNAL MOTOR FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: DRIVER WAS LEAVING PARKING LOT OF BANK, WHEN SHE STATES GAS PEDAL STUCK. SHE CROSSED 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND STRUCK A BUILDING. DRIVER LATER SUCCUMBED TO INJURIES. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)