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Ford

2013 Ford MUSTANG

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Ford MUSTANG has 325 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.1x the segment average of 296. The most common issue is air bags problems (45% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owned a 2013 ford mustang. the contact's vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle while idling at a stop sign. the driver side air bag deployed, but the passenger side air bag did not deploy. both the driver and the passenger suffered injuries and were transported to the hospital fo. There are 6 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 14 crash reports 10 injuries

325

Total Complaints

6

Recalls Issued

4/5

Safety Stars

1.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

AIR BAGS

145 complaints
45%
  • TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE IDLING AT A STOP SIGN. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FO
  • ON FEBRUARY 24, 2013, I WAS INVOLVED IN A "FENDER BENDER" IN MY BRAND NEW 2013 FORD MUSTANG WHERE I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. ALTHOUGH THE COLLISION WAS MINOR, AND THE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END WAS MINIMAL, THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND SIDE PANEL AIRBAGS BOTH DEPLOYED. T
  • TURNED VEHICLE TO THE LEFT OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, PRESSED ON ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND, BACK END FISHTAILED, SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL TO TRY TO DECREASE THE SPIN OF THE TIRES, PUMPED THE BRAKES, OVER CORRECTED AND HIT A PARKED VEHICLE AT BETWEEN 15 TO 20 MILES PER HOUR. ONLY ONE PERSON IN
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 9 crashes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE IDLING AT A STOP SIGN. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FO

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2013 Ford MUSTANG

Based on 159 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 41K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage
0-30K
65
30-60K
38
60-100K
37
100-150K
13
150-200K
3
200K+
3

TRANSMISSION

In line with typicalmedian 57K mi · 36 reports
0-30K
12
30-60K
8
60-100K
11
100-150K
3
150-200K
1
200K+
1

AIR BAGS

In line with typicalmedian 25K mi · 21 reports
0-30K
13
30-60K
6
60-100K
1
100-150K
1
150-200K
0
200K+
0

FUEL SYSTEM

In line with typicalmedian 50K mi · 10 reports
0-30K
3
30-60K
3
60-100K
2
100-150K
2
150-200K
0
200K+
0

BODY/STRUCTURE

In line with typicalmedian 21K mi · 8 reports
0-30K
6
30-60K
1
60-100K
1
100-150K
0
150-200K
0
200K+
0

SUSPENSION

In line with typicalmedian 5K mi · 5 reports
0-30K
5
30-60K
0
60-100K
0
100-150K
0
150-200K
0
200K+
0

ENGINE

Later than typicalmedian 52K mi · 19 reports
0-30K
5
30-60K
6
60-100K
5
100-150K
3
150-200K
0
200K+
0

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (6)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE07/01/2019

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Ford is also recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2010-2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, and 2010-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 19S01.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2013 Ford MUSTANG

Live EIA prices
Per year
$2,401
Per month
$200
Per mile
20.0¢
MPG
20
City driving (worst-case MPG)
$3,201/yr
Highway driving (best-case MPG)
$1,600/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today
Current
$4.00
5-year low
$2.78
5-year high
$5.01
Since 2021
+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2013 Ford MUSTANG

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.
Full coverage / year
$2,339
Full coverage / month
$195
Liability only / year
$778
vs US avg
+40%
How this estimate is calculated
US base full-coverage premium$1674
× state (US)1.00x
× vehicle class (coupe-muscle)1.55x
× theft risk1.00x
× safety rating0.98x
× vehicle age0.92x
= Full coverage estimate$2339

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Ford MUSTANG Service Intervals

Oil change
8K mi / 12 mo
Tire rotation
8K mi
Brake fluid
36 months
Transmission fluid
30K mi
Engine coolant
100K mi
Spark plugs
100K mi
Cabin air filter
20K mi
Engine air filter
30K mi
Differential (AWD/4WD)
30K mi

IOLM (Intelligent Oil Life Monitor) may signal earlier. Older 5.4L Triton engines have specific service needs — check the manual.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Ford New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)
3 yr / 36K mi
Powertrain
5 yr / 60K mi
Hybrid/EV battery
8 yr / 100K mi
Corrosion (rust perforation)
5 yr / unlimited mi
Roadside assistance
5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Ford. If you're buying a used 2013 MUSTANG, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ford dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)
$500
TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)
$500
ENGINE(~50K mi)
$500
SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)
$500
ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)
$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 325 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE IDLING AT A STOP SIGN. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FO

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • TRANSMISSION: OWNER OF A 2013 MUSTANG GT PREMIUM 5.0 WITH 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH ROUGH SHIFTING SINCE SHORTLY AFTER BUYING. HAVE TAKEN IT INTO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES SO FAR AND MADE MENTION OF MY PROBLEMS SEVERAL OTHER TIMES. FORD HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE ROUGH SHIFTING WI

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ENGINE: INCREASING SPEED TO MERGE ONTO KELLOGG IN WICHITA, KANSAS WESTBOUND FROM OLIVER AND TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JERK, THEN IN A VERY SHORT TIME SPAN, ABOUT 2-3 SECONDS, ENTIRE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. DEALER DID SOME REPAIR WORK BUT THE CAR HAS HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL INCIDENTS INCLUDING FAILING TO START, SHUT

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • SPEED CONTROL: INCIDENT: WHILE WAITING IN THE LEFT TURN LANE FOR THE LEFT TURN LIGHT TO TURN GREEN I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I WAS BEHIND ANOTHER LEFT TURNING VEHICLE. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE SO TO APPLY PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR. HOWEVER, BEFORE I PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR TH

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • RECALLS: Verify all 6 recalls have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
  • General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

NHTSA Safety Rating

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

At a Glance

Complaints
325
Recalls
6
Fire reports
2
Crash reports
14
Injury reports
10
Segment avg
296

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2013 Ford MUSTANG