2016 Ford MUSTANG

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Ford MUSTANG has 487 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 6.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (16% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2016 ford mustang. while driving 45 mph, a loud abnormal noise emitted from the engine and the vehicle stalled without warning. the vehicle was towed to the dealer. the technician diagnosed that the engine was defective and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made awar. ⚠️ 7 fire reports filed.

7 fire reports 5 crash reports 8 injuries

487

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

6.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

80 complaints

16%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWAR
• LOST POWER IN INSANELY BUSY IRVING/DALLAS INTERSECTION NEAR MAJOR HIGHWAY - COULD HAVE BEEN A HUGE ACCIDENT! 5400 PLUS MILES. FORD 2016 MUSTANG, V6 FROM A STANDING POSITION, SECOND CAR IN LINE AT RED LIGHT. LIGHT CHANGES, TRAFFIC STARTS TO MOVE, I STEPPED ON GAS AND NOTHING! HAD TO CREEP ACRO
• I JUST PURCHASED MY BRAND NEW 2016 MUSTANG LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE ALREADY BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH IT. I WAS STATIONARY WAITING AT THE STOP LIGHT AND SHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR 3 TIMES AND MY CAR WOULDN'T BUDGE. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED IT TO MOVE IT OUT OF THE STREET. THE ENGINE LIG

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWAR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

70 complaints

14%

• TAKATA RECALL I BEEN DEALING WITH A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND ITS BRAND NEW. EVERY TIME I GET IN THE CAR AND TURN IT ON AND DRIVE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES MY MUSIC TURNS OFF AND SHOWS THE HORSE SYMBOL DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN AND IT COMES BACK ON 10 MINUTES LATER. BUT THEN SOMETIMES IT DOES THAT
• FORD INTELLIGENCE/NOT SO INTELLIGENT THIS MORNING I WAS PUTTING MY 2 YEAR OLD CHILD IN HER CAR SEAT AS I NORMALLY DO WITH THE CAR STARTED AND I PLACED MY PURSE AND THE KEYS IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THE CAR. AFTER SECURING MY CHILD I CLOSED THE DOOR TO WALK AROUND AND GET IN AND THE DOORS WERE LOCKED.
• WHILE DRIVING IN FORWARD AND BACKING UP VEHICLE COMPLETE LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. INCLUDING WARNING CEL FOR SERVICE ADVANCTRAC, HILL ASSIST N/A AND TRACTION CONTROL. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND HAS BEEN TAKE TO DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING IS EXTREME

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“TAKATA RECALL I BEEN DEALING WITH A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND ITS BRAND NEW. EVERY TIME I GET IN THE CAR AND TURN IT ON AND DRIVE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES MY MUSIC TURNS OFF AND SHOWS THE HORSE SYMBOL DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN AND IT COMES BACK ON 10 MINUTES LATER. BUT THEN SOMETIMES IT DOES THAT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

69 complaints

14%

• ENGINE OIL COOLER TUBE ASSEMBLIES LEAK BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER TWICE PROBLEM NOT FIXED, YESTERDAY 4/12/17 BROUGHT THE CAR AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS SAYING THE COUJLD NOT FINISH THE JOB TODAY AND WANTS TO KEEP THE CAR OVER THE WEEKEND FOR FURTHER REPAIRS. WE PAID GO
• DRIVESHAFT VIBRATION GETS WORSE WHEN GOING OVER 45 MILES EVEN WORSE GOING 80
• DRIVING ON THE DALLAS, TX HIGHWAY 35- RLTHORNTON HEADED SOUND IN THE PEAK OF TRAFFIC IN THE FAST LANE (FAR LEFT HAND LANE) GOING ABOUT 35MILES AND CAR STOPS. MY FEET WAS PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATION BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. NO ENGINE WARMING OR LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CARS BEHIND BE BEGAN TO SWERVE AN

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

“ENGINE OIL COOLER TUBE ASSEMBLIES LEAK BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER TWICE PROBLEM NOT FIXED, YESTERDAY 4/12/17 BROUGHT THE CAR AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS SAYING THE COUJLD NOT FINISH THE JOB TODAY AND WANTS TO KEEP THE CAR OVER THE WEEKEND FOR FURTHER REPAIRS. WE PAID GO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

56 complaints

11%

• BACKUP CAMERA NOT WORKING. CAR HAS POOR VISIBILITY WHEN BACKING UP WITHOUT THE CAMERA. MESSAGE SAYS CAMERA NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER SAID ITS THE WIRING HARNESSES AND WANTS $900.00 TO REPLACE . FORD HAS BAD DESIGN WITH THE SHORT CABLE IN THE TRUNK AND THE MATERIAL USED TO WRAP THE WIRES.
• 1) I have a 2016 Ford Mustang. Within first 5k miles the reverse camera did not operate intermittently. Was told by dealer that no fix was available in 2016. The car is driven summer months only. As years went on I had same defect. They didn’t have a loaner available or I would have to rent a car my
• My backup camera, GPS, and satellite radio lost connection. I could not see behind me or find my location. The wiring harness going to the trunk stopped working. Dealership told me it was due to a “faulty design from the factory” and that it was from “opening and closing the trunk too much.” They re

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

“BACKUP CAMERA NOT WORKING. CAR HAS POOR VISIBILITY WHEN BACKING UP WITHOUT THE CAMERA. MESSAGE SAYS CAMERA NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER SAID ITS THE WIRING HARNESSES AND WANTS $900.00 TO REPLACE . FORD HAS BAD DESIGN WITH THE SHORT CABLE IN THE TRUNK AND THE MATERIAL USED TO WRAP THE WIRES.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

29 complaints

• MY NEW 2016 MUSTANG V6 HAS SEVERE VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AT MOST SPEEDS. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY DRIVE SHAFT AND REPLACED IT TWICE AND INDEXED THE SECOND ONE AFTER INSTALLATION. THE CAR STILL VIBRATES. THE TIRES WERE ROAD FORCED BALANCED AND ROTATED AND THE VIB
• 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION; CLUNKS, GRINDS AND DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE IN 1ST-4TH GEARS, HAPPENS UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS. MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO ADDRESS UNDERLYING CAUSE.
• WHILE DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON MY WAY TO WORK, I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES, BUT THE CAR STALLED AND STARTED FLASHING THE MESSAGE "SEE MANUAL". THANKFULLY, I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE AT A VERY REDUCED SPEED (MORE LIKE A COAST) INTO A GAS STATION PARKING LOT. THE CAR IS ONLY SIX (6) MONTHS OLD W

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

“MY NEW 2016 MUSTANG V6 HAS SEVERE VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AT MOST SPEEDS. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY DRIVE SHAFT AND REPLACED IT TWICE AND INDEXED THE SECOND ONE AFTER INSTALLATION. THE CAR STILL VIBRATES. THE TIRES WERE ROAD FORCED BALANCED AND ROTATED AND THE VIB”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 487 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWAR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TAKATA RECALL I BEEN DEALING WITH A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND ITS BRAND NEW. EVERY TIME I GET IN THE CAR AND TURN IT ON AND DRIVE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES MY MUSIC TURNS OFF AND SHOWS THE HORSE SYMBOL DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN AND IT COMES BACK ON 10 MINUTES LATER. BUT THEN SOMETIMES IT DOES THAT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: ENGINE OIL COOLER TUBE ASSEMBLIES LEAK BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER TWICE PROBLEM NOT FIXED, YESTERDAY 4/12/17 BROUGHT THE CAR AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS SAYING THE COUJLD NOT FINISH THE JOB TODAY AND WANTS TO KEEP THE CAR OVER THE WEEKEND FOR FURTHER REPAIRS. WE PAID GO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: BACKUP CAMERA NOT WORKING. CAR HAS POOR VISIBILITY WHEN BACKING UP WITHOUT THE CAMERA. MESSAGE SAYS CAMERA NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER SAID ITS THE WIRING HARNESSES AND WANTS $900.00 TO REPLACE . FORD HAS BAD DESIGN WITH THE SHORT CABLE IN THE TRUNK AND THE MATERIAL USED TO WRAP THE WIRES.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)