2016 FORD MUSTANG — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 369 complaints · 5 recalls
Most-reported system: ENGINE (61 complaints · 16.5%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 13
  • Fires 6
  • Injuries 11
  • Deaths 2
Compare with 2015 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution ENGINE appears in 61 of 369 owner complaints (16.5%) in this vehicle snapshot. ENGINE: 61 complaints, 16.5% of reports ENGINE 61 · 16.5% · 1 crash reports 3 fire reports BACK OVER PREVENTION: 49 complaints, 13.3% of reports BACK OVER PREVENTION 49 · 13.3% · 1 crash reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 41 complaints, 11.1% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 41 · 11.1% · 1 fire reports POWER TRAIN: 24 complaints, 6.5% of reports POWER TRAIN 24 · 6.5% STRUCTURE: 16 complaints, 4.3% of reports STRUCTURE 16 · 4.3% FUEL SYSTEM: 14 complaints, 3.8% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 14 · 3.8% AIR BAGS: 12 complaints, 3.3% of reports AIR BAGS 12 · 3.3% · 6 crash reports 1 fire reports SERVICE BRAKES: 11 complaints, 3.0% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 11 · 3.0% · 1 crash reports STEERING: 9 complaints, 2.4% of reports STEERING 9 · 2.4% UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 132 complaints, 35.8% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 132 · 35.8% · 1 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
ENGINE 61 16.5% 1 crashes · 3 fires
BACK OVER PREVENTION 49 13.3% 1 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 41 11.1% 0 crashes · 1 fires
POWER TRAIN 24 6.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
STRUCTURE 16 4.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 14 3.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
AIR BAGS 12 3.3% 6 crashes · 1 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 11 3.0% 1 crashes · 0 fires
STEERING 9 2.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 132 35.8% 0 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 2016; the first recall shown was reported in Oct 2015. 2016-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2016-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2016-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2016-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2017-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2017-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2017-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2017-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2018-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2018-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2018-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2019-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2019-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2019-Q3: 19 owner reports 19 2019-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2020-Q1: 11 owner reports 11 2020-Q2: 10 owner reports 10 2020-Q3: 17 owner reports 17 2020-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2021-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2021-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2021-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2021-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2022-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2022-Q2: 22 owner reports 22 2022-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2022-Q4: 14 owner reports 14 2023-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2023-Q2: 11 owner reports 11 2023-Q3: 16 owner reports 16 2023-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2024-Q1: 13 owner reports 13 2024-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2024-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2024-Q4: 14 owner reports 14 2025-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2025-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2025-Q3: 13 owner reports 13 2025-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2026-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2026-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2026-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 Owner reports Oct 2015 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 15V707000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V707000 Recall campaign 16V779000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V779000 Recall campaign 22V082000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V082000 Recall campaign 25V572000 ◆ Recall campaign 25V572000 Recall campaign 25V614000 ◆ Recall campaign 25V614000 Investigation EA21002 ● Investigation EA21002
  • Campaign 16V779000 was reported 159 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 22V082000 was reported 277 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 25V572000 was reported 1,573 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 25V614000 was reported 3,516 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2016-Q1 Owner reports 3
2016-Q2 Owner reports 7
2016-Q3 Owner reports 10
2016-Q4 Owner reports 4
2017-Q1 Owner reports 5
2017-Q2 Owner reports 7
2017-Q3 Owner reports 10
2017-Q4 Owner reports 4
2018-Q1 Owner reports 4
2018-Q2 Owner reports 2
2018-Q3 Owner reports 5
2018-Q4 Owner reports 6
2019-Q1 Owner reports 7
2019-Q2 Owner reports 6
2019-Q3 Owner reports 19
2019-Q4 Owner reports 6
2020-Q1 Owner reports 11
2020-Q2 Owner reports 10
2020-Q3 Owner reports 17
2020-Q4 Owner reports 9
2021-Q1 Owner reports 9
2021-Q2 Owner reports 8
2021-Q3 Owner reports 5
2021-Q4 Owner reports 7
2022-Q1 Owner reports 9
2022-Q2 Owner reports 22
2022-Q3 Owner reports 8
2022-Q4 Owner reports 14
2023-Q1 Owner reports 10
2023-Q2 Owner reports 11
2023-Q3 Owner reports 16
2023-Q4 Owner reports 5
2024-Q1 Owner reports 13
2024-Q2 Owner reports 12
2024-Q3 Owner reports 8
2024-Q4 Owner reports 14
2025-Q1 Owner reports 7
2025-Q2 Owner reports 3
2025-Q3 Owner reports 13
2025-Q4 Owner reports 3
2026-Q1 Owner reports 12
2026-Q2 Owner reports 4
2026-Q3 Owner reports 4
Recall campaign 1 15V707000
Recall campaign 1 16V779000
Recall campaign 1 22V082000
Recall campaign 1 25V572000
Recall campaign 1 25V614000
Defect investigation 1 EA21002
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (5)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 15V707000

    Report date
    Component:
    CHILD SEAT
    Consequence:
    If the restraint components do not function as intended, the occupants may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front and rear seat belt assemblies and the child seat tether anchors, free of charge. The recall began on December 18, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C13.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 16V779000

    Report date
    Component:
    ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
    Consequence:
    A sudden loss of engine oil may cause engine failure, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, an oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil cooler tube assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March 23, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S40.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 22V082000

    Report date
    Component:
    BACK OVER PREVENTION
    Consequence:
    A rearview camera that displays a blank or distorted image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect and repair the decklid wiring harness and/or replace the rearview camera, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2022 and June 26, 2023. Remedy parts are expected to become available in the 4th Quarter of 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S06.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 25V572000

    Report date
    Component:
    BACK OVER PREVENTION
    Consequence:
    A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 8, 2025.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 25V614000

    Report date
    Component:
    SEAT BELTS
    Consequence:
    A corroded cable can break, preventing the seat belt from properly restraining an occupant, and increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect and replace both front seat belt anchor pretensioner assemblies, as necessary. In addition, dealers will remove sections of the carpet and underlayment that contact the cables. Dealers will also inspect the A-pillar sealing patches, and as necessary, install A-pillar body plugs, and/or inspect and replace the front outboard seat bolts. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed October 20, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated December 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S92. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov September 17, 2025.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 369 complaints · page 1 of 15

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources