Ford · NHTSA safety record

2010 Ford Mustang

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 261 safety complaints about the 2010 Ford Mustang with the US government. Of those, 13 describe a crash, 2 mention a fire, 11 people were injured and 2 deaths are recorded. 5 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the air bags.

The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 179 complaints, 69% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 44,043 miles, the median across the 94 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers August 2009 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

261 complaints on file

261

Complaints

Describe a crash

Mention fire

People injured

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system

AIR BAGS 179 · 69% 179 69%

STRUCTURE 17 · 7% 17 7%

POWER TRAIN 13 · 5% 13 5%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11 · 4% 11 4%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10 · 4% 10 4%

ENGINE 8 · 3% 8 3%

SERVICE BRAKES 8 · 3% 8 3%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 7 · 3% 7 3%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 5 · 2% 5 2%

SUSPENSION 5 · 2% 5 2%

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 4 · 2% 4 2%

EQUIPMENT 4 · 2% 4 2%

0 73 146

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 261.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2016 at 66.

72 54 36 18

09 2009 10 2010 11 2011 12 2012 13 2013 14 2014 15 2015 16 2016 17 2017 18 2018 19 2019 20 2020 21 2021 22 2022 23 2023 24 2024 26 2026

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2009 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2010 Ford Mustang. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

5 on file

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

21V081000 · February 16, 2021

The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.

Ford Motor Company · up to 1,067 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

19V001000 · January 7, 2019

Do not drive until repaired

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

Ford Motor Company · up to 782,384 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

18V046000 · January 11, 2018

Do not drive until repaired

The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013 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 2010 Ford Edge, Fusion, Mustang and Ranger, Lincoln MKX and Zephyr/MKZ, and Mercury Milan vehicles 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 2009 Ford Edge, Fusion, Mustang and Ranger, Lincoln MKX and Zephyr/MKZ, and Mercury Milan vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming 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.
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.

Ford Motor Company · up to 327,796 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

16V384000 · May 31, 2016

Do not drive until repaired

The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in 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, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in 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." Any vehicle not included in "Zone A", or "Zone B" is not included in the safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: 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. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on July 15, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.

Ford Motor Company · up to 1,892,343 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

15V319000 · May 28, 2015

Do not drive until repaired

The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2014 Mustang vehicles manufactured April 6, 2004, to June 21, 2014, and 2005-2006 GT vehicles manufactured February 20, 2004, to September 22, 2006. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2016. Even if interim repairs were performed under safety recall 14V-802, owners must bring their vehicles in for the final remedy. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S21. Note: This recall supersedes safety recall 14V-802.

Ford Motor Company · up to 1,018,622 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS Filed September 9, 2020

2 deaths · 3 injured · fire · crash · towed · 854,324 miles

I GOT INTO A WRECK WITH A VEHICLE THAT PAST A STOP SIGN HITTING ME AT 120MPH. THE AIRBAG IN THE DRIVERS SEAT EXPLODED IMMEDIATELY. I HAD MY MUSTANG SERVICE IN GALVESTON FORD DEALERSHIP FOR MY AIRBAGS WITHIN A YEAR. LUCKILY I PUSHED MY SEAT BACK TO AVOID MAJOR INJURIES TO MY FACE.*DT*DT*JB AIRBAG HAS BEEN REPLACED *JB

NHTSA complaint 11353905. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS Filed August 5, 2016

1 injured · crash · towed · 63,000 miles

ON MAY 25TH, 2016 I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 FORD MUSTANG DOWN VINEVILLE AVENUE WHEN A CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AND MY CAR CAME CRASHING IN TO THEIRS, MY FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE WENT UNDER THE TAIL OF THEIR CAR, UPON IMPACT MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ON THAT DAY I WAS GETTING ANOTHER CHANCE AT LIFE ,THANKFULLY I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON ,BECAUSE I COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY ANOTHER ADDITION ON THE LIST OF FATALITIES. I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT MY AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING AND THEY HAD ME TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO RIVERSIDE FORD IN MACON GA FOR TESTING ON JULY 8TH. AFTER PERFORMING TWO TEST FORD STILL COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY MY AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY . FORD FINALLY DID ONE MORE TEST AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE AIR

NHTSA complaint 10893335, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS Filed August 14, 2017

1 injured · crash · towed · 65,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, A THUD SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. A WEEK AFTER THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V319000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROMISED TO INVESTIGATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INVESTIGATION WAS NOT

NHTSA complaint 11015226, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW Filed March 10, 2010

1 injured · crash · 80 miles

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 BAG SYSTEM FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE IMPACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80. UPDATED 04/30/10. *LJ THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND WAS PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. UPDATED 09/02/10*JB

NHTSA complaint 10318558. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Filed September 10, 2026

The radio is constantly draining the battery with no way to prevent this. This leaves me to constantly have to replace the battery due to being damaged.

NHTSA complaint 11763497. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER Filed May 21, 2024

The car make a ticking noise when you turn the air or heat on it’s been going on 3 years now

NHTSA complaint 11589985. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS Filed March 5, 2023

Airbag deployed while stopped in traffic on the 91 east freeway.

NHTSA complaint 11510203. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS Filed January 21, 2023

I was on my way to go do a clients hair on dec 1 2022 I was tragically hit by the airbag at a 2,000 force pressure My left side of my jaw is in pain As well as my skull I also have a condition on my chest musculoskeletal

NHTSA complaint 11502903. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN Filed December 14, 2022

crash

When vehicle is placed in park while on, vehicle rolls forward . Put vehicle in park on the side of the road to answer a phone call. Was pulled up behind another vehicle and car rolled forward, and rear ended vehicle in front of me. The police were notified but no citation was given Another time vehicle was in park and running and ran over somebodies foot. very unacceptable

NHTSA complaint 11497506. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEATS Filed March 3, 2022

FRONT SEAT BOLT BROKEN...

NHTSA complaint 11455111. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Ford Mustang

Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Deaths
2026	8	5	—
2025	18	6	—
2024	81	12	—
2023	15	6	—
2022	50	9	—
2021	55	6	—
2020	120	8	—
2019	149	6	—
2018	193	3	—
2017	265	6	—
2016	378	5	2
2015	437	11	—
2014	359	3	—
2013	271	5	—
2012	469	6	1
2011	466	4	—

Other 2010 Ford models

Fusion 5,130 Escape 2,070 F-150 843 Edge 673 Fusion Hybrid 508 Focus 287 Taurus 204 Ranger 156

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Ford on this site — 359 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

Complaints: NHTSA's ODI complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed February 16, 2021.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI investigation file, published October 2, 2026.

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by guarledes
Independent developer and analyst