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Ford · NHTSA safety record

2011 Ford Mustang

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

466

Complaints

20

Crashes

1

Fires

17

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2011 Ford Mustang have filed 466 safety complaints with NHTSA between November 2010 and May 2026. The most complained-about system is the power train, named in 200 of them (43%). The typical failure was reported at 22,018 miles, the median across the 338 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 4 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (4)

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

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

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Inability to shift gears on acceleration

PE11024

Closed preliminary evaluation · opened August 3, 2011 · closed December 14, 2011

the power train

The Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) analyzed complaint data provided by Ford as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers.In total, there were 364 unique reports indicating various shift quality issues while driving.Ford identified several factors that may contribute to shift quality concerns in the subject vehicles, including cold transmission, clutch stay-out at high engine speeds, gear clash or grinding, and gradual loosening of clutch plate bolts in some early production vehicles.The largest percentage of complaints indicated higher than expected shift efforts in cold ambient temperatures.These complaints were related to transmission fluid viscosity and the higher shift efforts resolved themselves with the drivetrain warming.Ford published technical service bulletin TSB 11-3-18 to inform technicians that a lower viscosity fluid was available for use to address the cold shift issues.The clutch stay-out condition typically occurs at engine speeds greater than 4000 rpm.It does not prevent the selection of any gear, but may delay clutch re-engagement depending on how long the driver maintains the higher engine speed.Ford identified rotating inertia of the clutch components as the root cause and replacement clutch pedal parts were made available under Ford TSB 10-19-4.A number of reports alleged increasing difficulty selecting gears along with gear clash or grinding.Grinding or notchy gear shifts may be caused by gradual loosening of clutch plate fasteners, which is promoted by certain aggressive shifting.This condition is progressive in nature and initially results in symptoms related to shift quality/feel.Clutch plate bolt loosening will not result in inability to select any gear unless the progressive symptoms are ignored until complete clutch failure occurs.ODI?s analysis identified only five complaints alleging an inability to shift into gear due to loose clutch plate bolts.None of these resulted in a stall and gear shifting could occur before engine start.A revised fastener was designed and implemented in production and is available for service through a special service message.There is no indication of loss of motive power or unreasonable safety risk associated with the alleged defect in the subject vehicles.This preliminary evaluation is closed.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 466.

POWER TRAIN 200 43%
AIR BAGS 125 27%
ENGINE 48 10%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 39 8%
STEERING 25 5%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 24 5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 23 5%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15 3%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 14 3%
STRUCTURE 10 2%
SEATS 8 2%
SERVICE BRAKES 8 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2011 at 145.

2010 2011 2026
2010 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

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

AIR BAGS

4 injured · crash · towed · 50 miles

AIR FAIL TO DEPLOY WHEN HIT BY A UNINSURED MOTORIST WHO WAS SPEEDING THROUGH A SCHOOL ZONE DID AN LEGAL LANE CHANGE HIT ME WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN SEAT BELT ON LEFT TURN BLEAKER ON TURNING WHEN SAFE BAM!!! NEVER SEEN IT COMING MY HEAD SLAMMED INTO THE STEEL FAME OF MY 2011 FORD MUSTANG V6 HEAD NECK BACK MID LOWER BACK EVERY THING FROM HEAD TO TOE ON MY LEFT HURTS LIKE HELL RIBS ON BOTH SIDES KNEES HANDS FEET AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint 10838848. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

4 injured · crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK, KNEE, AND HEAD THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. ADDITIONALLY, THREE PASSENGERS THAT WERE IN THE OTHER VEHICLE ALSO SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint 10693099. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 73,000 miles

I WAS RECENTLY IN A WRECK AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY CAR IS STUCK AT THE BODY SHOP BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT GET AN AIRBAG FOR IT. MY INSURANCE ON MY RENTAL CAR WILL BE UP IN 2 WEEKS, THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED ALREADY IT JUST HAD MINOR FRONT END DAMAGE AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACK DUE TO THE AIRBAG AND THE AIRBAG INJURED MY RIGHT ARM. IT NEVER SHOULD DEPLOYED IN THE FIRST PLACE THE IMPACT WAS NOT EVEN THAT SEVERE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY NEVER GET BACK WITH ME THIS IS BEGINNING TO GET VERY FRUSTRATING. MY CAR IS EASILY REPAIRABLE BUT ITS JUST SETTING THERE BECAUSE OF NO AIRBAG. SOME HELP IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE APPRECIATED THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO

NHTSA complaint 10901921, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 36,000 miles

I WAS INVOLVED IN A NO-FAULT ACCIDENT IN MY 2011 FORD MUSTANG IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR AFTER SOMEONE IN THE LANE TO MY LEFT WHO WAS HELD UP IN TRAFFIC IN HIS LANE PULLED OUT INTO MY LANE WITHOUT LOOKING, CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO SMASH INTO HIM. THE FORCE OF THE CRASH CAUSED OVER $9,000 IN DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND LEFT ME WITH 5 HERNIATED DISCS, HIP PROBLEMS, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES. I HAVE HAD A SERIES OF SHOTS IN MY NECK, AS WELL AS MY SPINE, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE NOT ALLEVIATED MY PAIN. I AM NOW BEING TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO FOR MY NECK AT THIS TIME, AND THAT I HAVE TO JUST LEARN TO LIVE WITH THE PAIN, AND ALSO THAT I NEED TO HAVE SURGERY ON MY LOWER BACK. MY AIRBAG DID

NHTSA complaint 10787881, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
This is a common issue with these S197 Mustangs. The steering position sensor failed. While driving, this can cause the "Service Advancetrac" warning to come on, meanwhile the wheels spin at different speeds as the car attempts to correct a low traction scenario that isn't happening, causing the driver to crash. This caused me to temporarily lose control of my vehicle. Luckily I didn't hit anything. The sensor itself can be replaced for $20-$40, but Ford has sealed it inside the EPAS system, making it non-servicable and escalating the repair cost to over $1300.

NHTSA complaint 11738280. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
Steering angle sensor has malfunctioned, sometimes when i turn the traction and stability control completely turns off, abs randomly activates while im driving.

NHTSA complaint 11711226. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

48,000 miles

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the transmission, on occasion, did not shift into second and third gear. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed clutch pad. The contact was informed that the clutch pad needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure and did not assist. The contact was informed to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately

NHTSA complaint 11678844, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

298,000 miles

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while attempting to service the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 174,000 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 298,000.

NHTSA complaint 11669174. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

123,000 miles

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while at a stop light, the front driver’s side seat air bag deployed upon depression of the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated after the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.

NHTSA complaint 11562568. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. The message "Service Auto Advancetrac" was displayed. The contact stated that she continued to depress the brake pedal until the vehicle responded. The contact stated that there was a significant stopping distance delay. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring more frequently while driving, and the vehicle was sliding while stopping, nearly causing a crash. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer however, the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not

NHTSA complaint 11557400, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Ford Mustang

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 14 5 —
2024 73 11 —
2023 15 6 —
2022 49 9 —
2021 55 6 —
2020 117 8 —
2019 143 6 —
2018 187 3 —
2017 264 6 —
2016 371 5 2
2015 436 11 —
2014 359 3 —
2013 271 5 —
2012 469 6 1
2010 260 5 2

Other 2011 Ford models

Fusion 2,783 F-150 2,184 Edge 1,801 Escape 1,314 Explorer 1,195 Fiesta 729 F-250 248 Ranger 235

Every Ford on this site — 348 vehicles, 1210 recall campaigns and 10 open investigation s.

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. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

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
Independent developer and analyst