Ford · NHTSA safety record

2013 Ford Mustang

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

271

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Owners of the 2013 Ford Mustang have filed 271 safety complaints with NHTSA between June 2012 and May 2026. The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 145 of them (54%). The typical failure was reported at 40,000 miles, the median across the 120 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 5 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (5)

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: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

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

12V190000 · May 3, 2012

The defect: FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 FORD F-150, 2012 EXPEDITION AND LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, AND 2012-2013 MUSTANG VEHICLES, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NOS. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT" AND 108 LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR (TRS) THAT WAS CALIBRATED OUT OF SPECIFICATION FOR REVERSE GEAR.
The risk: IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION MAY NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR WHEN THE DRIVER PUSHES THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE REVERSE R POSITION AND THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION DOES GO IN REVERSE, THE R MAY NOT ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD OF THE F-150, EXPEDITION, OR NAVIGATOR MODELS AND/OR THE BACKUP LAMP ON THE REAR OF THE F-150, EXPEDITION, NAVIGATOR, OR MUSTANG VEHICLES MAY NOT ILLUMINATE. THESE CONDITIONS INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH OR A PEDESTRIAN BEING STRUCK DUE TO THE VEHICLES NOT SIGNALING IT IS IN REVERSE.
The remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE TRS AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY · up to 10,500 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 271.

AIR BAGS 145 54%

POWER TRAIN 48 18%

ENGINE 22 8%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 19 7%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 18 7%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14 5%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 10 4%

STEERING 10 4%

STRUCTURE 8 3%

SUSPENSION 6 2%

SEAT BELTS 4 1%

SERVICE BRAKES 4 1%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2016 at 103.

2012 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 Filed August 25, 2014

2 injured · crash · 28,484 miles

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 FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED AN INJURED KNEE AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A LACERATED HIP AND A FRACTURED LUMBER VERTEBRAE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,484. UPDATED 10/09/14*LJ UPDATED 11/26/2014 *JS THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH SEAT BELTS SNAPPED ON IMPACT LEAVING THE OCCUPANTS UNRESTRAINED DURING IMPACT.

NHTSA complaint 10627966, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS Filed November 3, 2014

1 injured · fire · crash

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. THE FRONT AIR BAG SEVERELY BURNED ME WHEN IT EXPLODED OUT UPON IMPACT. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE BURNS THAT I HAVE SUFFERED AS THE RESULT OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, AS WELL AS THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR. BASED UPON THE SEVERITY OF THE BURNS THAT I HAVE SUFFERED IT IS APPARENT THAT THE AIRBAG IS DEFECTIVE. AFTER THE COLLISION, I WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, AND WHILE BEING TREATED THE DOCTOR

NHTSA complaint 10652167, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS Filed August 31, 2016

1 injured · crash · towed

TAKATA RECALL> I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON JULY 4, 2016. A PERSON TOOK A STOP SIGN AS I WAS GOING 40MPH ON A STRAIGHTAWAY STREET. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND FRONT DRIVER SIDE WAS SMASHED IN. OUR VEHICLE WENT IN FOR REPAIR AND IT IS NOW READY TO GO, BUT IT'S MISSING THE AIRBAGS. OBVIOUSLY THE AUTO COLLISION CENTER CANNOT RELEASE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE AIRBAGS. NOW THEY'VE INFORMED US THAT THERE IS A RECALL AND THERE IS NO ETA ON THE PRODUCTION. WE HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND MAY OTHER SUBSIDIARIES AND NO ONE IS ABLE TO GIVE US A DATE, NOT EVEN AN ESTIMATE OF WHEN OUR VEHICLE WILL BE READY. THIS IS SUCH AN INCONVENIENCE. WE HAVE TO GET AROUND IN ONE CAR AND IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR US.

NHTSA complaint 10899870, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS Filed August 26, 2025

1 injured · crash · towed · 113,000 miles

The contact owned a 2013 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, another driver failed to yield while entering the roadway, abruptly cutting in front of the contact's vehicle. As a result, the contact was unable to stop in time and collided with the rear driver's side passenger door of the other vehicle. The driver's side air bag did deploy but failed to inflate, which the contact related to the injuries he sustained as a result of the accident. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a storage facility and deemed a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The contact did

NHTSA complaint 11683199, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN Filed May 6, 2026

I have a 2013 ford mustang with 6R80 transmission as my wife was driving down the high way the suddenly shift down to 1 or second at 65 miles per hour and the car skidded out of control almost killing her and the people in the other lain I checked on recalls for this problem and I am getting conflicting answer. It says that some mustang have been recalled for the TCM and most all 6R80 transmission in the f150 and a couple other Ford vehicals that support the same transmission. My question is why would my 2013 ford mustang not be in the recall when clearly when I resurch it there is many issues out there with this car and TCM. Is this a wait until someone gets killed by the grace of God no

NHTSA complaint 11735968, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN Filed April 24, 2026

Car has delayed shifting and is still down shifting when the car has already stopped. 2011-2012 mustangs have some extended coverage for this problem. 16N02. My 2013 was manufactured at flat rock in 2012 but not covered.

NHTSA complaint 11733618. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS Filed August 6, 2025

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Mustang. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 15V319000 (Air Bags) and 19V001000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer declined to perform the recall repairs. The contact was informed that, because of the installation of an aftermarket steering wheel, the recall repairs could not be performed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA complaint 11678859. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN Filed April 1, 2025

n 2019, I bought a used car from a well-known dealer in Puerto Rico. I recently took it to a mechanic for some repairs, and the mechanic informed me that the vehicle's internal odometer didn't match the odometer on the car's dashboard. There was a difference of 48,971 miles. I was deceived by this dealer.

NHTSA complaint 11651981. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE Filed March 24, 2025

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IT RANDOMLY SHIFTS INTO FIRST GEAR ALMOST CAUSING AND ACCIDENT/.

NHTSA complaint 11650177. 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	—
2012	469	6	1
2011	466	4	—
2010	260	5	2

Other 2013 Ford models

F-150 2,972 Escape 2,744 Edge 2,439 Explorer 2,229 Focus 2,105 Fusion 1,784 Fiesta 667 Taurus 581

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

Complaints: NHTSA's ODI complaint file , published August 20, 2026. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall campaign API , most recent campaign filed August 12, 2026.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI investigation file , published 2026-08-19.

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