CSR

Ford · NHTSA safety record

2018 Ford Mustang

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

Owners have filed 193 safety complaints about the 2018 Ford Mustang with the US government. Of those, 8 describe a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 5 people were injured and no death is recorded. 3 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 56 complaints, 29% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 28,890 miles, the median across the 93 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers January 2018 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

193 complaints on file

193

Complaints

8

Describe a crash

1

Mention fire

5

People injured

0

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
ENGINE 56 · 29%
POWER TRAIN 45 · 23%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 31 · 16%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 23 · 12%
STRUCTURE 15 · 8%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 12 · 6%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 12 · 6%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 8 · 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 8 · 4%
SERVICE BRAKES 6 · 3%
STEERING 4 · 2%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 3 · 2%
0 23 46

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 193.

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 2025 at 42.

48 36 24 12
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2018 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 crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2018 Ford MUSTANG, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test 2 DR RWD C RWD
Overall Not rated
Frontal crash Not rated
Frontal, driver Not rated
Frontal, passenger Not rated
Side crash Not rated
Side barrier Not rated
Side pole Not rated
Rollover
Chance of rollover 9.3% 8.1%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

3 on file

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

25V572000 · September 4, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
The risk
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.
The 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 1,456,417 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

18V213000 · April 4, 2018

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-150 and 2018 Ford Expedition and Mustang and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions. A roll pin may not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of the "Park" function.
The risk
Despite the transmission shift lever being placed in 'Park' and the instrument panel display indicating 'Park,' the vehicle may roll away after it has been exited if the parking brake has not been applied, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
The remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission to make sure it has the roll pin, installing one if it is missing, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S09.

Ford Motor Company · up to 142 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

17V814000 · December 18, 2017

The defect
Ford Motor Company is recalling certain 2018 Ford Mustang vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission and a 12.4" digital instrument cluster. If the ignition is turned off when the transmission is not in PARK, the instrument cluster may not illuminate the PRNDL gear position display and the operator may not receive the "Key in Ignition" chime when the driver's door is opened. As such, these vehicles fails to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence/Starter Interlock/Transmission Braking Effect," and number 114, "Theft Protection."
The risk
Without a visual or audible warning to the driver that the vehicle is in PARK, the vehicle may roll away after it has been exited if the parking brake has not been applied, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
The remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 5, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C21.

Ford Motor Company · up to 2,100 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

3 injured · crash · towed · 20,000 miles

I WAS INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 8/22/20 WHILE DRIVING MY 2018 MUSTANG GT. THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY...EVEN THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER AND COLLISION SHOP ARE WONDERING WHY. MY CAR WAS TOTALED...I DO NOT BELIEVE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WORKED AS INTENDED. I WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER SIDE WHILE TRAVELING APPROX 30MPH, THE DRIVER THAT HIT ME STATED TO POLICE THAT HE WAS GOING 45MPH.

NHTSA complaint 11352282. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 injured · fire · crash · towed · 1,500 miles

I PURCHASED A NEW 2018 FORD MUSTANG 2 DR 4 CYL ECOBOOST ON JULY 9TH 2018. ON AUGUST 15, AFTER HAVING DINNER WITH PARENTS AT THE HOUSE, I WENT TO VISIT SOME FRIENDS IN DAVIE AND IT WAS APROX 7:45 PM WHILE DRIVING ON A 4 LANE ROAD DIVIDED BY A MEDIAN. ROAD HAS FREQUENT SPEEDBUMPS AND THE MEDIAN HAS MATURE TREES. WHILE TRAVELING ON THIS ROAD - I FELT NAUSEOUS AND PLACED BOTH HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUDDENLY THE ROAD BECAME BLURRY AND I LOST CONCIOUSNESS AND STRUCK A TREE IN THE MEDIAN. THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND ACCORDING TO A POLICE OFFICER, HE TRIED TO REVIVE ME AND TO HELP ME GET OUT, HOWEVER MY LEGS WERE BROKEN AND INJURED. MY RIGHT LEG WAS BROKEN AND MY LEFT LEG WAS BADLY INJURED.

NHTSA complaint 11121499, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 51,000 miles

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT TWO DIFFERENT TIMES IN A MUSTANG AND THE MOST OF MY INJURY WAS TO MY LEFT LEG FROM THE AIR BAG. I AM STILL LIMPING FROM IT. IT CAUSED MASSIVE BRUISES AND A FRACTURE TO MORE THAN ONE AREA OF MY LEFT LEG. ON THE DRIVER SIDE. BOTH ACCIDENTS WAS ON A CITY STREET. GOING 35 MILES AN HOUR.

NHTSA complaint 11390607. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

crash · towed

I was driving down the road in my 2018 Mustang ecoboost. When all of the sudden slowing down it locked the rear wheels up. I slid off the road and fortunately I didn’t hit anything but it did pop my side skirt off in the rear of the car. Thankfully the person behind me reacted in quick enough time to get around me considering the rainy weather conditions. This is very dangerous. It’s throwing a code for a solenoid B. Had traction control lights. And says see manual. But they all illuminated after the problem first happened. The car has been parked for a while. However someone suggested I try this website. There were no pre warnings to what was going on. The car drove fine up until the point

NHTSA complaint 11708074, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The electrical components in the vehicle stopped functioning - for the lights on the interior the overhead stopped working on and off and then dimmed until one day never came back on. At the same time the sensor for cross traffic alert became buggy and then not functional which made all my safety features and cruise control not work. Now I have a TPMS sensor and check engine light with nothing serious wrong

NHTSA complaint 11766779. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving at highway speeds passenger door spontaneously opened. Passenger was not touching or near latch. Has happened 3 times. Ford states no recall. Looking online seems to be a known issue.

NHTSA complaint 11765966. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I own a 2018 Ford Mustang EcoBoost convertible and am reporting persistent spider activity that has become a recurring driver-safety concern. Spider activity occurs on or around the vehicle essentially every day. I routinely see multiple spiders and webs on the windshield, hood, doors, roof, trunk, sides, and around both exterior mirrors. Spiders repeatedly build webs between the doors/body and both mirror housings, and I have seen spiders crawl out from behind the mirrors numerous times, especially the driver-side mirror. I also find web strands inside the passenger compartment. On three occasions, a spider rebuilt a large web across the driver’s-seat entry area after I removed it. On

NHTSA complaint 11763525, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I own a 2018 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Premium with the 2.3L EcoBoost engine. The vehicle initially developed a check-engine light and was diagnosed with P0303 (Cylinder 3 misfire), P0316 (startup misfire), and P018C (fuel pressure sensor circuit low). On August 24, 2026, all four spark plugs and one ignition coil were replaced, and a fuel/induction cleaning service was performed. The P018C repair was declined at that time. On September 10, 2026, the vehicle started with an extremely rough idle and produced a very large cloud of white, sweet-smelling exhaust smoke. The check-engine light came on. The original codes, including the misfire codes, were present along with additional codes. The

NHTSA complaint 11763539, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
I own a 2018 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Premium with the 2.3L EcoBoost engine. The vehicle initially developed a check-engine light and was diagnosed with P0303 (Cylinder 3 misfire), P0316 (startup misfire), and P018C. On August 24, 2026, all four spark plugs and one ignition coil were replaced and a fuel/induction cleaning was performed. On September 10, the vehicle suddenly started with an extremely rough idle and produced a large cloud of white, sweet-smelling exhaust smoke. The check-engine light illuminated and the previous codes returned along with additional codes. The vehicle continued producing white exhaust smoke after several hours of diagnostic testing. Later that day, the engine

NHTSA complaint 11763758, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
It is a well-known issue across Mustang forms that the brake pedal sensor switch goes bad as well as the small rubber pad that presses against the brake pedal switch. This has happened to me multiple friends in my Mustang group as well as tons online. This is a serious issue because either it will make your vehicle believe the brakes are constantly being pressed letting you shift into gears while the brakes technically aren’t even depressed. That could result in someone getting ran over. Also, it makes it appear that you’re constantly pressing the brake pedal so drivers do not know when you are actually pressing the brakes. I had that issue, I resolved it, but then my switch failed later,

NHTSA complaint 11762411, 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
2026 8 5 —
2025 18 6 —
2024 81 12 —
2023 15 6 —
2022 50 9 —
2021 55 6 —
2020 120 8 —
2019 149 6 —
2017 265 6 —
2016 378 5 2
2015 437 11 —
2014 359 3 —
2013 271 5 —
2012 469 6 1
2011 466 4 —
2010 261 5 2

Other 2018 Ford models

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

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