CSR

Ford · NHTSA safety record

2018 Ford Mustang

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

187

Complaints

8

Crashes

1

Fires

5

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2018 Ford Mustang have filed 187 safety complaints with NHTSA between January 2018 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 54 of them (29%). The typical failure was reported at 28,890 miles, the median across the 93 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints rose by half year on year: 43 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 22 in the twelve before.

NHTSA has issued 3 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (3)

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

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 187.

ENGINE 54 29%
POWER TRAIN 45 24%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 30 16%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 21 11%
STRUCTURE 15 8%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 12 6%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 11 6%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 8 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 7 4%
SERVICE BRAKES 5 3%
STEERING 4 2%
WHEELS 3 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 42.

2018 2025 2026
2018 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

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.

ENGINE
2018 WITH 118,000 MILES. Had to get a full block engine replacement due to coolant intrusion into the cylinders. This was diagnosed and replaced at a Ford dealership.

NHTSA complaint 11757459. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
Was driving my vehicle roughly 10-15mph after a stop, noticed vehicle wasn’t shifting into the gears properly as it was only in 2nd gear and the RPMs kept climbing, when it finally shifted into 3rd gear my transmission proceeded to lockup cause my rear tires to skid and stop in the middle of traffic and in the middle of an intersection disrupting the flow of traffic. Vehicle displayed a wrench light on the dash saying “see manual” as related to a Powertrain issue. Vehicle is in limp mode and barely drives, any shifting after 1st gear will cause the vehicle to lockup and lose all power for several seconds. ONLY HAS 28,330 MILES, DID NOT REACH THE FIRST SERVICE INTERVAL FOR MAINTENANCE ON THE

NHTSA complaint 11754868, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
My 2018 Ford Mustang EcoBoost with the 10R80 automatic transmission began experiencing hesitation, delayed engagement, and harsh jerking during low-speed acceleration (15-20 mph), especially when cold. Engine RPM would increase, but the vehicle would hesitate before engaging. The condition worsened over time and eventually the vehicle entered limp mode, causing a significant loss of power and illuminating a wrench warning light. An authorized Ford dealership diagnosed DTC P07F6 (Gear 9 Incorrect Ratio). The dealer verified fluid level, updated the PCM, and performed adaptive relearn procedures, but the problem remained. The transmission fluid was found to be dark with a burnt odor, and the

NHTSA complaint 11752476, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

56,000 miles

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the engine sputtered with the check engine warning light illuminated. There was heavy white smoke coming from the tailpipe. Upon arriving at the destination, the vehicle hesitated to restart, and the contact observed a significant loss of coolant. The vehicle stalled while driving at various speeds. Upon inspection, the dealer confirmed coolant intrusion in cylinders #2 and #3, resulting in total engine failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was not under recall, and there was no warranty associated with the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired out-of-pocket by

NHTSA complaint 11746432, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

towed · 69,900 miles

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that the air conditioning system failed to function as intended. Additionally, the contact stated that while accelerating from a complete stop, several unknown warning lights were illuminated, and the vehicle chugged and failed to accelerate as intended. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that the vehicle was inoperable. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall or warranty coverage for the vehicle. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was

NHTSA complaint 11744688, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The trunk wiring which powers the tail lights, brake and parking lights, turn signals, trunk light, and the back up camera is too short, and it stretches and breaks when the trunk is opened and closed. Ford is aware of the issue, but is unwilling to fix it. The back up camera was already recalled, but it and the trunk light are not working again because the trunk wiring issue has not been addressed. The biggest auto safety issue is that the tail lights, brake and parking lights, turn signals, and back up light could also fail due to the trunk wiring being too short.

NHTSA complaint 11741698. 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
2017 264 6
2016 371 5 2
2015 436 11
2014 359 3
2013 271 5
2012 469 6 1
2011 466 4
2010 260 5 2

Other 2018 Ford models

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