10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 2
Average Mileage:
22,590 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2016 Ford Mustang:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #55

Feb 232023

Mustang

  • miles
Intake manifold assembly is nationally back ordered. And it seems to be a problem with many mustangs. This is preventing me from getting my smog.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #54

May 302024

Mustang

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and the engine seized. The contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that chunks of the head gasket were found inside the engine. In addition, coolant and metal shavings were found in the oil pan. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

- Montgomery, NY, USA

problem #53

May 312024

Mustang

  • 114,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 114,000. The VIN was not available.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #52

Apr 192024

Mustang

  • miles
A warning light appeared warning that the engine was overheating. However the temperature hand never indicated this. I pulled over immediately and turned the car off. I had it towed to a dealership that would accept my extended warranty. They discovered that the engine block was cracked and that the vehicle will need the engine replaced. My warranty company will not cover it because they said it is a known defect from ford. I know that ford had this same issue on other ecoboost engines but mine is a 2.3l and they have not included that one in the recall.

- Lamar, SC, USA

problem #51

Apr 112024

Mustang

  • 73,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #50

Feb 152024

Mustang

  • miles
The bolts holding on the valve covers were not torqued correctly and were finger loose when I found them. I was lead to this discovery because there was a constant burning smell which turned out to be oil leaking out and falling on the exhaust. I found out on a forum that this seems to be a very common problem with 15-17 Mustangs. Additionally, there is a Technical Service Bulletin out explaining to mechanics that Ford did not add enough bolts to hold the valve covers on, leaving 4 or 5 blanks on both sides. Also, the newer 5.0 engines have all the necessary bolts, so basically, Ford thought they could save money by skipping 8-10 bolts on each car. I've already spoken to a Ford dealership and they said they'll have to charge me (unsure of how much yet) to repair a car they didn't build right in the first place! Please look into this.

- Fairdale, KY, USA

problem #49

Jan 112024

Mustang

  • miles
I purchased the vehicle new and have driven it 21085 miles. Since I've owned it, I have had to add 23 quarts of additional oil to keep it full (1qt. every 500-1000 miles). After a couple complaints to Ford, they have advised me that this amount of oil consumption in this vehicle is normal. My warranty expires in March and I'm concerned about the cost of repair after the warranty is up. From a safety standpoint, I'm concerned if the engine were to run out of oil in a traffic situation. I am 74 years old and use the car for weekend, summer pleasure. I don't race it and don't allow others to drive it. Please let me know if other similar vehicles have this issue and if anything can be done. Thank you.

- Grand Junction, CO, USA

problem #48

Jan 092024

Mustang

  • miles
Defective Head Gasket. Causing lack of power while on freeway. Car slowed in speed greatly. Independent service has confirmed water in cylinder #1. CEL did come on.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #47

Apr 042023

Mustang

  • 46,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle was jerking, and the contact became aware that smoke was coming from underneath the hood. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to a faulty water pump. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the vehicle was not under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.

- Richlands, NC, USA

problem #46

Aug 232023

Mustang

  • miles
My car is a single owner car, that has documentation of regular oil changes, engine upkeep, and general maintenance since its purchase in 2016. No major issues had been experienced until August, 2023. While driving the car home from work, I felt an immediate loss of power from the engine, my a/c went out, and an error flashed saying the temperature sensor for the cylinder heads showed the engine was overheating. So, in 100+ ?F weather, I pulled the car over and turned it off. I let it sit for just over 15 minutes before turning it back on, only to find the car was still in failsafe mode. With less than five miles to return home, I drove, a car that refused to get up to 25 mph in the blazing heat (and no a/c), back home. I immediately called my local Ford dealership and set up an appointment to bring it in the next week, their soonest available appointment. In the meantime, I had to find people to carpool to work with. The next Monday, the car is brought in, and that day I-??m informed the cylinder head cracked and I-??d need a new engine. I couldn-??t believe it. I-??d always taken care of my car, never put it under any type of undue stress, how could the cylinder head have cracked" The dealership explained the damage was due to a well-known defect in the design of the engine. I was still flabbergasted. The engine fails, not through fault of the user, but from bad design on the part of the manufacturer, and I-??m still the one responsible to pay $8,000 for a new engine" I am disappointed Ford put out a car with engines that WILL eventually fail, and then chooses to force their customers to be financially responsible for their error. My engine losing power with absolutely no notice could have resulted in a life threatening car accident had I chosen to drive the freeway that day, or could have forced me into unsafe situations had I been traveling. I will never buy a Ford again based on this experience and the business practices displayed.

- Lathrop, CA, USA

problem #45

Aug 182023

Mustang

  • miles
My car started to show a check engine light on around 103,000 miles. After getting a check engine light reading, the code was a misfire p0303 on cylinder 3. I took the car to a mechanic and was told the head gasket was blown and coolant was leaking into it.

- Buckeye, AZ, USA

problem #44

Aug 072023

Mustang

  • 82,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was a crack in the cylinder head and the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #43

Jul 262023

Mustang

  • miles
2016 Ford Mustang V6 This is EXTREMELY concerning as it's a SAFETY issue losing power features while the vehicle is in motion. While driving the car provides an error message with a wrench sign/icon stating the transmission is not in Park, then it proceeds to shut down the car leaving us without power steering. The car need stopped, move the transmission to Park, and start the engine. Doing this clears the warning and you are able to drive the car without any problem. The two incidents occurrences were about 1 or 2 months apart. Below link shows other people having the same issue [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Rincon, GA, USA

problem #42

Feb 232023

Mustang

  • miles
This specific car model is a 2016 Shelby GT350 tech package that I owned for at least 7 months. In this time period i had only put 7k mikes on it before it blew up. After doing tons of research there is a tons of class action law suits against Ford for these cars. The incident that occurred was while driving the vehicle caught fire on the passenger side. Driving at the speed limit of 40 MPH no warning lights, Check engine lights or anything it just blew up. Up to this point all maitence was done properly and after doing some research it had the same issue report by multiple other Shelby owners of this year. This vehicle is not safe for the roads and if not properly investigated, it can cause someone to lose their life. I incurred a bruised head, burns and loss of hair from this accident. I-??ve contacted Ford in regards to this issue and yet to have anything done. This vehicle should not be sold to the public with these known issues. There was recall sent out to fix this issue but my specific vin number was never contacted to fix it.

- Heath, TX, USA

problem #41

May 102023

Mustang

  • miles
My check engine light came on it was cylinder 2 misfire. Sputtering and stalling in traffic. Slow to excelarate, started losing coolant and blowing white smoke on start up. Stuck in traffic. Then the turbo blew out. Replaced turbo, replaced spark plugs replaced edition coil. Still cylinder 2 misfire. Still a rough idle, Still dies in traffic Still losing coolant, dies unexpectedly and then won't start. Replaced fuel pump about 3 years ago for it dying in the middle of sams club traffic lane. Currently issues with the other problems listed above. Have found out this is a common problem with these motors. I called Ford and was told it's because I have 112,000 miles on my car. I've never missed a service, never driven the car hard, never over heated it. I have taken excellent car of this vehicle. Currently waiting for another diagnostic test. We pay to much for these cars to be stuck in traffic and have the engines go out and so many problems with them. Yes this car can be inspected at any time. Ford needs to recall this engine and fix its mistake. This is not okay. And it's dangerous to continue to let people drive these vehicles.

- Hot Springs , AR, USA

problem #40

Feb 012022

Mustang 4-cyl

  • 78,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to stop. The contact stated that the emergency brake was engaged however, the vehicle crashed into the curb. The brake warning light was illuminated. The contact then stated that the driver-??s side seat belt failed to operate and was seized. As result, the contact sustained an injury to her neck and finger. No medical attention was needed. The air bags failed to deploy. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the master cylinder needed to be replaced. The vehicle cylinder was replaced but failed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the master cylinder needed to be replaced but diagnosed that nothing was wrong with the seatbelt. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, the contact stated that they hung up the phone. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000. The consumer stated the vehicle was sold because of the ongoing problems.

- Rancho Cordova, CA, USA

problem #39

Mar 072022

Mustang

  • miles
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request" -The engine on my 2016 Ford Mustang EcoBoost is malfunctioning. My vehicle's RPM drop extremely low then rev high, then the car almosts cut off when I drive at low speeds, park, or stop at lights/stop signs. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? -I stopped driving my car any further than 10-15 mile distances because I was afraid the car may cut off while I'm driving down the road in traffic. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center" -I took my car to 3 different Ford dealerships, in Mississippi, North Carolina and Maryland. The first could not replicate the issue or find any issues, the second dealer whom I paid approximately $700 for repairs had my car for 3 weeks because they couldn't find the issue, so they replaced my spark plugs and an ignition coil and said it should be good. The third Ford dealership didn't diagnose it truly they just said it was leaking coolant so it had to be an internal coolant leak that has damaged my engine (causing a misfire), based on a Ford TSB that has apparently been out for a long time. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others" -It was inspected by 3 different Ford dealerships. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear" -The first time I had this symptom was in the spring of 2021, but it was a one time thing and it went away. The next time I noticed the issue was around July of 2021 which is when I took it to the Ford dealership near me in Mississippi. The first time the check engine light came on was in April of 2022 when I arrived in Maryland after I took it to the repair shop in North Carolina. Note: I was in the process of moving from Mississippi to the DC area, otherwise I wouldn't have even driven it that far.

- Temple Hills, MD, USA

problem #38

Jan 012022

Mustang

  • 59,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the mechanic discovered a misfire in cylinder #3. The coil and the spark plug in cylinder #3 were replaced; however, the check engine warning light intermittently illuminated as the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was hot. The contact took the vehicle back to the mechanic where they discovered that the coolant level was low and recommended that the vehicle be taken to a dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the diagnostic test discovered that coolant had leaked into cylinder #3 and that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided a case number. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #37

Apr 092022

Mustang

  • miles
Failure of Driver side Valve cover- leaking oil and valve cover bolts were completely loose. Both valve covers are prone to failure according to tsb 19-2309. Note: The engine block is designed to have 13 bolts to secure and seal valve covers to engine. Instead of using a 13 bolt valve cover, ford used 9 bolt valve covers for 3 consecutive years which deviates from the engine design. Safety concern- the discharge of combustible oil in and around engine bay and other engine components. engine components which are flammable and or susceptible to damage as a result from contact of leaking oil from failed valve covers and bolts. This failure could also result in catastrophic engine failure depending on when this failure occurs, if it goes unnoticed, and how bad it is. This problem has been confirmed by ford via tsb 19-2309 which instructs the removal of both valve covers, drilling 4 holes in each valve cover, replacing valve cover gasket-??s, and adding 4 additional bolts to each valve cover upon complete re-assembly. This problem has been reproduced sufficient amounts for a TSB to be in place. An important NOTE with TSB 19-2309 is that it does not instruct the need to drill threaded holes into the engine block for 8 additional valve cover bolts because they are already present. The holes are simply covered up by the 9 bolt valve covers and go unused. Vehicle has been inspected by a Certified mechanic/ business outside of Ford dealership/company. No warning lights of any kind appeared. The issue was noticed on 4/9/2022 during a routine oil change and inspection. Car currently has 35,000 miles and is not being driven or started. Why is ford not willing to do the right thing by proactively recalling for this issue?

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #36

Dec 102021

Mustang 4-cyl

  • miles
Purchased the car around 40k miles. Did all the maintenance required for 3-4 years with it now at 98k miles. On the evening near Christmas eve as i was at the red light making a right turn i heard clank from the bottom of my engine, then metal pieces were falling off to the ground. Smoke was coming out from the engine, with the oil pressure illuminating light on. I pulled over to see a trail of oil, while looking under I saw a big whole on the bottom of the engine block. Good thing it didn't happened when I was driving at a higher speed and I was by myself vs having my kids with me. Geico would not cover my blown engine, and ford knows this is a known issue referring to "Ecoboom" but i no longer have warranty with them. Car has been sitting at the shop pending 6500 to have the engine replaced. With covid times we are living in right now i dont know what else to do.

- San Jose, CA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »