Problems · NHTSA complaints

2010 Ford Mustang problems

Owners filed 261 complaints about the 2010 Ford Mustang with NHTSA between Aug 2009 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (179).

Complaints
261
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
13
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags179
  2. Structure17
  3. Power train13
  4. Electrical system11
  5. Vehicle speed control10
  6. Engine8
  7. Service brakes8
  8. Suspension5
  9. Fuel/propulsion system5
  10. Equipment4
  11. Engine and engine cooling4
  12. Tires3
  13. Steering3
  14. Exterior lighting3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20092
201017
20116
20125
20137
201415
201526
201666
201755
201840
201910
20204
20211
20223
20232
20241
20250
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

179 reports7 crashes1 fire6 related recalls
“I was on my way to go do a clients hair on dec 1 2022 I was tragically hit by the airbag at a 2,000 force pressure My left side of my jaw is in pain As well as my skull I also have a condition on my chest musculoskeletal”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 21, 2023Suspension, Air bags, EngineODI 11502903

Structure

17 reports1 crash
“WATER POOLING BEHIND DRIVER SEAT ON FLOORBOARD. VERY STRONG CHEMICAL SMELL IN CAR. CONDENSATION INSIDE ALL WINDOWS EVERYDAY. CAR PARKED ON DRIVEWAY NEXT TO HOUSE. INITIALLY TAKEN TO DEALER ~1 YEAR AGO FOR ODOR (NO WATER YET). COULD NOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM, NOTHING DONE. TECHNICIAN DOING INSPECTION LAST WEEK THOUGHT IT WAS MOLD CAUSING THE OVERWHELMING SMELL AND THERE MUST BE A LEAK. TOOK TO DEALER FOLLOWING MONDAY. DEALER DETERMINED A SEAM IN THE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED TO STOP THE WATER LEAK. DRIED AND CLEANED INTERIOR TO GET RID OF SMELL. UNKNOWN HOW LONG DEODORIZING WILL LAST THOUGH. CONCERNED ABOUT CONTACT WITH MOLD.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 9, 2020StructureODI 11298214

Power train

13 reports1 crash
“When vehicle is placed in park while on, vehicle rolls forward . Put vehicle in park on the side of the road to answer a phone call. Was pulled up behind another vehicle and car rolled forward, and rear ended vehicle in front of me. The police were notified but no citation was given Another time vehicle was in park and running and ran over somebodies foot. very unacceptable”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 14, 2022Power trainCrash reportedODI 11497506

Electrical system

11 reports1 crash1 fire
“THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME N THEN THE RADIO CAME IT WON'T TURN OFF THE HEAT WILL NOT TURN OFF STAYS ON CONTINUOUS GOES OFF FOR 3 SECONDS AND COME BACK ON BY ITSELF”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 29, 2018Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11163972

Vehicle speed control

10 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED ACTIVATED THE PARKING BRAKE UP AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 176,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 2, 2020Vehicle speed controlODI 11337256

Engine

8 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE WRENCH ICON ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE WARNING ICON REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY, INPUT/OUTPUT SENSORS, ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, AND CAM AND CRANK SHAFTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE PARTS HIMSELF, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN LIMP MODE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER UNKNOWN DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 107,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 1, 2019Power train, EngineODI 11277484
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.