Problems · NHTSA complaints
2012 Ford Mustang problems
Owners filed 469 complaints about the 2012 Ford Mustang with NHTSA between Mar 2011 and Apr 2026. The most-cited component is power train (177).
Complaints
469
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
20
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train177
- Air bags158
- Vehicle speed control35
- Engine30
- Structure23
- Electrical system21
- Fuel/propulsion system18
- Suspension16
- Steering16
- Electronic stability control (esc)12
- Service brakes10
- Wheels6
- Exterior lighting5
- Seats5
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 4, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
66
31
37
32
56
98
57
36
22
7
7
7
4
4
4
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 66 |
| 2012 | 31 |
| 2013 | 37 |
| 2014 | 32 |
| 2015 | 56 |
| 2016 | 98 |
| 2017 | 57 |
| 2018 | 36 |
| 2019 | 22 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Power train
177 reports8 crashes2 related recalls
“Transmission seems to lose power while driving, the car will barely pull itself but the rpms increase if I accelerate. This has happened several times while driving and occasionally there are dash lights lighting and speedometer/gas gauge doesn’t work but that doesn’t happen every time. When it happens I pull over and shut it down and restart and it runs correctly until it happens again! I do a lot of highway driving and the car just “falling flat” on a multi-lane highway at 70+ mph is definitely a safety issue! I have taken it to my local fastlane shop and the car was driven but didn’t malfunction at that time. He advised me to try to drive it there if it happened again, but I have never been close to the shop at the times it happens or they are closed. There is no advance warning, it happens at various speeds and even on takeoff after stopping for traffic lights. I once was pulling into traffic when it happened and didn’t have enough power to get to my lane before it fell flat! Fortunately I could back up before getting hit by oncoming traffic.”
Air bags
158 reports9 crashes5 related recalls
“I am the owner of a 2012 Ford Mustang GT currently located in Kuwait. My vehicle has an open Takata airbag safety recall, which is a life-threatening defect. I contacted the authorized Ford dealer in Kuwait and Ford Middle East, but both refused to perform the recall repair, stating that the vehicle is a “gray market import” and not eligible. They also attempted to condition the repair on paid service, which is unrelated to safety recalls. Additionally, the authorized dealer informed me that my vehicle has a total of four open recalls, not just the Takata airbag recall. Despite this, they still refused to perform any of the recall repairs due to the vehicle being a “gray market import.” This refusal leaves me driving an unsafe vehicle with no official repair solution. Safety recalls should not be denied based on geographic location, as they are a manufacturer responsibility tied to the vehicle. I am requesting investigation into this issue.”
Vehicle speed control
35 reports3 crashes
“Speedometer went to zero while driving and seemed to be in neutral. Could not accelerate. Also low fuel warning light came on when I had a full tank. After car was shut off and restarted speedometer seemed fine for about 1 mile, then self accelerated. Now continues to read zero and can not accelerate unless I restart engine.”
Engine
30 reports1 crash
“AIR BAG RECALL AND IAM HAVING A CODE FOR ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY CONTROL ISSUES THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL FROM WHAT I HEARD BUT MY LOCAL FORD DEALER SAID IT WASNT.”
Structure
23 reports2 crashes
“THE PAINT ON THE HOOD STARTING AT THE SEAM ON THE UNDERSIDE STARTED BUBBLING LIKE IT WAS RUSTING UNDERNEATH AND HAS SPREAD UP & AROUND ON THE TOP OF THE HOOD. THE PAINT IS NOW STARTING TO CRACK AND FALL OFF. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP COLLISION CENTER AND TO AN INDEPENDENT COLLISION CENTER AND BOTH ADVISED THE HOOD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND PAINTED. BOTH ADVISED THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND APPEARS TO BE SOME TYPE OF CONTAMINATION THAT OCCURS WHEN THE SEAM IS SEALED. THE QUOTES FOR THIS REPAIR ARE FOR $3400 & $3300. WHILE A 2012, OUR MUSTANG HAS BEEN KEPT UNDER A COVER AND ONLY HAS 24,000 MILES ON IT.”
Electrical system
21 reports2 crashes1 fire
“Windshield wipers turn on randomly and will not stay on when switch is on, also sprays washer fluid on windshield randomly and wipers do not work making it a very dangerous driving hazard”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 4, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.