Problems · by component

2012 Ford Mustang vehicle speed control problems

35 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Mustang cite vehicle speed control, 7% of all 469 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
35
7% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the vehicle speed control

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 8, 2025Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Unknown or otherODI 11641506
“Recently started having erratic shifting issues. Will downshift randomly out of nowhere while driving. Sometimes will just be stuck in 1st gear and won’t go anywhere until I pull over and shut off/start up again. Dangerous because I never know when it will do it. Might seem like everything is fine and then all of a sudden, it downshifts and loses power. Rpm’s rise but car has no power. Have to figure out how to get out of the way. As stated in ford’s “ Customer Satisfaction Program 16N02,” my 2012 has all the symptoms and I have DTC code P0731 but dealer refused to service my vehicle because it doesn’t show up with my VIN, even though it’s a 2012 and I clearly need my Molded Leadframe replaced.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 20, 2024Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 11573018
“IN 2012 OR 2013 I HAD AN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE MUSTANG RAN INTO THE BACK OF SEMI TRUCK. UNATTENDED ACCELERATION HAPPENED TWICE IN THE SAME DAY AND THE SECOND TIME I COULD NOT GET IT TO BREAK FREE AND STOP UNTIL THE LAST SECOND BUT IT WAS TOO LATE IT HIT THE SEMI TRUCK TRAILER IN FRONT OF ME. THIS WAS INSPITE OF ME HAVING BOTH FEET PUSHING STRONGLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. WE HAD STARTED OFF SLOWLY FROM A RED LIGHT AND THEN THE CAR DOWNSHIFTED AND TOOK OFF. SOUTHWEST FORD IN WEATHERFORD, TX HAD CALLED THE FORD ENGINEER TO COME LOOK AT IT. IT TOOK A MONTH FOR HIM TO COME. HE LOOKED AT IT IN ITS BANGED UP SHAPE AND DECLARED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK SOMETHING HAD CHANGED. IT SEEMED LIKE THE SOFTWARE HAD BEEN CHANGED BECAUSE IT NEVER HAD THE PROBLEM AGAIN AND WHENEVER THE BRAKE WAS TOUCHED IT WOULD KILL ANY ACCELERATION IMMEDIATELY. ALSO I LOST ABOUT 3 MILES PER GALLON TILL THIS DAY. THE ENGINEER BLAMED ME WHEN HE OBVIOUSLY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE. ALSO THE VERY NEXT DAY AFTER THE ENGINEERS VISIT FORD WAS HIT WITH A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR JUST THIS REPORTED UNATTENDED ACCELERATION ACROSS MOST OF ITS MODELS. NOT MY FAULT! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 20, 2019Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 11202665
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND THE WRENCH WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOHN BLEAKLEY FORD (LOCATED AT 870 THORNTON RD, LITHIA SPRINGS, GA 30122, (770) 941-9000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OUTPUT SHAFT SPEED SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,667.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 25, 2019Vehicle speed controlODI 11191325
“WHILE ACCELERATING ON A PUBLIC HIGHWAY THE THROTTLE WENT STRAIGHT TO REDLINE AND WOULD NOT DECELERATE UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE MOTOR WAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BY SETTING THE KEY BACK TO RUN AND PLACING THE CLUTCH BACK IN 2ND GEAR WHILE IN MOTION. THE CAR COULD HAVE EASILY INJURED MOTORIST'S HAD IT NOT BEEN SHUT DOWN IN PROPERLY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2019Vehicle speed controlODI 11184993
“CROSSING LANES ON HIGHWAY CAR STOPS ACCELERATING,. CAR UNABLE TO SPEED UP EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMS TO WORKS FINE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WRENCH COME ON. HAD TO COAST TO SIDE OF THE ROAD PARK CHECKED ENGINE RESTARTED CAR OPERATED NORMALLY ALL WARNING LIGHTS OFF.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 25, 2018Vehicle speed controlODI 11103799

Showing 6 of 35 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 4, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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

Other 2012 Mustang problem areas