Research · Subcompact Cars

2016 Ford MustangRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 380 owner complaints for the 2016 Ford Mustang. Most complaints involve engine (76) and electrical system (73). The EPA rates it 18–25 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
18–25mpg
EPA · 8 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
5campaigns
Latest Sep 2025
Owner complaints
380
Top: engine
Fuel cost / yr
$2,550est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

5 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Seat belts: pretensioner

Remedy pending

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles. Water and road salt may corrode the front seat belt anchor pretensioner cables.

Seat beltsReported Sep 13, 2025NHTSA 25V614000

Back over prevention: camera

Free remedy

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.

Back over preventionReported Sep 4, 2025NHTSA 25V572000

Back over prevention: camera

Free remedy

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera wiring may be loose or damaged, which can result in a blank or distorted image.

Back over preventionReported Feb 16, 2022NHTSA 22V082000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 4, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

380 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jan 2016 – Oct 2026
  1. Engine76
  2. Electrical system73
  3. Back over prevention52
  4. Power train29
  5. Structure28
  6. Latches/locks/linkages27
  7. Fuel/propulsion system20
  8. Service brakes17
  9. Air bags15

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

By model year

Complaints for each Mustang model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996304
1997230
1998320
1999297
2000446
2001280
2002209
2003271
2004130
2005868
2006575
2007615
2008347
2009181
2010261
2011466
2012469
2013271
2014359
2015439
2016380
2017268
2018196
2019152
2020122
202155
202250
202315
202485
202520
20268
Crashes reported
13
Fires reported
7
Injuries reported
11
Deaths reported
2
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 4, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Engine

76 reports1 crash4 fires
“Brought the car in for service. The tech called me back and said the engine was blown. Condensation in cylinder 3. This was due to the cylinder walls being engineered to small. Which caused a leak in the coolant jacket. I paid out of pocket nearly $10,000 to have it replaced because the third party warranty that I had purchased declined my coverage to fix it because it’s a known issue by ford. Bc”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 3, 2026EngineODI 11761935

Electrical system

73 reports1 crash3 fires
“A new Walmart-brand EverStart Plus 96R, 590 CCA automotive battery was purchased on August 4, 2026, and installed in a 2016 Ford Mustang Convertible. On the evening of September 26, 2026, my family and I drove the Mustang and returned home at approximately 11:00 p.m. The vehicle operated normally. There were no warning signs, electrical problems, overheating, or other indications of a mechanical problem. The Mustang remained parked and untouched overnight. At approximately 2:00 p.m., 15 hours later, on September 27, my daughter came into the room and told me that the car was on fire. Riverside County Fire responded to the scene. Fire personnel specifically asked whether the Mustang had been driven or worked on that day. I told them it had not. The vehicle had remained parked since approximately 11:00 p.m. the prior evening. Fire personnel continued to suppress the fire, investigated the engine compartment, cut the battery cables, photographed the vehicle, and advised me that the battery appeared to be the possible source of ignition.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 29, 2026Electrical systemFire reportedODI 11767727

Back over prevention

52 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse(R), the rear-view camera was blank and then operated intermittently; however, the image was blurry. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on two occasions. During the first visit, the contact was informed that the harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was then taken to a different dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the camera needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted during the first inclement weather. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 24, 2026Back over preventionODI 11726715
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 4, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

8 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Subcompact Cars
Engines
2.3L 4-cyl turbo · 3.7L 6-cyl · 5.0L 8-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (S6) · Manual 6-spd
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 4, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Mustang
Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
213125$2,550356
Mustang
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
223125$2,550352
Mustang Convertible
Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
202923$2,800378
Mustang
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
192722$2,900410
Mustang
Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
172821$3,050427
Mustang
Auto (S6), 8 cyl, 5.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
162519$3,400470
Mustang
Man 6-spd, 8 cyl, 5.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
152519$3,400480
Mustang Convertible
Auto (S6), 8 cyl, 5.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
152318$3,550489
  • Mustang
    Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Turbo
    21 city · 31 hwy · $2,550/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Mustang
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Turbo
    22 city · 31 hwy · $2,550/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Mustang Convertible
    Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Turbo
    20 city · 29 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Mustang
    Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L
    19 city · 27 hwy · $2,900/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • Mustang
    Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L
    17 city · 28 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Mustang
    Auto (S6), 8 cyl, 5.0 L
    16 city · 25 hwy · $3,400/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
  • Mustang
    Man 6-spd, 8 cyl, 5.0 L
    15 city · 25 hwy · $3,400/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
  • Mustang Convertible
    Auto (S6), 8 cyl, 5.0 L
    15 city · 23 hwy · $3,550/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 4, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
—/ 5
Not rated
Ford Mustang C RWD
Frontal crash
Not rated
Side crash
Not rated
Side pole
Not rated
Rollover
5 of 5
Rollover risk
8.1%
Overall
5 / 5
Ford Mustang 2 DR RWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
5 of 5
Rollover risk
8.1%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 4, 2026Vehicle 10221Vehicle 10220
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2016 Mustang questions

How many recalls does the 2016 Ford Mustang have?

5 safety recalls as of Nov 4, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2016 Ford Mustang problems?

Owners filed 380 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine (76), electrical system (73), back over prevention (52). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2016 Ford Mustang get?

The EPA rates the 2016 Ford Mustang at 18–25 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (8 versions rated).

How safe is the 2016 Ford Mustang?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2016 Ford Mustang 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 4, 2026