Seat belts: pretensioner
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles. Water and road salt may corrode the front seat belt anchor pretensioner cables.
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.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles. Water and road salt may corrode the front seat belt anchor pretensioner cables.
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.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Mustang model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 304 |
| 1997 | 230 |
| 1998 | 320 |
| 1999 | 297 |
| 2000 | 446 |
| 2001 | 280 |
| 2002 | 209 |
| 2003 | 271 |
| 2004 | 130 |
| 2005 | 868 |
| 2006 | 575 |
| 2007 | 615 |
| 2008 | 347 |
| 2009 | 181 |
| 2010 | 261 |
| 2011 | 466 |
| 2012 | 469 |
| 2013 | 271 |
| 2014 | 359 |
| 2015 | 439 |
| 2016 | 380 |
| 2017 | 268 |
| 2018 | 196 |
| 2019 | 152 |
| 2020 | 122 |
| 2021 | 55 |
| 2022 | 50 |
| 2023 | 15 |
| 2024 | 85 |
| 2025 | 20 |
| 2026 | 8 |
“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”
“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.”
“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.”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mustang Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive | 21 | 31 | 25 | $2,550 | 356 |
| Mustang Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive | 22 | 31 | 25 | $2,550 | 352 |
| Mustang Convertible Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 | 29 | 23 | $2,800 | 378 |
| Mustang Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 | 27 | 22 | $2,900 | 410 |
| Mustang Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 28 | 21 | $3,050 | 427 |
| Mustang Auto (S6), 8 cyl, 5.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 25 | 19 | $3,400 | 470 |
| Mustang Man 6-spd, 8 cyl, 5.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 25 | 19 | $3,400 | 480 |
| Mustang Convertible Auto (S6), 8 cyl, 5.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 23 | 18 | $3,550 | 489 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
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.
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.
The EPA rates the 2016 Ford Mustang at 18–25 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (8 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2016 Ford Mustang 5 out of 5 stars overall.