Problems · NHTSA complaints

2018 Ford Mustang problems

Owners filed 196 complaints about the 2018 Ford Mustang with NHTSA between Jan 2018 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is engine (59).

Complaints
196
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine59
  2. Power train46
  3. Electrical system31
  4. Structure15
  5. Back over prevention12
  6. Latches/locks/linkages12
  7. Fuel/propulsion system8
  8. Engine and engine cooling8
  9. Service brakes6
  10. Steering4
  11. Forward collision avoidance3
  12. Wheels3
  13. Lane departure2
  14. Seat belts2

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 3, 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
201810
201920
202024
202116
202217
202321
202419
202542
202627

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

Engine

59 reports1 crash1 fire
“The engine has a head gasket defect that leaked coolant into the engine causing misfires and requires a very expensive repair for a defect that came with the engine when it was made. Two Ford dealerships have inspected and confirmed the issue. The car threw codes six months ago and we immediately stopped driving it and had the dealership inspect the problem. We have not fixed it yet as the repair is estimated at 6,000. Parts and labor. It is available for inspection. This seems to be a very common issue with this vehicle. We replaced the fuel rail, spark plugs, and have had an independent inspection by a non affiliated repair shop for a similar price.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 20, 2026EngineODI 11772491

Power train

46 reports4 crashes1 related recall
“The 2.3L EcoBoost engine failed due to coolant leaking into the combustion chambers. The dealer found coolant present in cylinders 1 and 4, the cylinder 4 piston washed, and vertical scoring on the cylinder 4 wall. The dealer's recommendation is complete engine replacement. Yes, the engine is available for inspection. The vehicle is currently at the Ford dealership and the engine has not yet been replaced. Coolant entering the cylinders causes misfiring and loss of engine power. The vehicle shook on startup and ran roughly, and the misfire was intermittent and unpredictable. A sudden loss of motive power while driving in traffic or at highway speed is a crash risk to me and to other drivers. Coolant loss into the cylinders also reduces the coolant available to cool the engine, creating a risk of overheating. The vehicle is currently not safe to drive. A Ford dealership has reproduced the issue and confirmed it. The technician retrieved stored codes P0304 and P0316, removed the spark plugs and coils, and borescoped the cylinders. A cooling system pressure test was performed and the vehicle was allowed to sit, after which borescope inspection confirmed coolant in…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 13, 2026Power train, EngineODI 11770803

Electrical system

31 reports1 crash1 fire1 related recall
“The electrical components in the vehicle stopped functioning - for the lights on the interior the overhead stopped working on and off and then dimmed until one day never came back on. At the same time the sensor for cross traffic alert became buggy and then not functional which made all my safety features and cruise control not work. Now I have a TPMS sensor and check engine light with nothing serious wrong”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 24, 2026Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Back over preventionODI 11766779

Structure

15 reports
“Over the past year, we've had this car into the Ford of Clermont Florida dealer 5 times about a leak. Whenever we have a storm, the back footwell fills with water. Their leak specialist has said he has found the source of the issue multiple times and after each "repair", we still have a leak. They've replaced the rubber around both side windows and they've asked us to have the front windshield replaced. Even with all of this work, we still have a leak. In the longer term, this could compromise the structural integrity of the car. I don't know what else to do beyond bringing the car back again. I am listing [XXX] as the date the "incident occurred" because this is the latest water breach. But, it's been happening over the past year.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 4, 2025StructureODI 11684927

Back over prevention

12 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2018 Ford Mustang. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the camera was inoperable. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unavailable.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 27, 2026Back over preventionODI 11727593

Latches/locks/linkages

12 reports
“The contact owns a 2018 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the message "Front Passenger Door Ajar" was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and opened and closed the door. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The message was displayed three times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 6, 2025Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 11691722
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

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