The Used Car Index

2012 Ford Mustang problems

NHTSA lists 469 complaints for the 2012 Ford Mustang, 20 of them mention a crash and 2 mention a fire. 9 complaints mention an injury, with 9 injuries and 1 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-08.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as FORD MUSTANG.

At a glance

Complaints
469
With crash
20
With fire
2
With injury (complaints)
9
Injuries
9
Deaths
1
Recalls
6
Do not drive recalls
3
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
1,018,622
Investigations
1
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
61

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
POWER TRAIN17737.7%
AIR BAGS15833.7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL357.5%
ENGINE306.4%
STRUCTURE234.9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM214.5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM183.8%
STEERING163.4%
SUSPENSION163.4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER153.2%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
STRUCTUREBODY21
POWER TRAINMANUAL TRANSMISSION20
POWER TRAINAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
EQUIPMENTAPPLIANCE1
EQUIPMENTELECTRICAL1
EXTERIOR LIGHTINGBACK UP LIGHTS1
TIRESSIDEWALL1
TIRESTEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE1
VISIBILITYGLASS, SIDE/REAR1
VISIBILITYREAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags

These labels are model-generated, not NHTSA data.

Failure modes
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
restraint or airbag14432.3%0.91
mechanical failure12828.7%0.87
loss of control7917.7%0.74
electrical electronic378.3%0.69
structural or corrosion194.3%0.98
noise or comfort173.8%0.82
unclear112.5%0.94
fire or overheating40.9%0.76
fluid or fuel leak40.9%0.79
visibility or lighting30.7%0.97
Severities
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
moderate23452.5%0.79
low18140.6%0.70
high224.9%0.87
none51.1%0.57
critical40.9%0.63

Model: typesafe/jev-1.13-20260917; schema version: tag-v1. 446 tagged complaints of 469 complaints (95.1%).

Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.

Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

6 recalls.

21V081000

Date: 2021-02-16. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-ter (excerpt)

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. (excerpt)

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

19V001000

Date: 2019-01-07. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury (excerpt)

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. (excerpt)

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 19S01. (excerpt)

Do not drive: Yes. Park outside: No.

17V024000

Date: 2017-01-10. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Z (excerpt)

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death. (excerpt)

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing March 1, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Fo (excerpt)

Do not drive: Yes. Park outside: No.

16V248000

Date: 2016-04-27. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford F-150 trucks, 2012 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Mustang vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with an automatic transmission that may unexpectedly downshift to first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.

Consequence: An unexpected downshift into first gear can cause the vehicle to slow down suddenly without warning and the rear tires may slide or lock, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S19.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

15V319000

Date: 2015-05-28. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2014 Mustang vehicles manufactured April 6, 2004, to June 21, 2014, and 2005-2006 GT vehicles manufactured February 20, 2004, to September 22, 2006. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture. (excerpt)

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. (excerpt)

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2016. Even if interim repairs were performed under safety recall 14V-802, owners must bring their vehicles in for the final remedy. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1 (excerpt)

Do not drive: Yes. Park outside: No.

12V190000

Date: 2012-05-03. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING, POWER TRAIN.

Defect: FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 FORD F-150, 2012 EXPEDITION AND LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, AND 2012-2013 MUSTANG VEHICLES, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NOS. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT" AND 108 A LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.A THESE VEHICLES MAY HAV (excerpt)

Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION MAY NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR WHEN THE DRIVER PUSHES THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE REVERSE A RA POSITION AND THE VEHICLEA S TRANSMISSION DOES GO IN REVERSE, THE A RA MAY NOT ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD OF THE F-150, EXPEDITION, OR NAVIGATOR MODELS AND/OR THE BACKUP LAMP ON THE REAR OF THE F-150, EXPEDITION, NAVIGATOR, OR MUSTANG VEHICLES MAY NOT ILLUMINATE. THES (excerpt)

Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE TRS AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

1 investigations; 0 open.

PE11024

Opened: 2011-08-03. Closed: 2011-12-14.

Inability to shift gears on acceleration

The Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) analyzed complaint data provided by Ford as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers.In total, there were 364 unique reports indicating various shift quality issues while driving.Ford identified several factors that may contribute to shift quality concerns in the subject vehicles, including cold transmission, clutch stay-out at high engine speed

Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

Manufacturer communications

61 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
EQUIPMENT21
POWER TRAIN14
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10
ENGINE8
STRUCTURE7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING6
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY4
AIR BAGS3

11031792

Date: 2026-04-29. Type: Other. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Harvest Program 25H05 a Supplement #1 Certain 2011-2021 Model Year Vehicles Software Verification Harvest Program

11029052

Date: 2026-02-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the

11026013

Date: 2025-11-19. Type: Other. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This is a proactive investigation program by Ford Motor Company to inspect a limited number of affected vehicles that are customer-owned. Ford is voluntarily conducting this program to evaluate the software currently installed on one or more electronic modules in the affected vehicles.

11008948

Date: 2024-10-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions.

10254138

Date: 2024-04-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

All accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. If the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the vehicle s owner during initial delivery. Unlike the integrated (wired) factory keypad,

10251951

Date: 2024-03-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

Some 2011-2024 Mustang and F-150 vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine may exhibit a tick tap and/or typewriter ticking noise at idle after an engine oil change. It is often referred to as typewriter noise because of its similarity to the sound of a mechanical typewriter. The noise in question may be

10209374

Date: 2022-03-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion & MKZ/Zephyr, 2006-2011 Milan, and 2007-2010 Edge & MKX Vehicles Driver & Passenger Airbag Module Quality Control Inspection: Ford Motor Company has determined that some vehicles claimed by dealers as repaired under Takata A

10201086

Date: 2021-08-17. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

This program extends the warranty coverage of the automatic transmission molded leadframe to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle, whichever occurs first. This is a one-time repair program.

10191525

Date: 2021-04-29. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

Some 2011-2021 Mustang and F-150 vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine may exhibit a ticking noise at idle after an engine oil change. It is often referred to as typewriter noise because of its similarity to the sound of a mechanical typewriter. The noise in question may be heard on some engines when

10183567

Date: 2020-11-09. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

For 2011-2020 F-150/Mustang vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine when installing a replacement secondary timing chain tensioner (6K254) or secondary timing chain guide (6K297), it is necessary to replace both components as a pair, using the latest level parts. Make sure to use secondary timing chain

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
MUSTANG469

Same model, other years

All model years | All Ford models

Other Ford models, 2012

Sources

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