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2016 Ford Mustang problems

What owners reported to NHTSA, at what mileage, and every safety recall for this model year.

379owner complaints
5safety recalls
13involved a crash

Also reported: 7 fires, 11 people injured, 2 deaths. Each complaint is counted once even if it lists several components.

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Most reported problems

Complaints by component. One complaint can name more than one component, so these add up to more than 379.

Engine75
Usually 7,400–61,879 miles (middle half of 43 reports with mileage)
Electrical system73
Usually 17,000–43,500 miles (middle half of 39 reports with mileage)
Parts named: Instrument cluster/panel (1); 12V/24V/48V battery (1); Alternator/generator/regulator (1)
Unknown or other70
Usually 16,250–48,500 miles (middle half of 30 reports with mileage)
Back over prevention52
Usually 25,500–75,250 miles (middle half of 20 reports with mileage)
Parts named: Sensing system › camera (19); Rearview system braking (2); Warnings (2)
Power train29
Usually 950–47,375 miles (middle half of 20 reports with mileage)
Structure28
Usually 32,500–72,000 miles (middle half of 17 reports with mileage)
Parts named: Body (22); Body › door (4); Body › door › hinge and attachments (1); Body › trunk lid (1)
Latches/locks/linkages27
Usually 50,000–80,000 miles (middle half of 18 reports with mileage)
Parts named: Doors › latch (19); Trunk lid › lock (1)
Fuel/propulsion system20
Usually 6,778–40,750 miles (middle half of 10 reports with mileage)
Service brakes17
Usually 21,000–70,648 miles (middle half of 7 reports with mileage)
Air bags15
Usually 5,900–35,500 miles (middle half of 10 reports with mileage)

When problems show up

Reports by odometer reading at the time of the problem, top components. Each bar is a 25,000-mile band, labeled by where it starts (0 = 0–25k miles). Reports without mileage are left out.

Engine

43 reports with mileage · median 35,000 miles
025k50k75k100k125k150k175k200k+

Electrical system

39 reports with mileage · median 32,000 miles
025k50k75k100k125k150k175k200k+

Unknown or other

30 reports with mileage · median 30,000 miles
025k50k75k100k125k150k175k200k+

Safety recalls (5)

Recalls that cover the 2016 Ford Mustang. Some apply only to certain trims or build dates. This page cannot tell whether a specific car's recall work was done.

Check a specific VIN's open recalls on nhtsa.gov

Seat belts › pretensioner

Campaign 25V614000 · 2025-09-12 · 332,778 vehicles

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

Full recall text and remedy

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

Consequence: A corroded cable can break, preventing the seat belt from properly restraining an occupant, and increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace both front seat belt anchor pretensioner assemblies, as necessary. In addition, dealers will remove sections of the carpet and underlayment that contact the cables. Dealers will also inspect the A-pillar sealing patches, and as necessary, install A-pillar body plugs, and/or inspect and replace the front outboard seat bolts. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed October 20, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated December 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S92. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov September 17, 2025.

Back over prevention › sensing system › camera

Campaign 25V572000 · 2025-09-03 · 1,456,417 vehicles

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…

Full recall text and remedy

Summary: 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.

Consequence: A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 8, 2025.

Back over prevention › sensing system › camera

Campaign 22V082000 · 2022-02-16 · 330,784 vehicles

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…

Full recall text and remedy

Summary: 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.

Consequence: A rearview camera that displays a blank or distorted image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the decklid wiring harness and/or replace the rearview camera, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2022 and June 26, 2023. Remedy parts are expected to become available in the 4th Quarter of 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S06.

Engine and engine cooling › cooling system › hoses/lines/piping/fittings

Campaign 16V779000 · 2016-10-26 · 6,582 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles manufactured February 24, 2015, to August 30, 2016. A hose may separate from the…

Full recall text and remedy

Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles manufactured February 24, 2015, to August 30, 2016. A hose may separate from the engine oil cooler tube assembly causing an oil leak.

Consequence: A sudden loss of engine oil may cause engine failure, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, an oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil cooler tube assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March 23, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S40.

Child seat › tether › connector/clip; seat belts

Campaign 15V707000 · 2015-10-26 · 1,900 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Mustang vehicles manufactured September 26, 2015, to October 1, 2015. The front and rear seat belts…

Full recall text and remedy

Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Mustang vehicles manufactured September 26, 2015, to October 1, 2015. The front and rear seat belts and child seat tether anchors may have been damaged in shipping from the supplier to the vehicle assembly plant and may not adequately restrain the occupant in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," and 225, "Child restraint anchorage systems."

Consequence: If the restraint components do not function as intended, the occupants may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front and rear seat belt assemblies and the child seat tether anchors, free of charge. The recall began on December 18, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C13.

Questions to ask the seller

Has the engine had any repairs, oil leaks, or check-engine lights? Ask for the invoices and listen for knocking or ticking on a cold start.

75 owner complaints mention the engine, half of the reports with mileage are between 7,400 and 61,879 miles.

Any battery drain, dashboard warning lights, or electrical repairs? Test every switch, screen, and power accessory before buying.

73 owner complaints mention the electrical system, half of the reports with mileage are between 17,000 and 43,500 miles.

Does the backup camera show a clear picture every time you shift into reverse?

52 owner complaints mention the backup camera or rear sensors, half of the reports with mileage are between 25,500 and 75,250 miles.

Has the transmission been serviced or repaired? On the test drive, watch for slipping, delayed engagement, or harsh shifts.

29 owner complaints mention the transmission or drivetrain, half of the reports with mileage are between 950 and 47,375 miles.

Any rust, frame damage, or body repairs? Look underneath and ask whether the car has been in an accident.

28 owner complaints mention the body or structure, half of the reports with mileage are between 32,500 and 72,000 miles.

Has the open recall work been done? Ask for dealer service records, and check the VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls.

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year.

Other Ford Mustang years

Owner complaints per model year (2010–2022). Older cars have had more time to collect reports.

Compare all years on one chart

Source: NHTSA complaints file (FLAT_CMPL, updated 2026-10-21) and NHTSA recalls file. Page generated 2026-10-22.

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