Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Mustang, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags26
- Engine and engine cooling24
- Seat belts22
- Service brakes, hydraulic17
- Power train16
- Vehicle speed control13
- Visibility11
- Fuel/propulsion system10
- Fuel system, gasoline10
- Electrical system10
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 34 injuries and 2 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 53 2001 Mustang vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 41 people died inside them, and 13 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2001 Ford Mustang failed the safety check 1.57% of the time — 22% less often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 93,600 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
32 first registered in 2001 are on Dutch roads; 66% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Schijf-, trommelrem loopt niet vrij8
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde8
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen7
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld5
- Band onvoldoende profiel4
- Roestschade hoofdbalk4
- Waarschuwingsinrichting antiblokkeersysteem geeft defect aan4
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt3
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
10 cars built in 2001 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 14 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
8 of these cars first registered in 2001 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 123,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
48 2001 cars are on the New Zealand register; 67% arrived as used imports, 31% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 5 variants: combined 11.6–13.2 L/100 km (about 18–20 mpg US), CO₂ 267–304 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mustang · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 13.7 | 8.9 | 11.6 |
| Mustang · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 13.8 | 9.6 | 11.9 |
| Mustang · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 14.8 | 10.3 | 12.8 |
| Mustang · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 15.0 | 10.3 | 12.9 |
| Mustang # · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 15.5 | 10.3 | 13.2 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2001 Ford Mustang.
| 2000282 28 Nov 2000 | Brakes On certain vehicles equipped with manual transmissions, if parked with the parking brake not fully applied and not in first gear, as directed in the Owner Guide… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. IF A VEHICLE IS PARKED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE NOT FULLY APPLIED AND NOT IN FIRST GEAR, AS DIRECTED IN THE OWNER GUIDE, AND THE SELF ADJUSTMENT PAWL SUBSEQUENTLY SKIPS ONE OR TWO TEETH, THE VEHICLE COULD MOVE ON SOME GRADES.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 2001 Ford Mustang: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637840 | SOME VEHICLES WITH THE TR6350 MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A LIGHT TICKING / RATTLE NOISE WHILE DRIVING AFTER A COLD ENGINE START. *TT |
| 637824 | SUBJECT REGARDING INACCURATE SPEEDOMETER. *TT |
| 637694 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6L ROMEO ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A SLIGHT OIL LEAK OR WEEP AT THE CYLINDER HEAD TO BLOCK JOINT. *TT |
| 637509 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A SLIGHT OIL LEAK AT THE CYLINDER HEAD TO BLOCK JOINT. *TT |
| 637436 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A WIND NOISE FROM EITHER SIDE OF THE A-PILLAR AREA. *TT |
| 636339 | SUBJECT REGARDING SPEED CONTROL LAMP. *TT |
| 636265 | SOME COBRAS MAY EXHIBIT A CLUNK NOISE FROM THE DRIVELINE DURING A QUICK ACCLERATION JUST AFTER COAST (TIP-IN CLUNK). *TT |
| 636261 | SOME VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A HARD TO SHIFT INTO GEAR CONDITION PARITCULARLY FROM A STOP INTO FIRST OR REVERSE GEAR. *TT |
| 636065 | INFORMATION REGARDING DISCHARGED BATTERY CHARGING SERVICE TIPS AND GUIDELINES. *TT |
| 636052 | INOPERATIVE OR INACURRATE SPEEDOMETER, 4X4 LAMP ILLUMINATD, AND / OR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1635 OR P1639. *TT |
| 636045 | ON SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.6L ENGINE, THE FRONT END ACCESSORY DRIVE (FEAD) BELT MAY HYDROPLANE ON THE WATER PUMP PULLEY WHENTHE BELT IS SPLASHED WITH WATER. *TT |
| 630734 | CONCERNS WITH A TR3650 MANUAL TRANSMISSION EXHIBITING CLASH/GRINDING SOUND DURING THE FIRST FEW MILES OF DRIVING. *TT |
| 630657 | CONCERNS WITH COBRA SPARK KNOCK CONDITION. *TT |
| 630628 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN INTAKE MANIFOLD CROSSOVER (FIRST RUNNER) COOLANT SEEPAGE CONDITION. *TT |
| 630569 | CONCERNS WITH VEHICLES EXHIBITING DOOR GLASS INOPERATIVE CONDITION. *TT |
| 630554 | INFORMATION ON DRIVELINE CLUNK FOR COBRA MODELS. *TT |
| 630515 | ENGINE OIL SYSTEM PRIMING PROCEDURES, SERVICE TIPS FOR REPORTS OF PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TT |
| 630354 | SOME VEHICLES MAY RUN ROUGH AT CRUISE OR MOMENTARILY AFTER STOPPING, A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT,AND P030X CODES. *TT |
| 630341 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE T45 MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION OF BEING STUCK IN REVERSE, DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR MAY POP OUT OF REVERSE. *TT |
| 630260 | SOME BULLITT VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A HESITATION OR STUMBLE CONDITION WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS. *TT |
| 630251 | SOME COBRAS MAY EXHIBIT SPARK KNOCK CONDITION UNDER ACCELERATION. *TT |
| 630204 | SOME CONVERTIBLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION WHERE THE CONVERTIBLE TOP LIFTS UNEVENLY. *TT |
| 630138 | SOME CONVERTIBLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION WHERE THE CONVERTIBLE TOP LIFTS UNEVENLY. *TT |
| 630113 | SOME COBRAS MAY EXHIBIT A SPARK KNOCK CONDITION UNDER ACCELERATION. *TT |
| 630029 | SOME BULLITT VEHICLES MAY HAVE THE LETTERING COME OFF THE BULLITT AUTHENTICITY STICKER THAT IS FOUND ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SHOCK TOWER. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation