Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Mustang, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine76
- Electrical system73
- Unknown or other70
- Back over prevention52
- Power train29
- Structure28
- Latches/locks/linkages27
- Fuel/propulsion system20
- Service brakes17
- Air bags15
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 11 injuries and 2 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 87 2016 Mustang vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 41 people died inside them, and 9 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 2016 Ford Mustang failed the safety check 1.47% of the time — 25% less often than the average 2016 passenger car (1.97%). Median odometer at inspection: 48,299 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2016
12,320 new Ford Mustang cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2016; the largest markets were Germany (5,141), France (1,778), the United Kingdom (1,072).
- Average mass
- 1,744 kg
- Average power
- 268 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Petrol 99% · LPG 1.4%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Engines
The most common engines in 2016 Ford Mustang cars on Dutch roads are the 2.3 petrol (233 kW, 312 hp), 5.0 petrol (310 kW, 416 hp) and 2.3 petrol (231 kW, 310 hp), out of 5 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.3 petrol | 233 kW 312 hp | 99 |
| 5.0 petrol | 310 kW 416 hp | 44 |
| 2.3 petrol | 231 kW 310 hp | 35 |
| 3.7 petrol | 224 kW 300 hp | 26 |
| 5.0 petrol | 324 kW 434 hp | 20 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
268 first registered in 2016 are on Dutch roads; 78% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €86,840.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde145
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld60
- Band onvoldoende profiel46
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm36
- Waarschuwingsinrichting controlesysteem bandenspanning geeft30
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect28
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm23
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse22
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
2,174 cars built in 2016 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 488 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
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 2,603 of these cars first registered in 2016 took their annual MOT test. 82% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2016 the figure was 79%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 6.1% | 4.3% |
| Tyres | 5.5% | 6.2% |
| Visibility | 5.1% | 3.5% |
| Suspension | 3.1% | 4.9% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 2.1% | 6.1% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.2% | 1.7% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
73 of these cars first registered in 2016 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 84,000 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
1,015 2016 cars are on the New Zealand register; 8% arrived as used imports, 90% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 2 variants; 1 of 1 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 Ford Mustang 2 DR RWD | ★★★★★ | 8.1 % |
| 2016 Ford Mustang C RWD | — | 8.1 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Optional
- Lane departure warning
- No
- Best overall rating
- 5 / 5
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 6 variants: combined 9.2–12.7 L/100 km (about 19–26 mpg US), CO₂ 217–298 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mustang · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 10.6 | 7.6 | 9.2 |
| Mustang · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 11.0 | 7.4 | 9.4 |
| Mustang · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 12.6 | 8.5 | 10.7 |
| Mustang · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 13.6 | 8.4 | 11.2 |
| Mustang · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 14.9 | 9.5 | 12.4 |
| Mustang · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 15.5 | 9.4 | 12.7 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
7 Transport Canada recalls for the 2016 Ford Mustang.
| 2025484 12 Sept 2025 | Seats And Restraints Issue: On certain vehicles, the driver and passenger-front seat belt pretensioner cable could corrode over time. As a result, the cable could break and the sea… |
| 2025449 3 Sept 2025 | Visual System Issue: On certain vehicles, there could be a problem with the connections inside the rearview camera. As a result, the rearview camera image may not display c… |
| 2024605 11 Oct 2024 | Seats And Restraints Issue: Ford Motor Company of Canada is conducting a parts recovery campaign targeting a random sample of 2015-2017 Ford Mustang vehicles in the Montreal area … |
| 2022070 16 Feb 2022 | Visual System Issue: On certain vehicles, opening and closing the trunk lid could damage the wiring for the rearview camera. If this happens, the rearview camera image may … |
| 2020647 7 Dec 2020 | Brakes This equipment recall is for replacement parts that were sold or installed by Ford dealerships between October 2019 and August 2020. This recall is not being co… |
| 2016527 25 Oct 2016 | Engine On certain vehicles equipped with 5.2 litre V8 engines, the engine oil cooler tube assembly may have insufficient crimps. This could lead to a hose separating, … |
| 2015508 27 Oct 2015 | Seats And Restraints Certain vehicles may not comply with the requirements of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) 210.1 - User-ready Tether Anchorages for Restraint System… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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."
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 2016 Ford Mustang: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11009917 | This is a proactive investigation program by Ford Motor Company to obtain field parts for evaluation. Ford is voluntarily conducting this program to evaluate the field performance and functionality of the obtained front seat belt retractor assemblies. Parts obtained from the program must be returned to Ford for evaluation. |
| 11008948 | 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. 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. |
| 11001174 | This article supersedes TSB 21-2175 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some 2016 MKS, 2016-2017 Navigator, 2016-2018 F-150/Focus/C-MAX/Edge/Fiesta/MKX/Transit Connect/Mustang, 2017-2018 Continental/Fusion/MKZ, 2017-2019 Explorer, 2016-2019 Escape/MKC/Flex/MKT/Taurus/Transit/Expedition/F-Super Duty, and 2018-2019 EcoSport vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may experience various SYNC performance related concerns. related concerns including but not limited to: Display operation concerns Navigation inoperative Voice recognition concerns Phone connection issues Dropped phone connections Applink |
| 10254138 | 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 vehicles owner during initial delivery. Unlike the integrated (wired) factory keypad, the accessory keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool. If the wallet card for an accessory keypad is lost, follow these steps to recover the code. Dealer Key Code access is granted through the Dealer Program Enrollment System (DPES); dealership managemen |
| 10251952 | For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an engine oil leak, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-00 for oil leak inspection and testing methods. Ford has evaluated turbochargers replaced for oil leak symptoms and although oil may collect on the external surface of a turbocharger, it is extremely rare for a turbocharger assembly to be the root cause of the oil leak. Careful inspection of the turbocharger oil feed and drain tubes should be performed along with the recommended WSM procedures as needed. Warranty claims for turbochar |
| 10251951 | 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 heard on some engines when engine temperatures reach 150F (65C) or higher and engine speed is at idle up to approximately 1700 RPM. It can typically be heard at the front wheel well and is often isolated to the transmission bell housing or oil pan area. The typewriter noise tick rate can be faster |
| 10251934 | During service and repair requiring removal and replacement of a crankshaft bolt and/or crankshaft damper, achieving proper torque of the crankshaft pulley bolt is critical. Incorrect torque may allow the bolt to loosen resulting in the timing gear breaking and engine damage. Replacement of the bolt is critical to the repair and accurately following the installation procedure in the Workshop Manual (WSM) Section, 303-01 is extremely important. The bolt torque procedure can be found in the crankshaft front seal removal and installation procedure or in the engine assembly procedure. |
| 10248371 | Some 2015-2020 Mustang vehicles built on or before 30-Aug-2020 may exhibit a rattle like noise coming from the front seat. This may be due to the mating surface between the seat frame and floor pans. To correct this condition, follow the Service Procedure to clean the mating surface. |
| 10246072 | Certain 2015 2021 Model Year Mustang Convertible Vehicles - Door Opens to Secondary Latch Position |
| 10243652 | Some 2015-2019 F-Super Duty and 2015-2020 F-150/Mustang vehicles may require replacement of the powertrain control module (PCM) for various reasons. While performing a programmable module installation (PMI) using the Integrated Diagnostic Service (IDS) scan tool, an error message may state: Configuration Failed, Would You Like To Retry? This may be due to improper module replacement steps. Make sure that the original module is installed in the vehicle, delete the vehicle session, then start a new vehicle session. Once the session starts, run the PCM PMI and install the new PCM only when the sc |
| 10240305 | Spl Parts, Inc. communications index accompanying MCP uploads 23mc40464 & 23mc40471 |
| 10240266 | SPL Parts, Inc. manufacturers and distributes aftermarket lower control arms for dedicated competition vehicles and "track day" cars some of which may be used on both track and highway. SB 23-01 adresses proper installation torque of cap bolt fasteners attaching SPL's aftermarket lower control arms, recurring inspection and confirmation of torque setting and removal and replacement of damaged or under torqued fasteners to reduce risk of premature failure and accident. SB-23-01 was mailed, emailed and posted on SPL website to known resellers, race teams and users of the affected parts and is b |
| 10235153 | For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. It is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle identification number (VIN) from a different vehicle. Most modules on these affected vehicles are VIN/vehicle specific and hardware variations between modules do exist. Swapping a module from a vehicle or ordering a module using a different vehicle/VIN can cause ineffective repairs and additional vehicle down time. Make sure all appropriate Workshop Manual (WSM) procedures are |
| 10230933 | During replacement of the electronic power assist system (EPAS) steering gear assembly on 2015-2023 Mustang vehicles, removal and replacement of the inner tie rods and bellows boots is required. To assist engineering with root cause analysis of failed steering gears, include these parts in the same package when returning warranty replacement steering gears. Make sure to avoid damage to the bellows boots or inner tie rods during removal. The steering gear should also be packaged in the original box with all protective insulators in place to properly protect it during shipping. |
| 10228876 | Some Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit noise when the brakes are applied. When diagnosing and repairing brake noise conditions, use the Workshop Manual (WSM) and the appropriate pinpoint test in section 206-00. The brake rotors should only be machined if directed by the WSM because one or more of the following conditions are present on the braking surface: scoring, excessive corrosion/rust or pitting, bluing/discoloration and/or heat spots. For additional information, refer to WSM section 206-00. |
| 10222788 | Some Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit noise when the brakes are applied. When diagnosing and repairing brake noise conditions, use the Workshop Manual (WSM) and the appropriate pinpoint test in section 206-00. The brake rotors should only be machined if directed by the WSM because one or more of the following conditions are present on the braking surface: scoring, excessive corrosion/rust or pitting, bluing/discoloration and/or heat spots. For additional information, refer to WSM section 206-00. |
| 10222460 | Certain 2015 2021 Model Year Mustang Convertible Vehicles Door Opens to Secondary Latch Position Submitting Owner Letter |
| 10214761 | Some 2015-2022 Mustang vehicles may exhibit a water leak onto the front carpet that originates from the either the left or right A-pillar. This may be due to a detached A-pillar body seal. Follow the service procedure to repair the vehicle. |
| 10212957 | Some 2013-2023 Ford or Lincoln vehicles with modems activated through FordPass or LincolnWay may experience 12 volt battery drain symptoms when the customer uses non-Ford/Lincoln phone applications as an alternate channel to access vehicle commands such as door lock/unlock, remote start, vehicle location, etc. The battery drain may be caused by excessive calls for data through the vehicle network keeping it in an activated state. Recommend that the customer uninstall the app to ensure this is not contributing to battery symptoms experienced. Advise the customer that unaffiliated third-party ap |
| 10210472 | Some 2015-2020 Mustang Shelby GT350/GT350R vehicles may exhibit a hesitation or surge in the vehicle with no diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) present. This may be accompanied by an inoperative cruise control system. This may be due to a transmission output shaft flange nut that has come loose, allowing the output shaft tone ring to move in relation to the output shaft causing an erroneous signal. To resolve the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to replace the output shaft flange nut. |
| 10209209 | This article supersedes TSB 21-2236 to update the models and year affected. Some 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2020 Fusion/MKZ, 2013-2022 Escape, 2015-2018 Focus, 2015-2019 MKC, 2015-2022 Edge/F150/Mustang, 2016-2018 MKX, 2016-2019 Explorer, 2017-2022 F-Super Duty, 2018-2022 EcoSport/Expedition, 2019-2022 Ranger/Nautilus, 2021-2022 Bronco/Bronco Sport/Mustang Mach-E, 2022 Maverick vehicles may experience seat pan looseness, lateral movement, or a clunk/thump noise on turns. This may be due to the seat pan track. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to install a reinforcement. |
| 10205726 | Certain 2015 2021 Model Year Mustang Convertible Vehicles Door Opens to Secondary Latch Position n some of the affected vehicles, a front door latch may open to the secondary latched position while driving. While the door is in the secondary latched position the driver will notice wind noise from the door and a door ajar warning will appear on the instrument cluster. This concern does not result in a fully opened door while driving. The occupant can open the door normally using the door handle. |
| 10205694 | Some 2016-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may exhibit a condition where the navigation voice prompts are inoperative after a SYNC map update. This may be due to an incomplete installation of the SYNC map software. If possible, using the original USB that installed the update, reperform the update and verify the navigation voice prompts have returned. Multiple reboots are expected when this update is being performed. Verify the Installation Is Complete message displays in the touch screen. If the original USB is not available, go to website https://syncnavigation.com/ford/ho |
| 10205031 | Touchscreen navigation system - arabic language - blank screen |
| 10205005 | GT350-R Drive selecftable suspension malfunction service required message with DTC C103E - Built on 11/01/2015 and through 12/21/2015 |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation