Ford Mustang years to avoid
The Ford Mustang years to avoid are 2005, 1995, 2007, 2015, 2011, 2012, 2006, 2016, 1994, 2014, 2000, 2008, 2017, 1996, 2013, 1998, 2010, 1999, 2018, 1997, 2001, 2009, 2019, 2020, 2003 — each drew complaint volumes well above the model's norm or has an open safety investigation. The 1981 is the cleanest year on record.
11,737
Total complaints
122
Recall campaigns
1965–2026
Years covered
25
Years to avoid
Complaints by model year
Mustang years to avoid
| Year | Why | Complaints | vs avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | High complaints + open investigation | 893 | |
| 1995 | High complaint rate | 829 | |
| 2007 | High complaints + open investigation | 728 | |
| 2015 | High complaints + open investigation | 597 | |
| 2011 | High complaint rate | 583 | |
| 2012 | High complaint rate | 573 | |
| 2006 | High complaints + open investigation | 507 | |
| 2016 | High complaints + open investigation | 497 | |
| 1994 | High complaint rate | 496 | |
| 2014 | High complaint rate | 427 | |
| 2000 | High complaint rate | 427 | |
| 2008 | High complaints + open investigation | 384 | |
| 2017 | High complaints + open investigation | 342 | |
| 1996 | High complaint rate | 329 | |
| 2013 | High complaint rate | 325 | |
| 1998 | High complaint rate | 297 | |
| 2010 | High complaint rate | 296 | |
| 1999 | High complaint rate | 281 | |
| 2018 | High complaint rate | 237 | |
| 1997 | High complaint rate | 231 | |
| 2001 | High complaint rate | 219 | |
| 2009 | High complaint rate | 215 | |
| 2019 | High complaint rate | 191 | |
| 2020 | High complaints + open investigation | 182 | |
| 2003 | High complaint rate | 181 |
Every Mustang year
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | 3 | |
| 2025 | 20 | 5 | |
| 2024 | 119 | 11 | |
| 2023 | 28 | 6 | |
| 2022 | 74 | 9 | |
| 2021 | 67 | 6 | |
| 2020avoid | 182 | 8 | |
| 2019avoid | 191 | 6 | |
| 2018avoid | 237 | 4 | |
| 2017avoid | 342 | 6 | |
| 2016avoid | 497 | 5 | |
| 2015avoid | 597 | 11 | |
| 2014avoid | 427 | 4 | |
| 2013avoid | 325 | 6 | |
| 2012avoid | 573 | 7 | |
| 2011avoid | 583 | 5 | |
| 2010avoid | 296 | 6 | |
| 2009avoid | 215 | 6 | |
| 2008avoid | 384 | 8 | |
| 2007avoid | 728 | 9 | |
| 2006avoid | 507 | 9 | |
| 2005avoid | 893 | 9 | |
| 2004 | 130 | 6 | |
| 2003avoid | 181 | 6 | |
| 2002 | 159 | 6 | |
| 2001avoid | 219 | 8 | |
| 2000avoid | 427 | 9 | |
| 1999avoid | 281 | 10 | |
| 1998avoid | 297 | 14 | |
| 1997avoid | 231 | 11 | |
| 1996avoid | 329 | 12 | |
| 1995avoid | 829 | 16 | |
| 1994avoid | 496 | 13 | |
| 1993 | 132 | 7 | |
| 1992 | 80 | 5 | |
| 1991 | 98 | 6 | |
| 1990 | 119 | 5 | |
| 1989 | 127 | 5 | |
| 1988 | 132 | 5 | |
| 1987 | 44 | 5 | |
| 1986 | 32 | 2 | |
| 1985 | 22 | 3 | |
| 1984 | 35 | 4 | |
| 1983 | 5 | 1 | |
| 1982 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1981 | 0 | 2 | |
| 1980 | 8 | 2 | |
| 1979 | 0 | 7 | |
| 1978 | 10 | 5 | |
| 1977 | 0 | 3 | |
| 1976 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1975 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1974 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1973 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1972 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1971 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1970 | 0 | 2 | |
| 1969 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1968 | 1 | 2 | |
| 1967 | 3 | 5 | |
| 1966 | 5 | 1 | |
| 1965 | 6 | 1 |
Common questions
What are the worst Ford Mustang years?
Based on NHTSA complaint rates and open investigations, the Mustang years to avoid are 2005, 1995, 2007, 2015, 2011, 2012, 2006, 2016, 1994, 2014, 2000, 2008, 2017, 1996, 2013, 1998, 2010, 1999, 2018, 1997, 2001, 2009, 2019, 2020, 2003. The cleanest year on record is 1981.
What is the best year for the Ford Mustang?
By complaint volume, 1981 has the cleanest NHTSA record among Mustang years with enough data to compare.
How many recalls does the Ford Mustang have?
Across all model years, the Mustang has 122 distinct NHTSA recall campaigns and 11,737 consumer complaints on file.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through August 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated August 28, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.