2018 Ford MUSTANG: complaints, problems and recalls

2018 MUSTANG GT BRAND NEW LESS THAN 300 MILES. DURING THE COURSE OF DRIVING ONE MORNING THE CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF 7 TIMES WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN. BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER WHO WAS ABLE TO RECREATE THE CONDITION AND SUBSEQUENTLY DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT FORD HAS A BACKLOG AND WOULD TAKE THREE WEEKS TO GET THE PART AND THE CAR FIXED.

Owner-reported narrative. 230 miles reported. Look up ODI 11064856 at NHTSA ↗

THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM HAS BRAKED HARD ON ME THREE (3) TIMES WHEN THERE WASN'T A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE FIRST TIME A CAR HAD ALREADY TURNED RIGHT ONTO AN INTERSECTING STREET, THE SECOND TIME A CAR HAD TURNED LEFT INTO A DRIVEWAY AND THE DRIVER WAS ALREADY GETTING OUT TO GET HIS MAIL, AND THE THIRD TIME A CAR HAD STOPPED IN THE LEFT TURN LANE AND I WAS APPROACHING IN THE LANE NEXT TO IT. I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY CAUSE THE CAR BEHIND ME TO REAR END ME SINCE THE CARS WEREN'T NEAR ME AND THERE WAS NO REASON TO BRAKE. ON 3/15/18 I T…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,266 miles reported. Look up ODI 11088966 at NHTSA ↗

2018 MUSTANG GT WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ENGINE STALLS WHEN SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL (MANUAL TRANS) AT HIGHER ENGINE SPEEDS. FOR EXAMPLE, COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT (WAS TRAVELING APPROX 50MPH) OR WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY (WAS TRAVELING 65MPH AND THEN WAS TURNING AROUND AN OFF-RAMP). HAS OCCURED AT ANY DRIVING SPEED (IF REVVING ENGINE AT FULL STOP, OR WHILE TRAVELING). STALLING DOES NOT OCCUR IF THE TRANSMISSION REMAINS ENGAGED WHILE SLOWING DOWN. IF I SHIFT TO NEUTRAL WHEN THE ENGINE IS NEAR IT'S NORMAL IDLE SPEED (500 RPM AFTER WARM-UP), IT WI…

Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 11091047 at NHTSA ↗

SIGNIFICANT ENGINE RATTLE BETWEEN 2000-2500 RPM UNDER LIGHT LOAD. RATTLE IS LOUDEST IN THIRD GEAR AT 2200 RPM. SERVICE TECHNICIAN DUPLICATED THE ENGINE RATTLE AND FOUND DAMAGE TO CYLINDERS 5-8 AND SUBMITTED HIS REPORT ALONG WITH PHOTOS TO FORD. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED FULL ENGINE REPLACEMENT. FORD ONLY APPROVED A NEW SHORT BLOCK.

Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11092220 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED AND PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, IT ROLLED AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,700.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11104536 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A NEW 2018 FORD MUSTANG 2 DR 4 CYL ECOBOOST ON JULY 9TH 2018. ON AUGUST 15, AFTER HAVING DINNER WITH PARENTS AT THE HOUSE, I WENT TO VISIT SOME FRIENDS IN DAVIE AND IT WAS APROX 7:45 PM WHILE DRIVING ON A 4 LANE ROAD DIVIDED BY A MEDIAN. ROAD HAS FREQUENT SPEEDBUMPS AND THE MEDIAN HAS MATURE TREES. WHILE TRAVELING ON THIS ROAD - I FELT NAUSEOUS AND PLACED BOTH HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUDDENLY THE ROAD BECAME BLURRY AND I LOST CONCIOUSNESS AND STRUCK A TREE IN THE MEDIAN. THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND ACCORDING TO A POLICE …

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11121499 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING (3) INCIDENTS: ENGINE STALLS, BATTERY INDICATOR/THEN DASH BOARD MESSAGE; 'PUT IN NEUTRAL TO START ENGINE.' SO FAR HAS ALWAYS RE-STARTED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS: 1.JUNE 25, ESTIMATED MILES: 800, I-77 ON-RAMP EXIT 19, 55 MPH, DECELERATING AROUND TURN, 10 MINUTES AFTER STARTUP (NO SERVICE APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED) 2.JULY 11, ESTIMATED MILES: 1200, SOUTH TRYON APPROACHING CANTON, STRAIGHT, STEADY 45 MPH, 5 MINUTES AFTER STARTUP (SERVICE SCHEDULED) 3.AUGUST 8, 1800 MILES: 1-77 ON-RAMP EXIT 19, 50 MPH, DECELERATIN…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11124080 at NHTSA ↗

HOURS FROM HOME AND POWER STEERING FAILED. DEALER SAID THE STEERING ASSIST SYSTEM IS GONE 16523 MILES ON THE CAR. HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR THERE AND WAS GIVEN A RENTAL. NO ESTIMATED TIME OF REPAIR, PART IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. NO WARNINGS STEERING JUST FAILED SUDDENLY.VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT QUIT. OUR DEALER WHERE WE LIVED SEARCHED AND FOUND 1 PART AVAILABLE IN THE COUNTRY. HAVE TO PICK UP MY CAR. NO LONGER FEEL SAFE OR CONFIDENT IN DRIVING THE CAR BECAUSE WHEN IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

Owner-reported narrative. 16,523 miles reported. Look up ODI 11140105 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2017-12-18 (December 18, 2017)

Ford Motor Company is recalling certain 2018 Ford Mustang vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission and a 12.4" digital instrument cluster. If the ignition is turned off when the transmission is not in PARK, the instrument cluster may not illuminate the PRNDL gear position display and the operator may not receive the "Key in Ignition" chime when the driver's door is opened. As such, these vehicles fails to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence/Starter Interlock/Transmission Braking Effect," and number 114, "Theft Protection."

Consequence: Without a visual or audible warning to the driver that the vehicle is in PARK, the vehicle may roll away after it has been exited if the parking brake has not been applied, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 5, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C21.

Reported: 2018-04-04 (April 4, 2018)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-150 and 2018 Ford Expedition and Mustang and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions. A roll pin may not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of the "Park" function.

Consequence: Despite the transmission shift lever being placed in 'Park' and the instrument panel display indicating 'Park,' the vehicle may roll away after it has been exited if the parking brake has not been applied, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission to make sure it has the roll pin, installing one if it is missing, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S09.

Reported: 2025-09-03 (September 3, 2025)

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.