2018 Ford Mustang problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (49) · Power Train (39) · Structure:body (14)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford Mustang model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
93 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera 2025-09-03 · campaign 25V572000 · 1,456,417 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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, 202
Fuel System, Gasoline 2018-05-24 · campaign 18E035000 · 146 vehicles
Defect: Roush Performance Products, Inc. (Roush) is recalling certain aftermarket supercharger kits, part number R1318-6006P1-AA, sold for installation on 2018 Ford Mustangs. The hose barb fittings on the supercharger kits may be manufactured incorrectly, possibly causing damage to the fuel lines and resulting in a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Roush will notify the known owners and replace the defective fuel rail subassemblies, free of charge. The recall began on May 31, 2018. Owners may contact Roush customer service at 1-800-597-6874. Roush's number for this recall is REMay2018.
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2018-04-04 · campaign 18V213000 · 142 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Electrical System:software 2017-12-18 · campaign 17V814000 · 2,100 vehicles
Defect: 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) num
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (198)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-29 · 25H05 S1 · Other
harvest program 25h05 – supplement #1 certain 2011-2021 model year vehicles software verification harvest program
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-20 · 25N15 S1 · Other
customer satisfaction program 25n15 - supplement #1 certain 2015-2019 model year multiple vehicle lines rear view camera inspection for one-time replacement
Unknown Or Other 2026-02-24 · SSM 54601 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford and lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the
Visibility/Wiper 2026-01-05 · 25N15 · Other
certain 2015-2019 model year multiple vehicle lines rear view camera inspection for one-time replacemen
Visibility/Wiper 2025-12-22 · 25N15 · Other
certain 2015-2019 model year multiple vehicle lines rear view camera inspection for one-time replacement
Unknown Or Other 2025-12-02 · 25L02 · Other
special field action 25l02 certain 2017-2024 model year california emissions-certified vehicles transmission control assembly reimbursement
Showing the 6 most recent of 198 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-20 · Engine“the engine has a head gasket defect that leaked coolant into the engine causing misfires and requires a very expensive repair for a defect that came with the engine when it was made. two ford dealerships have inspected and confirmed the issue. the car threw codes six months ago and we immediately stopped driving it and had the dealership inspect th…”
2026-10-13 · Power Train“the 2.3l ecoboost engine failed due to coolant leaking into the combustion chambers. the dealer found coolant present in cylinders 1 and 4, the cylinder 4 piston washed, and vertical scoring on the cylinder 4 wall. the dealer's recommendation is complete engine replacement. yes, the engine is available for inspection. the vehicle is currently at th…”
2026-10-02 · Engine“check engine light came on sunday night. monday had autozone check the codes - indicated misfire on two cylinders recommended spark plug replacement - spark plugs purchased with intent to change tuesday evening- tuesday morning -engine overheated on the way to class added more coolant - got the vehicle home and towed to local ford dealership the ne…”
2026-09-24 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control“the electrical components in the vehicle stopped functioning - for the lights on the interior the overhead stopped working on and off and then dimmed until one day never came back on. at the same time the sensor for cross traffic alert became buggy and then not functional which made all my safety features and cruise control not work. now i have a…”
2026-09-21 · Unknown Or Other“while driving at highway speeds passenger door spontaneously opened. passenger was not touching or near latch. has happened 3 times. ford states no recall. looking online seems to be a known issue. …”
2026-09-11 · Unknown Or Other“i own a 2018 ford mustang ecoboost convertible and am reporting persistent spider activity that has become a recurring driver-safety concern. spider activity occurs on or around the vehicle essentially every day. i routinely see multiple spiders and webs on the windshield, hood, doors, roof, trunk, sides, and around both exterior mirrors. spiders r…”
2026-09-11 · Engine“i own a 2018 ford mustang ecoboost premium with the 2.3l ecoboost engine. the vehicle initially developed a check-engine light and was diagnosed with p0303 (cylinder 3 misfire), p0316 (startup misfire), and p018c. on august 24, 2026, all four spark plugs and one ignition coil were replaced and a fuel/induction cleaning was performed. on september …”
2026-09-11 · Fuel/Propulsion System“i own a 2018 ford mustang ecoboost premium with the 2.3l ecoboost engine. the vehicle initially developed a check-engine light and was diagnosed with p0303 (cylinder 3 misfire), p0316 (startup misfire), and p018c (fuel pressure sensor circuit low). on august 24, 2026, all four spark plugs and one ignition coil were replaced, and a fuel/induction cl…”
2026-09-06 · Service Brakes“it is a well-known issue across mustang forms that the brake pedal sensor switch goes bad as well as the small rubber pad that presses against the brake pedal switch. this has happened to me multiple friends in my mustang group as well as tons online. this is a serious issue because either it will make your vehicle believe the brakes are constantly…”
2026-08-17 · Engine“2018 with 118,000 miles. had to get a full block engine replacement due to coolant intrusion into the cylinders. this was diagnosed and replaced at a ford dealership. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.