MYRModel Year Report

2004 Ford Mustang

▲ Better than typical
2004 Ford Mustang
RENDERED 2026-11-01T13:56:02.080Z

This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
116
Recalls
6

Campaigns on file for 2004

Investigations
3

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Vehicle speed control

29% of complaints

Complaints per year

1980: 4 complaints 1980 1981: 0 complaints 1982: 1 complaint 1983: 5 complaints 1984: 18 complaints 1985: 16 complaints 1986: 30 complaints 1986 1987: 38 complaints 1988: 108 complaints 1989: 111 complaints 1990: 87 complaints 1991: 78 complaints 1992: 70 complaints 1992 1993: 102 complaints 1994: 368 complaints 1995: 603 complaints 1996: 246 complaints 1997: 176 complaints 1998: 236 complaints 1998 1999: 213 complaints 2000: 311 complaints 2001: 173 complaints 2002: 118 complaints 2003: 145 complaints 2004: 116 complaints 2004 116 2005: 705 complaints 2006: 423 complaints 2007: 615 complaints 2008: 347 complaints 2009: 181 complaints 2010: 261 complaints 2010 2011: 466 complaints 2012: 469 complaints 2013: 271 complaints 2014: 359 complaints 2015: 439 complaints 2016: 379 complaints 2016 2017: 268 complaints 2018: 196 complaints 2019: 152 complaints 2020: 122 complaints 2021: 55 complaints 2022: 50 complaints 2022 2023: 15 complaints 2024: 85 complaints 2025: 20 complaints 2026: 8 complaints
1980: 4 complaints 1980 1981: 0 complaints 1982: 1 complaint 1983: 5 complaints 1983 1984: 18 complaints 1985: 16 complaints 1986: 30 complaints 1986 1987: 38 complaints 1988: 108 complaints 1989: 111 complaints 1989 1990: 87 complaints 1991: 78 complaints 1992: 70 complaints 1992 1993: 102 complaints 1994: 368 complaints 1995: 603 complaints 1995 1996: 246 complaints 1997: 176 complaints 1998: 236 complaints 1998 1999: 213 complaints 2000: 311 complaints 2001: 173 complaints 2001 2002: 118 complaints 2003: 145 complaints 2004: 116 complaints 2004 116 2005: 705 complaints 2006: 423 complaints 2007: 615 complaints 2007 2008: 347 complaints 2009: 181 complaints 2010: 261 complaints 2010 2011: 466 complaints 2012: 469 complaints 2013: 271 complaints 2013 2014: 359 complaints 2015: 439 complaints 2016: 379 complaints 2016 2017: 268 complaints 2018: 196 complaints 2019: 152 complaints 2019 2020: 122 complaints 2021: 55 complaints 2022: 50 complaints 2022 2023: 15 complaints 2024: 85 complaints 2025: 20 complaints 2025 2026: 8 complaints
1980: 4 complaints 1980 1981: 0 complaints 1982: 1 complaint 1982 1983: 5 complaints 1984: 18 complaints 1984 1985: 16 complaints 1986: 30 complaints 1986 1987: 38 complaints 1988: 108 complaints 1988 1989: 111 complaints 1990: 87 complaints 1990 1991: 78 complaints 1992: 70 complaints 1992 1993: 102 complaints 1994: 368 complaints 1994 1995: 603 complaints 1996: 246 complaints 1996 1997: 176 complaints 1998: 236 complaints 1998 1999: 213 complaints 2000: 311 complaints 2000 2001: 173 complaints 2002: 118 complaints 2002 2003: 145 complaints 2004: 116 complaints 2004 116 2005: 705 complaints 2006: 423 complaints 2006 2007: 615 complaints 2008: 347 complaints 2008 2009: 181 complaints 2010: 261 complaints 2010 2011: 466 complaints 2012: 469 complaints 2012 2013: 271 complaints 2014: 359 complaints 2014 2015: 439 complaints 2016: 379 complaints 2016 2017: 268 complaints 2018: 196 complaints 2018 2019: 152 complaints 2020: 122 complaints 2020 2021: 55 complaints 2022: 50 complaints 2022 2023: 15 complaints 2024: 85 complaints 2024 2025: 20 complaints 2026: 8 complaints 2026

2004: 116 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19804
19810
19821
19835
198418
198516
198630
198738
1988108
1989111
199087
199178
199270
1993102
1994368
1995603
1996246
1997176
1998236
1999213
2000311
2001173
2002118
2003145
2004116
2005705
2006423
2007615
2008347
2009181
2010261
2011466
2012469
2013271
2014359
2015439
2016379
2017268
2018196
2019152
2020122
202155
202250
202315
202485
202520
20268

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Vehicle speed control

29% · 34 reports

Most commonly citing accelerator pedal and cruise control.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford Mustang. While attempting to drive off from a parking space, the vehicle accelerated from 0 to approximately 40 MPH.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-09-04

Power train

9% · 11 reports

Most commonly citing differential unit and manual transmission.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA ODI report, 2024-04-12

Air bags

8% · 9 reports

Most commonly citing frontal.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Ford Mustang. While driving approximately 15 MPH, a vehicle ran a red light and crashed head on into the contact's vehicle. The contact's vehicle was turned sideways and crashed into a pole.

NHTSA ODI report, 2016-11-04

We were in an accident on 2-28-2016 and was hit from the side and pushed into a ditch while passing a Ford 250 he turned into us while driving 50 MPH. The airbags did not go off.

NHTSA ODI report, 2016-03-02

I had a deer accident on my way to work & wrecked my 2004 Ford Mustang convertible & the airbags did not deploy & I took the entire force of the accident.

NHTSA ODI report, 2005-06-23

Tires

6% · 7 reports

Most commonly citing sidewall and pressure monitoring and regulating systems.

Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford Mustang. The contact has a cooper master-craft SENSYS01 tire, size 205/65R15, DOT #2402 that failed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-05-21

Suspension

6% · 7 reports

Most commonly citing rear and macpherson strut.

Safety timeline

6 recalls · 3 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. I
    2005-07-07Preliminary evaluationClosed 2005-09-13 Accelerator pedal interference
  2. I
    2005-09-13Engineering analysisClosed 2006-04-10 Accelerator pedal interference
  3. I
    2005-09-22Defect petitionClosed 2006-01-04 Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
  4. R
    2006-04-26Vehicle speed control06V108000 On certain Mustang cobra passenger vehicles, the rear surface of the accelerator pedal may come into contact with floor carpeting during heavy throttle application. The unique surface profile of…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a shield over the cutout in the carpet behind the accelerator pedal. The recall began on April 26, 2006. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2006-07-01Exterior lighting06E049000 Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are…

    Remedy: Ck motorsport will notify owners and replace the noncompliant lamps free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2006. Owners may contact ck motorsport at 1-909-610-7211.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2006-08-04Fuel system, gasoline06E056000 Certain aftermarket fuel filters sold under the purolator brand name, p/n F65277, shipped from January 16 through June 2, 2006, for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Due to incorrect…

    Remedy: Ufi will notify owners and replace the filters free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2006. Owners may contact ufi filters USA at 800-230-5876.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2008-12-17Exterior lighting08E050000 K2 motor is recalling 1,921 aftermarket headlamps of various models sold for use on the above listed vehicles. These headlamps are missing the amber side reflex reflector which fails to conform…

    Remedy: K2 motor will notify owners and offer a full refund. The recall began on decemeber 17, 2008. Owners may contact K2 motor at 1-909-839-2992.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2004 Ford Mustang — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Vehicle speed control: 34 reports on file for this year.
  • Power train: 11 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 9 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 06V108000 · Vehicle speed control
  • Recall 06E049000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E056000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 08E050000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2004 Ford Mustang reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2004 Ford Mustang is rated "better than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Ford Mustang?
The most-reported component is vehicle speed control, accounting for 29% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2004 Ford Mustang have?
6 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.