MYRModel Year Report

2005 Ford Mustang

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2005 Ford Mustang
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of 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
705
Recalls
9

Campaigns on file for 2005

Investigations
3

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Air bags

33% 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 2005: 705 complaints 2005 705 2006: 423 complaints 2007: 615 complaints 2008: 347 complaints 2009: 181 complaints 2010: 261 complaints 2011: 466 complaints 2012: 469 complaints 2013: 271 complaints 2014: 359 complaints 2015: 438 complaints 2016: 377 complaints 2016 2017: 266 complaints 2018: 194 complaints 2019: 149 complaints 2020: 120 complaints 2021: 55 complaints 2022: 50 complaints 2022 2023: 15 complaints 2024: 82 complaints 2025: 18 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 2005: 705 complaints 2005 705 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 2013 2014: 359 complaints 2015: 438 complaints 2016: 377 complaints 2016 2017: 266 complaints 2018: 194 complaints 2019: 149 complaints 2019 2020: 120 complaints 2021: 55 complaints 2022: 50 complaints 2022 2023: 15 complaints 2024: 82 complaints 2025: 18 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 2005: 705 complaints 2005 705 2006: 423 complaints 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: 438 complaints 2016: 377 complaints 2016 2017: 266 complaints 2018: 194 complaints 2018 2019: 149 complaints 2020: 120 complaints 2020 2021: 55 complaints 2022: 50 complaints 2022 2023: 15 complaints 2024: 82 complaints 2024 2025: 18 complaints 2026: 8 complaints 2026

2005: 705 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
2015438
2016377
2017266
2018194
2019149
2020120
202155
202250
202315
202482
202518
20268

Known problem areas

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

Air bags

33% · 236 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and sensor/control module.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2005 Ford Mustang. While driving 50 MPH, the contact rear ended another vehicle. The driver side air bag deployed, but the other air bags failed to deploy. The contact noticed smoke coming from the air bag.

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-12-22

I was driving on the freeway rear ended a old Nissan truck which resulted in me hitting my head against the steering wheel and totaling my car. I was going 40MPH and my air bags did not deploy.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-07-24

Also filed under Seat belts

Electrical system

33% · 231 reports

Most commonly citing instrument cluster/panel and 12v/24v/48v battery.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

I was driving at night at around 30MPH when everything electrical went dead in my car including headlights and dashboard but the engine was still running. I was able to drive the car home but could not start it the next morning.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-12-20

Body control module. It gets wet when it rains because of an engineering mess up. It shorts out my lights. Sometimes it can't get out of car because it messes with the locks and windows. Can't use my electric mirrors anymore.

NHTSA ODI report, 2023-11-05

Also filed under Exterior lighting

Fuel system, gasoline

10% · 68 reports

Most commonly citing filler pipe and cap and tank assembly.

Structure

8% · 57 reports

Most commonly citing body and roof and pillars.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford Mustang. The contact noticed that there was an abnormal noise coming form the engine. The contact mentioned that the front frame was damaged and the vehicle was too unstable to drive.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-03-28

Also filed under Engine

Vehicle speed control

8% · 55 reports

Most commonly citing accelerator pedal and cruise control.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

I was fully stopped and was parking my car. Made a left turn and came to full stop.

NHTSA ODI report, 2005-08-26

While pulling into a garage, the accelerator pedal became stuck, and the vehicle accelerated through the garage wall into the kitchen. The consumers daughter had to shift the vehicle into park to stop it.

NHTSA ODI report, 2005-03-08

Safety timeline

9 recalls · 3 investigations · oldest first

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

  1. ▮
    2005Complaint volume 705 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. R
    2008-03-03Air bags08V082000 Ford is recalling 434,593 my 2008 Mustang vehicles for failing to comply with one of the neck injury requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, "Occupant crash protection," For…

    Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the restraint control module free of charge. The recall began on March 3, 2008. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332 or through email to www.ownerconnection.com.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. 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 →

  4. 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 →

  5. I
    2010-11-18Audit queryClosed 2015-12-28 Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
  6. I
    2014-06-11Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-03-02 Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  7. I
    2015-02-24Engineering analysisOpen Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  8. R
    2016-06-10Air bags15V319000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2014 Mustang vehicles manufactured April 6, 2004, to June 21, 2014, and 2005-2006 GT vehicles manufactured February 20, 2004, to September 22, 2006.

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2016.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2018-02-02Air bags16V384000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford...

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. R
    2018-02-14Air bags17V024000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas,...

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2021-03-17Air bags21V081000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2021-03-17Air bags21E013000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain air bag inflator and/or module replacement service parts that may have been used as part of a collision repair.

    Remedy: Ford will notify dealers that purchased the affected parts, and dealers will provide replacement parts to purchasers, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. R
    Date not on fileSuspension06E089000 Certain aftermarket eibach branded front struts only, part No. 35101.8001, and eibach branded front struts as suspension kits, part nos.

    Remedy: Eibach will notify owners and offer to provide new struts free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on December 1, 2006. Owners may contact eibach at 951-256-8300.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2005 Ford Mustang — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 236 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 231 reports on file for this year.
  • Fuel system, gasoline: 68 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 06E089000 · Suspension
  • Recall 08V082000 · Air bags
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 15V319000 · Air bags
  • Recall 16V384000 · Air bags
  • Recall 17V024000 · Air bags
  • Recall 21V081000 · Air bags
  • Recall 21E013000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2005 Ford Mustang reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2005 Ford Mustang is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Ford Mustang?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 33% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2005 Ford Mustang have?
9 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.