MYRModel Year Report

2005 Ford Mustang

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2005 Ford Mustang
BUILT 2026-08-02

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 PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Ford Mustang Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2005 highlighted. 1980: 4 complaints 1980 1981: 0 complaints 1982: 1 complaints 1983: 5 complaints 1984: 18 complaints 1985: 16 complaints 1986: 30 complaints 1986 1987: 38 complaints 1988: 108 complaints 1989: 109 complaints 1990: 85 complaints 1991: 77 complaints 1992: 69 complaints 1992 1993: 101 complaints 1994: 356 complaints 1995: 602 complaints 1996: 246 complaints 1997: 176 complaints 1998: 236 complaints 1998 1999: 213 complaints 2000: 311 complaints 2001: 173 complaints 2002: 118 complaints 2003: 143 complaints 2004: 116 complaints 2004 2005: 705 complaints 2005 2006: 422 complaints 2007: 615 complaints 2008: 347 complaints 2009: 181 complaints 2010: 260 complaints 2010 2011: 466 complaints 2012: 469 complaints 2013: 271 complaints 2014: 356 complaints 2015: 434 complaints 2016: 367 complaints 2016 2017: 260 complaints 2018: 184 complaints 2019: 141 complaints 2020: 113 complaints 2021: 55 complaints 2022: 48 complaints 2022 2023: 15 complaints 2024: 70 complaints 2025: 12 complaints 2026: 3 complaints 2026
2005: 705 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19804
19810
19821
19835
198418
198516
198630
198738
1988108
1989109
199085
199177
199269
1993101
1994356
1995602
1996246
1997176
1998236
1999213
2000311
2001173
2002118
2003143
2004116
2005705
2006422
2007615
2008347
2009181
2010260
2011466
2012469
2013271
2014356
2015434
2016367
2017260
2018184
2019141
2020113
202155
202248
202315
202470
202512
20263

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

AIR BAGS 32%

32% of complaints: air bags — 229 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
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, 20171222

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. *TR

NHTSA ODI report, 20120724

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 23%

23% of complaints: electrical system — 165 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
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, 20121220

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, 20231105

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8%

8% of complaints: electrical system — 56 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 7%

7% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 46 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

I WAS FULLY STOPPED AND WAS PARKING MY CAR. MADE A LEFT TURN AND CAME TO FULL STOP.

NHTSA ODI report, 20050826

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 6%

6% of complaints: fuel system, gasoline — 40 distinct reports on file.

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 2005 — complaint volume: 705
R 20080303 — air bags

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 AN

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.

Campaign 08V082000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

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 CONF

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.

Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

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 CONF

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.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20101118 — AQ (closed 20151228)

Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit

I 20140611 — PE (closed 20150302)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

I 20150224 — EA (open)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

R 20160610 — air bags

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.

Campaign 15V319000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20180202 — air bags

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.

Campaign 16V384000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20180214 — air bags

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.

Campaign 17V024000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20210317 — air bags

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.

Campaign 21V081000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20210317 — air bags

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.

Campaign 21E013000 — check if this car was fixed

R Date not on file — suspension

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.

Campaign 06E089000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2005 Ford Mustang — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (229 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (165 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (56 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 06E089000 (suspension) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 08V082000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V319000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 16V384000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 17V024000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 21V081000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 21E013000 (air bags) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1986 ▲ 1987 ▲ 2022

WORST YEARS

■ 2007 ■ 1995 ■ 2012

See all years ranked →

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 32% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2005 Ford Mustang have?

9 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.