MYRModel Year Report

2008 Ford Mustang

◆ Worse than typical
2008 Ford Mustang
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had 30% to 100% more 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
347
Recalls
8

Campaigns on file for 2008

Investigations
4

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Air bags

70% 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 2006: 423 complaints 2007: 615 complaints 2008: 347 complaints 2008 347 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 2004 2005: 705 complaints 2006: 423 complaints 2007: 615 complaints 2008: 347 complaints 2008 347 2009: 181 complaints 2010: 261 complaints 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 2004 2005: 705 complaints 2006: 423 complaints 2006 2007: 615 complaints 2008: 347 complaints 2008 347 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

2008: 347 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

70% · 242 reports

Most commonly citing side/window and on-off switch assembly.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Driving approximately 20 mph, on a smooth road, in a retirement community, the drivers seat airbag explosively inflated without warning.

NHTSA ODI report, 2026-05-11

Also filed under Seat belts

Accident after side swiping cattle guard, flew off the road at 70mph, landing roughly, and bouncing off desert terrain, trying to control crash outcome, realign no brakes, and no way to slow down vehicle, except no acceleration, and turned away from...

NHTSA ODI report, 2023-04-08

Also filed under Service brakes

I purchase this car from the Ford dealership six months ago. On 04/08/2012 about 1:50 am I was heading home from airmount, ny. I was driving the car at night off a winding road going down hill.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-04-10

Also filed under Service brakes, hydraulic and steering

Power train

9% · 30 reports

Most commonly citing driveline and manual transmission.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

2008 Mustang with tremec 3650 manual transmission. Was on highway downshifting from 5TH into 4TH to pass another car which abruptly entered my lane when car went into 2ND, locked rear end and spun car, causing me to crash on side of road.

NHTSA ODI report, 2020-08-14

Parking car into parking bay between building support and other car.

NHTSA ODI report, 2008-04-17

Vehicle speed control

5% · 19 reports

Most commonly citing accelerator pedal.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while the son was driving approximately 40 MPH and pressing the brake pedal to reduce speed, the engine began to rev and the vehicle continued to accelerate.

NHTSA ODI report, 2025-07-01

Electrical system

5% · 16 reports

Most commonly citing fuses and circuit breakers and starter assembly.

Structure

4% · 15 reports

Most commonly citing body.

Safety timeline

8 recalls · 4 investigations · oldest first

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

  1. ▮
    2008Complaint volume 347 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. I
    2008-10-14Preliminary evaluationClosed 2009-04-09 Tire valve cracking
  4. 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 →

  5. 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 →

  6. I
    2010-11-18Audit queryClosed 2015-12-28 Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
  7. I
    2014-06-11Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-03-02 Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  8. I
    2015-02-24Engineering analysisOpen Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  9. 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 →

  10. 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 →

  11. 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 →

  12. 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 →

  13. 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 →

Buy-smart checklist

2008 Ford Mustang — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 242 reports on file for this year.
  • Power train: 30 reports on file for this year.
  • Vehicle speed control: 19 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • 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 2008 Ford Mustang reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2008 Ford Mustang is rated "worse than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Ford Mustang?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 70% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2008 Ford Mustang have?
8 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.