2011 Ford Mustang

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2011 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.

Complaints
466
Recalls
5

Campaigns on file for 2011

Investigations
1

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Power train

44% 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 2005: 705 complaints 2006: 423 complaints 2007: 615 complaints 2008: 347 complaints 2009: 181 complaints 2010: 261 complaints 2011: 466 complaints 2011 466 2012: 469 complaints 2013: 271 complaints 2014: 359 complaints 2015: 438 complaints 2016: 377 complaints 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 2007 2008: 347 complaints 2009: 181 complaints 2010: 261 complaints 2011: 466 complaints 2011 466 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 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 2009: 181 complaints 2010: 261 complaints 2011: 466 complaints 2011 466 2012: 469 complaints 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

2011: 466 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.

Power train

44% · 203 reports

Most commonly citing manual transmission and automatic transmission.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

I have had nothing but problems with this car... First at a little over 1000 miles the car wouldn't go into first or reverse without a lot of forcing and double clutching...

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-01-08

Air bags

27% · 125 reports
CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light without warning, the driver's side, and passenger's side frontal air bags along with the side curtain air bags deployed independently.

NHTSA ODI report, 2019-07-26

Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Ford Mustang. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, but failed to stop the vehicle. As a result, the contact rear ended another vehicle. The air bags deployed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-11-27

Also filed under Service brakes

Engine

10% · 48 reports

Vehicle speed control

8% · 39 reports

Most commonly citing cruise control.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled numerous times without warning. The wrench warning light illuminated after the failure occurred.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-05-07

Driver was leaving parking lot of bank, when she states gas pedal stuck. She crossed 2 lanes of traffic and struck a building. Driver later succumbed to injuries.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-12-17

Steering

5% · 25 reports
CRASHINJURY

Safety timeline

5 recalls · 1 investigation · oldest first

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

  1. ▮
    2011Complaint volume 466 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. I
    2011-08-03Preliminary evaluationClosed 2011-12-14 Inability to shift gears on acceleration
  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. R
    2019-02-13Air bags19V001000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the...

    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. The recall began February 13, 2019.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

Buy-smart checklist

2011 Ford Mustang — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Power train: 203 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 125 reports on file for this year.
  • Engine: 48 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 15V319000 · Air bags
  • Recall 16V384000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V001000 · Air bags
  • Recall 21E013000 · Air bags
  • Recall 21V081000 · Air bags

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2011 Ford Mustang reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2011 Ford Mustang is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Ford Mustang?
The most-reported component is power train, accounting for 44% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2011 Ford Mustang have?
5 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.