MYRModel Year Report

Ford Mustang — years to avoid

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

10 model years to avoid, 7 to watch and 14 best bets. Tap a year to see its problem areas, recalls and buy-smart checklist.

Avoid10 years

Caution7 years

Best bets14 years

Complaint history

1980: 4 complaints, Not enough data 1980 1981: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1982: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1983: 5 complaints, Not enough data 1984: 18 complaints, Not enough data 1985: 16 complaints, Not enough data 1986: 30 complaints, Recommended 1986 1987: 38 complaints, Recommended 1988: 108 complaints, Recommended 1989: 111 complaints, Recommended 1990: 87 complaints, Recommended 1991: 78 complaints, Recommended 1992: 70 complaints, Recommended 1992 1993: 102 complaints, Recommended 1994: 368 complaints, Avoid 1995: 603 complaints, Avoid 1996: 246 complaints, Caution 1997: 176 complaints, Recommended 1998: 236 complaints, Caution 1998 1999: 213 complaints, Recommended 2000: 311 complaints, Caution 2001: 173 complaints, Recommended 2002: 118 complaints, Recommended 2003: 145 complaints, Recommended 2004: 116 complaints, Recommended 2005: 705 complaints, Avoid 2005 2006: 423 complaints, Avoid 2007: 615 complaints, Avoid 2008: 347 complaints, Caution 2009: 181 complaints, Recommended 2010: 261 complaints, Caution 2011: 466 complaints, Avoid 2012: 469 complaints, Avoid 2013: 271 complaints, Caution 2014: 359 complaints, Avoid 2015: 438 complaints, Avoid 2016: 377 complaints, Avoid 2016 2017: 266 complaints, Caution 2018: 194 complaints, Recommended 2019: 149 complaints, Recommended 2020: 120 complaints, Recommended 2021: 55 complaints, Recommended 2022: 50 complaints, Recommended 2022 2023: 15 complaints, Not enough data 2024: 82 complaints, Recommended 2025: 18 complaints, Not enough data 2026: 8 complaints, Not enough data 2005 · 705
1980: 4 complaints, Not enough data 1980 1981: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1982: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1983: 5 complaints, Not enough data 1984: 18 complaints, Not enough data 1984 1985: 16 complaints, Not enough data 1986: 30 complaints, Recommended 1987: 38 complaints, Recommended 1988: 108 complaints, Recommended 1988 1989: 111 complaints, Recommended 1990: 87 complaints, Recommended 1991: 78 complaints, Recommended 1992: 70 complaints, Recommended 1992 1993: 102 complaints, Recommended 1994: 368 complaints, Avoid 1995: 603 complaints, Avoid 1996: 246 complaints, Caution 1996 1997: 176 complaints, Recommended 1998: 236 complaints, Caution 1999: 213 complaints, Recommended 2000: 311 complaints, Caution 2000 2001: 173 complaints, Recommended 2002: 118 complaints, Recommended 2003: 145 complaints, Recommended 2004: 116 complaints, Recommended 2005: 705 complaints, Avoid 2005 2006: 423 complaints, Avoid 2007: 615 complaints, Avoid 2008: 347 complaints, Caution 2009: 181 complaints, Recommended 2010: 261 complaints, Caution 2011: 466 complaints, Avoid 2012: 469 complaints, Avoid 2012 2013: 271 complaints, Caution 2014: 359 complaints, Avoid 2015: 438 complaints, Avoid 2016: 377 complaints, Avoid 2016 2017: 266 complaints, Caution 2018: 194 complaints, Recommended 2019: 149 complaints, Recommended 2020: 120 complaints, Recommended 2020 2021: 55 complaints, Recommended 2022: 50 complaints, Recommended 2023: 15 complaints, Not enough data 2024: 82 complaints, Recommended 2024 2025: 18 complaints, Not enough data 2026: 8 complaints, Not enough data 2005 · 705
1980: 4 complaints, Not enough data 1980 1981: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1982: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1982 1983: 5 complaints, Not enough data 1984: 18 complaints, Not enough data 1984 1985: 16 complaints, Not enough data 1986: 30 complaints, Recommended 1986 1987: 38 complaints, Recommended 1988: 108 complaints, Recommended 1988 1989: 111 complaints, Recommended 1990: 87 complaints, Recommended 1990 1991: 78 complaints, Recommended 1992: 70 complaints, Recommended 1992 1993: 102 complaints, Recommended 1994: 368 complaints, Avoid 1994 1995: 603 complaints, Avoid 1996: 246 complaints, Caution 1996 1997: 176 complaints, Recommended 1998: 236 complaints, Caution 1998 1999: 213 complaints, Recommended 2000: 311 complaints, Caution 2000 2001: 173 complaints, Recommended 2002: 118 complaints, Recommended 2002 2003: 145 complaints, Recommended 2004: 116 complaints, Recommended 2005: 705 complaints, Avoid 2005 2006: 423 complaints, Avoid 2007: 615 complaints, Avoid 2008: 347 complaints, Caution 2008 2009: 181 complaints, Recommended 2010: 261 complaints, Caution 2010 2011: 466 complaints, Avoid 2012: 469 complaints, Avoid 2012 2013: 271 complaints, Caution 2014: 359 complaints, Avoid 2014 2015: 438 complaints, Avoid 2016: 377 complaints, Avoid 2016 2017: 266 complaints, Caution 2018: 194 complaints, Recommended 2018 2019: 149 complaints, Recommended 2020: 120 complaints, Recommended 2020 2021: 55 complaints, Recommended 2022: 50 complaints, Recommended 2022 2023: 15 complaints, Not enough data 2024: 82 complaints, Recommended 2024 2025: 18 complaints, Not enough data 2026: 8 complaints, Not enough data 2026 2005 · 705
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Recommended
  • Not enough data

Every year, ranked

Newest first. Find your year, then open it for the full report.

YearRankingComplaintsCompared with a typical year
2026 ○ Not enough data 8 Only 8 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2025 ○ Not enough data 18 Only 18 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2024 ▲ Recommended 82 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2023 ○ Not enough data 15 Only 15 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2022 ▲ Recommended 50 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2021 ▲ Recommended 55 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2020 ▲ Recommended 120 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2019 ● Recommended 149 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2018 ● Recommended 194 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2017 ◆ Caution 266 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2016 ■ Avoid 377 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2015 ■ Avoid 438 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2014 ■ Avoid 359 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2013 ◆ Caution 271 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2012 ■ Avoid 469 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2011 ■ Avoid 466 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2010 ◆ Caution 261 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2009 ● Recommended 181 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2008 ◆ Caution 347 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2007 ■ Avoid 615 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2006 ■ Avoid 423 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2005 ■ Avoid 705 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2004 ▲ Recommended 116 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2003 ● Recommended 145 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2002 ▲ Recommended 118 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2001 ● Recommended 173 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2000 ◆ Caution 311 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
1999 ● Recommended 213 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1998 ◆ Caution 236 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
1997 ● Recommended 176 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1996 ◆ Caution 246 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
1995 ■ Avoid 603 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
1994 ■ Avoid 368 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
1993 ▲ Recommended 102 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1992 ▲ Recommended 70 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1991 ▲ Recommended 78 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1990 ▲ Recommended 87 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1989 ▲ Recommended 111 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1988 ▲ Recommended 108 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1987 ▲ Recommended 38 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1986 ▲ Recommended 30 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1985 ○ Not enough data 16 Only 16 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1984 ○ Not enough data 18 Only 18 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1983 ○ Not enough data 5 Only 5 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1982 ○ Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1981 ○ Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1980 ○ Not enough data 4 Only 4 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
How the rankings work

Each model year’s distinct NHTSA complaint count is compared with the median of the same model’s other eligible years.

  • ▲ Recommended

    At least 30% fewer complaints than the model’s typical year.

  • ● Recommended

    Within 30% of the model’s typical year.

  • ◆ Caution

    30% to 100% more complaints than the typical year.

  • ■ Avoid

    More than double the complaints of the typical year.

  • ○ Not enough data

    Fewer than 30 complaints on file, or too few other years to compare with — too few for a fair verdict.

Recalls

99

recalls on file across every Ford Mustang model year.

Open a year above to see that year’s own recalls, investigations, and remedies.

Other Ford models