2016 Ford Mustang
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 82 of 375 complaints (22%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 436 in 2015 to 375 in 2016.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | vs. 2016 Subcompact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,700–4,300 | 2,500–3,450 | 2,500–4,850 | 2,600–4,850 | 2,500–4,850 | |
| Combined MPG | 18–23 | 18–25 | 16–25 | 16–24 | 16–25 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 15–19 / 24–30 | 15–22 / 23–31 | 14–22 / 21–31 | 14–21 / 21–30 | 14–21 / 21–32 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 386–489 | 350–489 | 352–539 | 370–549 | 353–549 | |
| Complaints filed | 359 | 436 | 375 | 265 | 188 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 4 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 30 | 26 | 13 | 14 | 8 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 23 | 19 | 11 | 11 | 5 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 6 | 8 | 9 | 14 | 10 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2016 Ford Mustang have?
5 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2016 Ford Mustang?
Engine: 82 of 375 NHTSA complaints (22%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Ford Mustang get?
EPA rates it 16–25 MPG combined across 9 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Ford Mustang?
EPA estimates $2,500–$4,850 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (9)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.3L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 22 mpg (high) | 31 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | $2,500 (low) | 352 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.3L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 21 mpg | 31 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | $2,500 (low) | 356 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.3L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 20 mpg | 29 mpg | 23 mpg | $2,700 | 378 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 3.7L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 17 mpg | 28 mpg | 21 mpg | $2,950 | 427 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.7L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 19 mpg | 27 mpg | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 410 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 5.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 16 mpg | 25 mpg | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 470 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 5.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 15 mpg | 23 mpg | 18 mpg | $3,450 | 489 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Manual 6-spd | 8 | 5.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 15 mpg | 25 mpg | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 480 g/mi |
| Configuration 9 | Manual 6-spd | 8 | 5.2L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 14 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | 16 mpg (low) | $4,850 (high) | 539 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 82 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 20 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Electrical | 72 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 22 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 18 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 24 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 62 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 53 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 70 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (5)
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER · Campaign 25V614000 · Sep 15, 2025
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles. Water and road salt may corrode the front seat belt anchor pretensioner cables.
Consequence: A corroded cable can break, preventing the seat belt from properly restraining an occupant, and increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace both front seat belt anchor pretensioner assemblies, as necessary. In addition, dealers will remove sections of the carpet and underlayment that contact the cables. Dealers will also inspect the A-pillar sealing patches, and as necessary, install A-pillar body plugs, and/or inspect and replace the front outboard seat bolts. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed October 20, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated December 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S92. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov September 17, 2025.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · Campaign 25V572000 · Sep 4, 2025
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Consequence: A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 8, 2025.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · Campaign 22V082000 · Feb 16, 2022
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera wiring may be loose or damaged, which can result in a blank or distorted image.
Consequence: A rearview camera that displays a blank or distorted image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the decklid wiring harness and/or replace the rearview camera, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2022 and June 26, 2023. Remedy parts are expected to become available in the 4th Quarter of 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S06.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS · Campaign 16V779000 · Oct 26, 2016
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles manufactured February 24, 2015, to August 30, 2016. A hose may separate from the engine oil cooler tube assembly causing an oil leak.
Consequence: A sudden loss of engine oil may cause engine failure, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, an oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil cooler tube assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March 23, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S40.
SEAT BELTS; CHILD SEAT:TETHER: CONNECTOR/CLIP · Campaign 15V707000 · Oct 26, 2015
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Mustang vehicles manufactured September 26, 2015, to October 1, 2015. The front and rear seat belts and child seat tether anchors may have been damaged in shipping from the supplier to the vehicle assembly plant and may not adequately restrain the occupant in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," and 225, "Child restraint anchorage systems."
Consequence: If the restraint components do not function as intended, the occupants may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front and rear seat belt assemblies and the child seat tether anchors, free of charge. The recall began on December 18, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C13.