2018 Ford Mustang
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 60 of 188 complaints (32%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (4) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 265 in 2017 to 188 in 2018.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | vs. 2018 Subcompact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,500–4,850 | 2,600–4,850 | 2,500–4,850 | 2,500–4,850 | 2,500–5,550 | |
| Combined MPG | 16–25 | 16–24 | 16–25 | 16–25 | 14–25 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 14–22 / 21–31 | 14–21 / 21–30 | 14–21 / 21–32 | 14–21 / 21–32 | 12–21 / 18–32 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 352–539 | 370–549 | 353–549 | 355–549 | 354–631 | |
| Complaints filed | 375 | 265 | 188 | 147 | 119 | |
| Recalls issued | 5 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 8 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 13 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 13 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 6 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| Injuries reported | 11 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 8 | |
| Deaths reported | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 9 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 14 |
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 2018 Ford Mustang have?
4 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 2018 Ford Mustang?
Engine: 60 of 188 NHTSA complaints (32%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Ford Mustang get?
EPA rates it 16–25 MPG combined across 10 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Ford Mustang?
EPA estimates $2,500–$4,850 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
EPA-Rated Configurations (10)
| 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 | 21 mpg (high) | 31 mpg | 25 mpg (high) | $2,500 (low) | 357 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.3L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 20 mpg | 28 mpg | 23 mpg | $2,700 | 383 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.3L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 20 mpg | 28 mpg | 23 mpg | $2,700 | 383 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 6-spd | 8 | 5.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 15 mpg | 25 mpg | 18 mpg | $3,450 | 483 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Manual 6-spd | 8 | 5.2L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 14 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | 16 mpg (low) | $4,850 (high) | 549 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S10) | 4 | 2.3L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 20 mpg | 29 mpg | 23 mpg | $2,700 | 384 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (S10) | 4 | 2.3L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 21 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | $2,500 (low) | 353 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic (S10) | 4 | 2.3L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 20 mpg | 29 mpg | 23 mpg | $2,700 | 384 g/mi |
| Configuration 9 | Automatic (S10) | 8 | 5.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 16 mpg | 25 mpg | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 468 g/mi |
| Configuration 10 | Automatic (S10) | 8 | 5.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 15 mpg | 24 mpg | 18 mpg | $3,450 | 490 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 60 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 45 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical | 30 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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 (4)
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE · Campaign 18E035000 · May 30, 2018
Defect: Roush Performance Products, Inc. (Roush) is recalling certain aftermarket supercharger kits, part number R1318-6006P1-AA, sold for installation on 2018 Ford Mustangs. The hose barb fittings on the supercharger kits may be manufactured incorrectly, possibly causing damage to the fuel lines and resulting in a fuel leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Roush will notify the known owners and replace the defective fuel rail subassemblies, free of charge. The recall began on May 31, 2018. Owners may contact Roush customer service at 1-800-597-6874. Roush's number for this recall is REMay2018.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · Campaign 18V213000 · Apr 4, 2018
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-150 and 2018 Ford Expedition and Mustang and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions. A roll pin may not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of the "Park" function.
Consequence: Despite the transmission shift lever being placed in 'Park' and the instrument panel display indicating 'Park,' the vehicle may roll away after it has been exited if the parking brake has not been applied, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission to make sure it has the roll pin, installing one if it is missing, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S09.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · Campaign 17V814000 · Dec 21, 2017
Defect: Ford Motor Company is recalling certain 2018 Ford Mustang vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission and a 12.4" digital instrument cluster. If the ignition is turned off when the transmission is not in PARK, the instrument cluster may not illuminate the PRNDL gear position display and the operator may not receive the "Key in Ignition" chime when the driver's door is opened. As such, these vehicles fails to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence/Starter Interlock/Transmission Braking Effect," and number 114, "Theft Protection."
Consequence: Without a visual or audible warning to the driver that the vehicle is in PARK, the vehicle may roll away after it has been exited if the parking brake has not been applied, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 5, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C21.