The best and worst Ford Mustang years, by the numbers
Short answer: among Ford Mustangs old enough to judge (2005–2022), the 2019–2022 have the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold. The 2011–2012 have the most.
We counted every owner complaint filed with the federal government (NHTSA) for each model year and divided by how many were sold that year, so a year that sold more doesn’t look worse just for being popular. Years newer than 2022 are shown but not ranked — they haven’t been on the road long enough. How this is calculated.
Years with the most complaints
2011 Ford Mustang · 66.2 per 10,000 sold (1.9× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 63,000 miles; then manual clutch, flywheel and hydraulics.
2012 Ford Mustang · 51.7 per 10,000 sold (1.5× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 35,000 miles; then harsh, delayed or erratic shifting.
Years with the fewest complaints
2019 Ford Mustang · 20.3 per 10,000 sold (0.6× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Head gasket and cylinder head, typically around 91,500 miles.
2020 Ford Mustang · 19.3 per 10,000 sold (0.6× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Driver-assist cameras, radar and calibration, typically around 60,000 miles.
2021 Ford Mustang · 10.5 per 10,000 sold (0.3× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Fuel pump and sending unit, typically around 5,000 miles.
2022 Ford Mustang · 10.3 per 10,000 sold (0.3× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Fuel pump and sending unit, typically around 10,102 miles.
Every year: complaints per 10,000 sold
Typical Ford Mustang year: 34.0 per 10,000 sold.
Complaints are counted once each, even when an owner lists several parts. Sales are US units sold in the calendar year, a close stand-in for the model year.
Common questions
What is the worst year for the Ford Mustang?
Among Ford Mustangs old enough to judge (2005–2022), the 2011 has the most owner complaints per 10,000 sold: 66.2, about 1.9× a typical Ford Mustang year. The 2012 also stands out.
What is the best year for the Ford Mustang?
The 2022 has the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold among Ford Mustangs from 2005–2022: 10.3, against 34.0 for a typical year. The 2019–2021 are also well below typical.
What goes wrong on the 2011 Ford Mustang?
The most-reported problem on the 2011 Ford Mustang is airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 63,000 miles.
Why aren't the newest Ford Mustang years ranked?
The 2023–2026 haven't been on the road long enough. Newer cars have fewer complaints mainly because they're newer, so ranking them would flatter them.
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Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; US sales from public industry figures. Complaints are self-reported and not independently verified. This is not an inspection and not a recommendation to buy or avoid any vehicle.