NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The driver or passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
This page covers 4 recalls, 271 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2013 Ford Mustang.
18–23 mpg combined
10.2–13.1 L/100km
Subcompact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 5 tested variants for this model year.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Airbag complaints dominate the 2013 Mustang's filing history by a wide margin, and most of them trace back to owners receiving safety notices related to the airbag inflator system and describing concerns about whether their vehicles were repaired or covered. The powertrain is the second most-reported system, where owners frequently describe transmission behavior including delayed or erratic shifting, downshifts that continue after the vehicle has already stopped, and in at least one account, an unexpected downshift to first gear at highway speed. Vehicle speed control rounds out the top reported systems, though at lower volume. The transmission complaints cluster around shift timing and engagement issues that owners say affect normal driving behavior.
271
Total Complaints
16
Crash-Related
2
Fire-Related
8
With Injuries
By System
The 2013 Ford Mustang has 4 recalls, all concerning the frontal airbag inflators on both the driver and passenger sides, which can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin during a crash.
All four recalls trace back to the same class of defect: airbag inflators that can fail violently at the moment of deployment. On the driver's side, the inflator can be compromised by moisture that works its way in over time, and when the airbag fires in a crash, the weakened inflator can burst apart, throwing metal fragments toward the driver and anyone else in the vehicle. The passenger-side inflator carries the same rupture risk, and certain filings specifically call out vehicles that were sold or registered in high-humidity states and territories, including Florida, Texas, Hawaii, Louisiana, and several U.S. island territories, where prolonged heat and moisture accelerate the degradation. These are the well-known Takata inflator recalls that affected vehicles across many manufacturers, and prior repair attempts may not have fully resolved the issue for all affected vehicles, which is why multiple recall campaigns remain open for this model year. Any 2013 Mustang that has not been inspected and repaired under these campaigns may still have an unresolved inflator on either or both sides of the vehicle.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver or passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the air bag module and replace the module or inflator if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breaking down after prolonged exposure to humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after long-term exposure to humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Moisture can enter the dual-stage driver frontal air bag inflator, causing it to rupture over time.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front driver side air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.