NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
Water and road salt can corrode the cables that tighten your front seat belts in a crash, potentially reducing their effectiveness.
This page covers 9 recalls, 254 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2017 Ford Mustang.
18–24 mpg combined
9.8–13.1 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 6 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2017 Ford Mustang, the dominant complaint pattern centers on the rear-view camera. Owners frequently describe the backup camera displaying a distorted, blurry, or completely black image when reversing, and several report tracing the problem to deteriorating wiring near the trunk hinge where the harness flexes repeatedly over time. The second-most-reported area involves door latches, where owners describe driver and passenger doors coming unlatched or showing as ajar while the vehicle is in motion, including at highway speeds. A smaller but consistent cluster of complaints covers engine issues, with owners describing coolant loss, recurring misfires, and smoke from the exhaust at idle, symptoms several attribute to head gasket or engine block problems that weren't immediately obvious until a compression test was performed.
254
Total Complaints
14
Crash-Related
6
Fire-Related
9
With Injuries
By System
The 2017 Ford Mustang has 9 recalls, the most serious being a passenger frontal airbag inflator that can rupture in a crash and send metal fragments into the cabin, posing a risk of serious injury or death.
A separate mechanical concern involves an engine oil cooler hose that can separate and cause a sudden oil leak, which may lead to engine failure or, if oil contacts a hot surface, a fire. On the restraint side, road salt and water can corrode the front seatbelt anchor pretensioner cables until they break, leaving the belt unable to hold an occupant in a crash. The driver's door latch also has a recall: a misoriented return spring can come loose and allow the door to unlatch in a side impact, which is covered across two filings describing the same defect.
Visibility issues round out the list. The rearview camera can display a blank, distorted, or inverted image when reversing, due to either loose or damaged wiring, and prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue across all affected vehicles. On Shelby GT350 and GT500 models specifically, a software fault can prevent the daytime running lights from turning on, making the car harder for other drivers to spot.
At a glance
What can fail
Water and road salt can corrode the cables that tighten your front seat belts in a crash, potentially reducing their effectiveness.
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Driver Assistance
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 and replace the front seat belt tightening assemblies as needed, remove carpet sections that contact the cables, and inspect or repair related sealing and bolts.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera may show a distorted, inverted, or blank image when you shift into reverse.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera wiring may be loose or damaged, causing the camera display to show a blank or distorted image.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and repair the decklid wiring harness and replace the rearview camera as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software issue may prevent the daytime running lamps from turning on.
What the fix does
Ford will mail instructions to bring your vehicle to a dealer for a body control module software update.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger airbag inflator may become over-pressurized due to airflow blockage, causing it to rupture during deployment. This can prevent the airbag from inflating properly and send fragments toward occupants.
What the fix does
The passenger frontal airbag module will be replaced with a corrected unit.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may rupture during a crash instead of deploying safely.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag module at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's side interior door handle may have a return spring installed backwards or incorrectly, which could cause the spring to come loose and allow the driver's door to open during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the driver's side door handle for a missing or misoriented spring and repair it as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The return spring on the driver's side interior door handle may loosen, causing the driver's door to unlatch during a side impact crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the driver-side interior door handle and repair the return spring at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A hose can separate from the engine oil cooler tube assembly, causing engine oil to leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the engine oil cooler tube assembly at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
