AI Damage2016 Ford Mustang: common problems
Owners of the 2016 Ford Mustang filed 380 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. The maker issued 108 service bulletins for this year. We found 5 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 380
- involving a crash
- 13
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 108
- YouTube repair videos
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 20% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 19% of all complaints
- 3 Backover prevention 14% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 7% of all complaints
- 6 Latches, locks, linkages 7% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel/propulsion system 5% of all complaints
- 8 Service brakes 4% of all complaints
- Engine: 76 complaints (20% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
- Electrical system: 73 complaints (19% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 38.
- Backover prevention: 52 complaints (14% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Powertrain: 29 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 10.
- Structure: 28 complaints (7% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 9.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.3 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cylnamed in 4 complaints
- 3.7 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 5 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- 5.2 L · petrol · 8 cylnamed in 4 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed
- manual, 6-speednamed in 8 complaints
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 380 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 76 | 1 | 8 |
| Electrical system | 73 | 1 | 38 |
| Backover prevention | 52 | 1 | 2 |
| Powertrain | 29 | 0 | 10 |
| Structure | 28 | 0 | 9 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 27 | 0 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 17 | 2 | 5 |
| Air bags | 15 | 9 | 0 |
| Steering | 12 | 1 | 7 |
| Visibility | 11 | 0 | 3 |
| Seats | 10 | 0 | 5 |
| Seat belts | 10 | 2 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 10 | 1 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, a rattling sound was present and several unknown warning lights illuminated. In addition, the power steering did not function as intended and the steering seized. The contact stated that the vehicle was very difficult to steer.
The contact stated that with the transmission in the reverse position and while reversing from a parking space, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration, reversed, and crashed into a second vehicle.
The brake warning light was illuminated. The contact then stated that the driver’s side seat belt failed to operate and was seized. As result, the contact sustained an injury to her neck and finger. No medical attention was needed. The air bags failed to deploy. No police report was filed.
The contact stated on 5/17/2022, his wife was using the rearview camera to reverse out of their garage and crashed into their other vehicle. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.
25 mph mild frontal collision caused a fire to start in the door panel as identified by the driver and the fire dept. The fire caused a majority of the cabin to burn and the vehicle to become a total loss in under a minute. Front airbags deployed but not side airbags.
Steering wheel airbag did not deploy in a high speed crash. The knee airbag DID deploy. My daughter was in an accident with another vehicle. The other vehicle was traveling about 40 mph. It was a very high impact crash that launched by daughters car about 30 feet. The steering wheel airbag did not deploy.
The air bags did not deploy. Noticed a recall for the takata airbag that I never received. How many other cars are out there. The car was a mustang bought in 2016 and was totaled.
I have had two collision in my vehicle and the air bags did not deploy either time. Both were at a rate of speed approximately 50 mph. One was a rear end collision that was on the drivers side rear. The other was to the driver side wheel and light area.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 162 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 8% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Mustang has 120 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 380, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Backover prevention. Rear camera and parking sensors after a rear impact.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Customer Satisfaction Program 25N15 - Supplement #1 Certain 2015-2019 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines…
Customer Satisfaction Program 25N15 - Supplement #1 Certain 2015-2019 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Inspection For One-Time Replacement
- Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless…
Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated…
- Certain 2015-2019 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Inspection For One-Time Replacemen
- Certain 2015-2019 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Inspection For One-Time Replacement
- This article supersedes TSB 24-2165 to update the TSB Service Procedure
Some vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit various SYNC performance related concerns including but not limited to: Display operation concerns Navigation inoperative Voice recognition concerns …
- Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes…
Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in…
- Ford Motor Company is voluntarily conducting a study on some customer-owned vehicles to proactively…
Ford Motor Company is voluntarily conducting a study on some customer-owned vehicles to proactively replace the front seat belt retractors and return them to Ford for further analysis. Inspecting your vehicle will help…
- This is a proactive investigation program by Ford Motor Company to obtain field parts for evaluation
Ford is voluntarily conducting this program to evaluate the field performance and functionality of the obtained front seat belt retractor assemblies. Parts obtained from the program must be returned to Ford for…
- While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal…
While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions. While performing a transmission repair on some…
- This article supersedes TSB 21-2175 to update the TSB Service Procedure
Some 2016 MKS, 2016-2017 Navigator, 2016-2018 F-150/Focus/C-MAX/Edge/Fiesta/MKX/Transit Connect/Mustang, 2017-2018 Continental/Fusion/MKZ, 2017-2019 Explorer, 2016-2019…
- All accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code
If the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the vehicles owner during initial delivery. Unlike the integrated (wired) factory keypad, the accessory…
- For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an…
For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an engine oil leak, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-00 for oil leak inspection and testing methods. Ford…
NHTSA lists 108 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Ford Mustang?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, electrical system, backover prevention. Total complaints: 380. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (17%), rear-view camera (12%), A/C or heater (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Ford Mustang?
NHTSA lists 108 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2016 Ford Mustang from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2016 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.