AI Damage2017 Ford Mustang: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Ford Mustang filed 268 complaints with NHTSA, most often about backover prevention and structure. The maker issued 93 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 268
- involving a crash
- 14
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 93
What fails most often
- 1 Backover prevention 24% of all complaints
- 2 Structure 15% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 13% of all complaints
- 4 Latches, locks, linkages 11% of all complaints
- 5 Engine 10% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 7 Seat belts 6% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 4% of all complaints
- Backover prevention: 64 complaints (24% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Structure: 41 complaints (15% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 7.
- Electrical system: 34 complaints (13% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 31.
- Latches, locks, linkages: 29 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Engine: 27 complaints (10% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
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 1 complaints
- 3.7 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 5 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- 5.2 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
- manual, 6-speednamed in 9 complaints
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 268 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backover prevention | 64 | 0 | 2 |
| Structure | 41 | 2 | 7 |
| Electrical system | 34 | 1 | 31 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 29 | 0 | 3 |
| Engine | 27 | 0 | 6 |
| Powertrain | 22 | 1 | 10 |
| Seat belts | 16 | 0 | 3 |
| Steering | 11 | 0 | 5 |
| Air bags | 10 | 7 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 8 | 0 | 9 |
| Seats | 7 | 0 | 6 |
| Visibility | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 6 | 1 | 5 |
| Wheels | 5 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Upon sitting back in the driver seat I noticed the smoke that had cleared from the airbag had started to build back up and became more dense. I had my feet outside the door while sitting in the driver seat and when I when I looked around I noticed a fire getting larger and larger from the pillar to my left, between…
The contact's vehicle spun 180 degrees and the air bags deployed, however, the bags ignited and set the contact's clothes on fire. The vehicle stopped in the roadway. The contact exited and the police arrived on the scene and filed a report.
There is a known issue where the oil filter simply falls off the engine because the engine is prone to a ton of vibration. As a result, oil is spilled everywhere and can result in the loss of control of the vehicle due to oil hitting the tires.
The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. There were injuries sustained to the neck and shoulders in the form of stiffness. Medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed. It was not determined whether or not the vehicle was destroyed. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the crash.
This was our fourth mustang and we really loved the mustang until this purchase. On dec 13th 2017 my wife was driving in a 20 mph zone and made a right turn at almost a stop and the accelerator suddenly sped up on its own which caused her to go up on the curb and hit a building.
When pulling out of a parking lot the car accelerated to full throttle by itself. I put the brakes on as hard as I could. It had no affect on stopping the car or even slowing it down. The car went over the median and was heading eastbound in the westbound lanes of traffic.
My driver side air bag didn't deploy when I was in a car wreck on saturday october 7, 2017..
I have also attached mileage discrepancies and the documentation created and maintained by AutoNation Ford Valencia which records my odometer at 26,250 in September 2022 and after taking my vehicle in for service of the air condition, I received it back with an odometer reading of 25,134 which appear on the odometer.
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 240 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 11% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Mustang has 120 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 268, above average.
What to check before buying
- Backover prevention. Rear camera and parking sensors after a rear impact.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Latches, locks, linkages. Door, hood and tailgate latches, especially near the impact.
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 93 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Ford Mustang?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: backover prevention, structure, electrical system. Total complaints: 268. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: rear-view camera (19%), warning lights, check engine (18%), infotainment or screen glitches (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Ford Mustang?
NHTSA lists 93 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 2017 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 2017 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.