Short answer
Among Ford Mustang model years through 2024, 2002 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2021 has the most (19). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Ford Mustang: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 27 (2000–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 86
- Fewest recalls
- 2002 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2021 (19)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (49)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2015, 2016, 2017 and 9 more years
Ford Mustang Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 7 | 5 stars | Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Engine |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 12 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Power train |
| 2024 | 17 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline, Power train |
| 2023 | 12 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Back over prevention, Power train |
| 2022 | 18 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Power train, Back over prevention |
| 2021 | 19 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Air bags, Back over prevention |
| 2020 | 8 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance |
| 2019 | 6 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Back over prevention, Power train |
| 2018 | 3 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Electrical system, Power train |
| 2017 | 6 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Air bags, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2016 | 5 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Child seat, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2015 | 11 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Fuel system, gasoline, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2014 | 3 | 4 stars | Air bags |
| 2013 | 5 | 4 stars | Air bags, Exterior lighting |
| 2012 | 6 | 4 stars | Air bags, Exterior lighting, Power train |
| 2011 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2010 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2009 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2008 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2007 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2006 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2005 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2004 | 1 | Not rated | Vehicle speed control |
| 2003 | 1 | Not rated | Vehicle speed control |
| 2002 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2001 | 1 | Not rated | Parking brake |
| 2000 | 4 | Not rated | Parking brake, Seat belts, Suspension |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20267 recalls
- 202512 recalls
- 202417 recalls
- 202312 recalls
- 202218 recalls
- 202119 recalls
- 20208 recalls
- 20196 recalls
- 20183 recalls
- 20176 recalls
- 20165 recalls
- 201511 recalls
- 20143 recalls
- 20135 recalls
- 20126 recalls
- 20114 recalls
- 20105 recalls
- 20095 recalls
- 20085 recalls
- 20075 recalls
- 20065 recalls
- 20055 recalls
- 20041 recall
- 20031 recall
- 20020 recalls
- 20011 recall
- 20004 recalls
Ford Mustang: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Ford Mustang recalls are air bags (49), electrical system (32), back over prevention (19), power train (17) and visibility (8). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 15 of these 27 model years, and 2015, 2016, 2017 and 9 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Ford Mustang Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Ford Mustang?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2002 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Ford Mustang model years have the most recalls?
2021 has the most, with 19 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Mustang", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy