Head-to-head reliability
FORD Explorer vs FORD Mustang
How the FORD Explorer and FORD Mustang compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
FORD Explorer vs FORD Mustang: The Explorer averages 492 complaints per year with 169 recalls, while the Mustang averages 110 complaints per year with 68 recalls. Both have zero deaths, but the Explorer has more crash-related reports (138 vs. 76). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD Explorer or FORD Mustang more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD Explorer
The Ford Explorer is a family SUV that generates a lot of owner complaints—about 492 per year over the past decade, with 169 recalls. The most common trouble spots are structural issues like exploding glass roofs, plus power train and engine problems that can leave you stranded. With 138 crash-related reports and 167 injuries, it's a vehicle that demands careful inspection before purchase.
FORD Mustang
The Ford Mustang is a sports car with far fewer complaints—about 110 per year—but still 68 recalls and 76 crash-related reports. Owners frequently report electrical gremlins, engine stalling, and transmission slipping, which can be scary at speed. While it has fewer overall problems than the Explorer, the ones it does have often strike while driving.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD Explorer | FORD Mustang |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 4,919 | 1,098 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 169 | 68 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 138 | 76 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 491.9 | 109.8 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 167 | 41 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
FORD Explorer
- 01STRUCTURE1,196
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER992
- 03POWER TRAIN912
- 04ENGINE567
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM481
Owners report the glass roof exploding while driving, with no apparent cause. This is a serious safety concern because shattered glass can injure occupants and distract the driver.
Complaints include transmissions that fail to engage, sudden loss of power, and loud popping noises from the rear. These issues can leave you unable to accelerate or reverse, creating dangerous situations in traffic.
Some owners report engine camshaft roller finger followers that were improperly installed at the factory, which can cause engine failure. Others mention driver seats moving on their own while driving, which could cause a loss of control.
Electrical problems appear in the top five complaint areas, though specific symptoms are less detailed in the sample. Buyers should test all electronics, including cameras and seat memory, as these are common failure points.
“The glass roof exploded while traveling down the road. No cause for failure present.”
FORD Mustang
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM243
- 02ENGINE199
- 03POWER TRAIN168
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER167
- 05BACK OVER PREVENTION107
Owners report sudden power loss at highway speed and electronic steering that jerks and locks, causing collisions. These failures can happen without warning and are extremely dangerous.
The EVAP purge valve can fail, causing stuttering, rough idle, and a check engine light, especially after refueling. Some also report sudden power loss at highway speed, which is a major safety risk.
The 10R80 automatic transmission may shift into neutral while in drive, leaving you unable to accelerate. Recalls for transmission valve body issues exist, but parts may be unavailable, prolonging the risk.
This area ranks in the top five complaints, suggesting problems with rear cameras or sensors. While not detailed in the sample, buyers should test these systems thoroughly as they affect visibility and safety.
“While driving my 2025 Ford Mustang GT at highway speed, the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly lost power. The vehicle was unable to maintain normal power while I was traveling in active highway traffic. This created a serious safety risk because surrounding v…”
“The vehicle experienced a sudden steering malfunction involving the electronic steering gear. While backing out of a parking structure, the steering wheel suddenly jerked and locked instead of naturally correcting, resulting in collision with a pillar. There…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
FORD Explorer — 169 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024 Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with 3.3L Hybrid engines. The 12-Volt battery cable may chafe against the Belt-integrated Starter Generat (BiSG) and short circuit.
The risk: A short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will install a tie strap between the battery cable and high voltage cable, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement…
The risk: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, folding, or sliding unexpectedly while driving.
The risk: A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the second-row seat switch, and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford'…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2…
The risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations ca…
The fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
FORD Mustang — 68 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Bronco, 2024 Ranger, 2025 Mustang, Explorer, and Aviator vehicles. The transmission valve body may have been machined incorrectly, which can cause reverse gear failure, or unexpected forward movement in reverse or neutral gear.
The risk: Unexpected vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the transmission main control valve body, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S19.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Lincoln Nautilus, Mustang Mach E, and Mustang vehicles. The LED Driver Modules may contain a burnt diode, which can cause the low-beam and high-beam headlights, daytime running lights, front position lights, and front turn signals to fail in the a…
The risk: Exterior lighting failure can reduce visibility for the driver and other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the LED Driver Modules, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Mustang, and Mustang GTD vehicles. Water may enter the body control module and cause a loss of communication with the exterior lighting, including the license plate light, side marker, and tail lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply w…
The risk: License plate, side marker, and tail lights that fail to illuminate as intended can reduce visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and seal the body seams as necessary. Dealers will also inspect the body control module for corrosion and replace it, if necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed Octob…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ranger, Lincoln Nautilus, Mustang, Maverick, Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Corsair, Bronco Sport, and Bronco vehicles. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
The risk: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the EGR valves, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 31, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (…
Buyer analysis
FORD Explorer or FORD Mustang: which should you buy?
The Ford Mustang has far fewer complaints per year (about 110 vs. 492 for the Explorer), meaning you're statistically less likely to encounter problems. However, the Mustang's issues often involve sudden power loss or steering failure, which can be more dangerous than the Explorer's structural and powertrain complaints.
Key differences
- The Explorer has about 4.5 times more complaints per year than the Mustang, with structure and power train leading the list.
- Explorer owners report exploding glass roofs and transmission failures; Mustang owners report sudden power loss and steering lock-ups.
- The Mustang has fewer recalls (68 vs. 169) but still has dangerous electrical and engine issues.
- Both have zero deaths reported, but the Explorer has more crash-related reports (138 vs. 76) and injuries (167 vs. 41).
- Inspect the glass roof for cracks or signs of stress, and ask if it has ever been replaced due to shattering.
- Test the transmission thoroughly: shift into drive and reverse multiple times, listen for popping noises, and check for delayed engagement.
- Test the electronic steering at low speeds and during parking maneuvers for any jerking or locking sensation.
- Check for transmission slipping: drive at highway speeds and ensure it doesn't shift into neutral unexpectedly; also test the EVAP system for rough idle after refueling.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially the Explorer's hybrid propulsion and trailer hitch recalls.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Explorer's roof glass, transmission, and engine camshaft components before purchase.
- For the Mustang, test drive at highway speeds to check for power loss, and verify the transmission shifts smoothly without slipping into neutral.
- Ask for maintenance records to see if the Mustang's EVAP purge valve or transmission valve body has been replaced.
- Test all electrical features on both cars, including cameras, screens, and seat memory, as these are common complaint areas.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | FORD Explorer | FORD Mustang |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 38 | 13 |
| 2025 | 101 | 18 |
| 2024 | 21 | 82 |
| 2023 | 110 | 153 |
| 2022 | 267 | 50 |
| 2021 | 430 | 55 |
| 2020 | 1221 | 120 |
| 2019 | 298 | 149 |
| 2018 | 730 | 193 |
| 2017 | 1703 | 265 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific FORD Explorer or FORD Mustang in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD Explorer vs FORD Mustang
- FORD Explorer total complaints
- 4,919
- FORD Mustang total complaints
- 1,098
- FORD Explorer total recalls
- 169
- FORD Mustang total recalls
- 68
- FORD Explorer avg complaints/year
- 491.9
- FORD Mustang avg complaints/year
- 109.8
- More reliable overall
- FORD Mustang
- FORD Explorer top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- FORD Mustang top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM