Head-to-head reliability
FORD F 150 vs FORD Mustang
How the FORD F 150 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 F 150 vs FORD Mustang: The F-150 averages 1,086 complaints per year, with powertrain issues like transmission failures, while the Mustang averages 105 per year, but engine throttle problems are a safety concern. Both have recalls, but the Mustang's engine recall may lack parts. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD F 150 or FORD Mustang more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup known for capability, but owner complaints over the past decade reveal persistent issues that can affect daily usability. The highest volume of complaints centers on the powertrain, with many owners describing transmission problems such as delayed or hard shifting, reduced power, and limp mode. Electrical system complaints are also common, often overlapping with transmission-related warning lights and other electronic glitches. Exterior lighting issues, particularly with LED headlights causing glare, add to the list of concerns a buyer should investigate.
FORD Mustang
The Ford Mustang, a performance coupe, shows a lower overall complaint rate but still has notable trouble spots. Electrical system complaints are the most frequent, including air conditioning failures and issues with recalls not being completed. Engine problems, such as a dead throttle that causes the car to coast to a stop, are serious safety concerns. Powertrain complaints include a recurring issue with the shift knob detaching, which, while not mechanical, is an annoyance. Back-over prevention issues also appear, which is critical for a car with limited rear visibility.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD F 150 | FORD Mustang |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 10,861 | 1,048 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 144 | 64 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 319 | 70 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1086.1 | 104.8 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 286 | 36 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 0 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 F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,363
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,019
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,374
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,122
- 05ENGINE803
Owners report the transmission can delay or hard shift, trigger a wrench warning light, and enter a reduced power/limp mode, sometimes making the truck unable to proceed from a stop. This can be dangerous in traffic and often requires dealer intervention.
Electrical gremlins often surface as intermittent warning lights and transmission-related issues, with some owners citing a specific recall (26S28) for transmission signal loss. These electrical problems can be hard to diagnose and may leave you stranded.
The OEM LED headlights reportedly do not self-adjust, causing excessive glare for oncoming drivers. This is a safety concern for both you and other road users, and it may not be covered by a recall.
Many complaints fall into this category, often echoing transmission and electrical issues, suggesting that some problems are not easily classified or are misdiagnosed. This can complicate warranty claims and repairs.
“I was on Spencer street at the light about to cross on Saint rose park way. When the light turned green my truck wouldn’t let me proceed and the it went into a low gear and make a lot of noise until I crossed and stoped at the Horizon ridge light. At the ligh…”
“The vehicle experienced intermittent transmission-related drivability issues before the recall remedy was available. The vehicle had delayed/hard shifting, an intermittent wrench warning light, and a reduced power/limp mode condition where the transmission wo…”
FORD Mustang
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM225
- 02ENGINE181
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER163
- 04POWER TRAIN162
- 05BACK OVER PREVENTION105
Air conditioning can suddenly stop working, as reported on a 2024 Mustang GT with 56,022 miles, which is a major comfort issue. Additionally, some owners have open recalls that are not completed due to part unavailability, leaving safety defects unresolved.
A dead throttle condition has been reported multiple times, where the car coasts to a near stop and the gas pedal has no effect. This is a serious safety hazard that has occurred on new Mustangs and may be related to an engine recall (26V122000) with parts not yet available.
The shift knob's silver ABS plastic piece can detach from the rest of the knob, a recurring issue that has been repaired twice in nine months. While not mechanical, it indicates quality control issues and can be distracting while driving.
With 105 complaints, this system is a notable concern. Owners may experience issues with the rear camera or sensors, which are vital for safe reversing given the Mustang's limited visibility.
“I am extremely disappointed with Ford’s handling of my situation and the lack of customer support for what appears to be a premature major component failure. I own a 2024 Ford Mustang GT with only 56,022 miles. While driving, my air conditioning suddenly stop…”
“I am filing a safety complaint regarding an open manufacturer recall on my vehicle that has not been completed despite being scheduled for repair. On or about 2/16/2026, I scheduled the recall repair with an authorized dealership/service center. The repair wa…”
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 F 150 — 144 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150 vehicles with manual and power release tailgates. The tailgate latches may unlatch unexpectedly while driving.
The risk: Unexpected tailgate opening may allow unrestrained cargo to fall out of the truck bed and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the left-hand and right-hand tailgate latches, free of charge. An interim notification letter was mailed January 31, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 31, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer servic…
The defect: Tenneco Automotive (DRiV) is recalling certain MOOG K500359 ball joints, for aftermarket installation on 2015-2018 Ford F-150 trucks. The ball joint may have a misaligned dust boot and may be missing alignment hole and installation warning tag, which may lead to improper alignment of the ball joint.
The risk: An incorrectly installed ball joint may cause the ball joint stud to break, which can compromise front wheel control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: DRiV will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary replace the ball joint, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 5, 2021. Owners may contact Tenneco Automotive customer service at 1-877-489-6659.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150, 2018-2020 F-250, F-350, and 2019 Escape vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
The risk: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21…
FORD Mustang — 64 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer, Mustang, Lincoln Corsair, and 2025 Maverick vehicles. The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak.
The risk: An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components increases the risk of a fire. In addition, the loss of oil can result in engine seizure and loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly, free of charge. All affected vehicles are still within dealership inventory and therefore no owner notification letters will be mailed. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer and Mustang vehicles. The engine piston circlips may have been incorrectly installed during manufacturing, which can result in piston failure and engine damage, leading to a loss of drive power.
The risk: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine for missing or mis-installed circlips and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. F…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Mustang and 2025-2026 Mustang GTD vehicles. During certain cold temperature conditions, the windshield wipers may function only at their high-speed setting and the washing system may fail to function properly.
The risk: Windshield wipers or a washing system that fails to function as intended can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the wiper motor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 9, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in lat…
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.
Buyer analysis
FORD F 150 or FORD Mustang: which should you buy?
The Ford F-150 has significantly more complaints per year (1,086) compared to the Mustang (105), but that's partly due to higher sales volume. In practice, the F-150's transmission and electrical issues are more widespread and can affect daily reliability, while the Mustang's engine and electrical problems, though less frequent, are serious safety concerns. Neither is trouble-free, but the Mustang's lower complaint rate suggests fewer overall issues per vehicle.
Key differences
- The F-150 has a much higher complaint volume, especially in powertrain and electrical systems, with transmission failures being a common theme.
- The Mustang's most serious issue is a dead throttle, which can cause a sudden loss of power, while the F-150's transmission issues often lead to limp mode.
- The F-150 has a recall for headlight glare, while the Mustang has recalls for engine and transmission issues, but parts may be unavailable.
- The Mustang has a higher proportion of back-over prevention complaints, which is critical for a car with poor rear visibility.
- Test the transmission thoroughly: check for delayed or hard shifts, and watch for the wrench light or limp mode during a test drive.
- Inspect the headlights for proper aiming; if they seem too high or cause glare, they may need adjustment or replacement.
- During a test drive, accelerate from a stop and at highway speeds to see if the throttle ever feels unresponsive or 'dead'.
- Check the shift knob for any looseness or separation of the plastic piece, and ask if it has been replaced before.
Before you buy
- Check the vehicle's recall status on the NHTSA website and confirm any open recalls have parts available and are scheduled for repair.
- For the F-150, get a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the transmission and electrical system, including a scan for stored trouble codes.
- For the Mustang, test the air conditioning and all electrical accessories, and verify the back-over prevention system (camera/sensors) works.
- Ask for service records to see if the F-150 has had transmission repairs or the Mustang has had throttle or shift knob issues.
- Take both vehicles on an extended test drive that includes stop-and-go traffic and highway speeds to feel for any drivability issues.
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 F 150 | FORD Mustang |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 12 | 5 |
| 2025 | 321 | 14 |
| 2024 | 606 | 73 |
| 2023 | 1474 | 145 |
| 2022 | 3355 | 49 |
| 2021 | 5041 | 55 |
| 2020 | 10 | 116 |
| 2019 | 14 | 141 |
| 2018 | 17 | 186 |
| 2017 | 11 | 264 |
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 F 150 or FORD Mustang in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD F 150 vs FORD Mustang
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 10,861
- FORD Mustang total complaints
- 1,048
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 144
- FORD Mustang total recalls
- 64
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1086.1
- FORD Mustang avg complaints/year
- 104.8
- More reliable overall
- FORD Mustang
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- FORD Mustang top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM