Head-to-head reliability

FORD Mustang vs FORD Expedition

How the FORD Mustang and FORD Expedition compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

FORD Mustang1,048 complaints · 64 recalls Fewer issues per year
FORD Expedition2,079 complaints · 92 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

FORD Mustang vs FORD Expedition: The Mustang averages 104.8 complaints per year, while the Expedition averages 207.9. The Mustang's top issue is electrical (225 complaints), whereas the Expedition's is powertrain (781). Both have zero deaths, but the Expedition has more injuries (138 vs 36). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The picture

Is the FORD Mustang or FORD Expedition more reliable?

A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.

FORD Mustang

The Ford Mustang, over the past decade, has been a frequent subject of owner complaints, averaging about 105 per year. The most common issues revolve around electrical system failures, engine problems, and powertrain concerns. Owners report sudden loss of throttle response, air conditioning failures, and persistent shift knob defects, indicating that while the car is sporty, it may require frequent dealer visits for electronic and mechanical gremlins.

FORD Expedition

The Ford Expedition, a full-size SUV, has a higher complaint rate, averaging about 208 per year. Its dominant problem area is the powertrain, with reports of vibrations at highway speeds, sudden loss of acceleration, and even a vehicle fire. Electrical system issues, such as trailer module communication failures and brake system warnings, also feature prominently, suggesting that the Expedition may have more serious reliability and safety concerns.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryFORD MustangFORD Expedition
Total complaintsAll model years combined1,048 Better2,079
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns64 Better92
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints7062 Better
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years104.8 Better207.9
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints36 Better138

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 Mustang

  1. 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM225
  2. 02ENGINE181
  3. 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER163
  4. 04POWER TRAIN162
  5. 05BACK OVER PREVENTION105
What these mean
Electrical System

Owners report sudden air conditioning failure and incomplete recall repairs, indicating potential issues with the electrical components controlling climate and safety systems.

Engine

Multiple reports of a dead throttle where the car coasts to a stop despite pressing the gas pedal, a dangerous loss of power that has recurred even after dealer visits.

Powertrain

The shift knob's plastic piece detaches repeatedly, a quality issue that has required multiple repairs within nine months of ownership.

In owners' words — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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…

FORD Expedition

  1. 01POWER TRAIN781
  2. 02ENGINE367
  3. 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM252
  4. 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER245
  5. 05SERVICE BRAKES135
What these mean
Powertrain

Strong vibrations at speeds over 60 mph and sudden loss of acceleration while driving, making highway driving challenging and potentially hazardous.

Engine

A vehicle caught fire while driving, with smoke entering the cabin, indicating a serious engine-related fire risk.

Electrical System

Trailer module may lose communication, causing trailer lights to malfunction, and brake failure with all warning lights on, leading to a near-accident.

In owners' words — POWER TRAIN

I purchased a new 2025 Ford Expedition Max. Since I left the dealer’s lot, the vehicle has had a strong vibration at any speed over 60 miles per hour, which makes highway driving and longer distance trips very challenging or impossible. Since I bought the veh…

Driving on highway, tried to accelerate, the car was acting like it was in neutral and would not accelerate. Checked to ensure I was not. the car began decelerating and I started to pull over. As I entered the brake down lane - the car automatically switched…

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 Mustang — 64 recalls

Engine
#25V828000Jan 2025

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-…

Engine And Engine Cooling — Engine — Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical
#26V205000

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…

Visibility — Windshield Wiper/Washer — Motor
#26V418000

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…

Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Fluid/Lubricant — Valves/Valve Body
#25V164000

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.

FORD Expedition — 92 recalls

Electrical System — Integrated Trailer Brake Control
#26V104000

The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may los…

The risk: Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: The integrated trailer module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…

Engine And Engine Cooling — Engine — Oil/Lubrication
#25V198000

The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Expedition, and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. The engine may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.

The risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.

The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…

Air Bags — Frontal
#25V439000

The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Navigator and Expedition vehicles. The passenger side air bag may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag to deploy with excessive force during a crash.

The risk: An air bag that deploys with excessive force can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the passenger side air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S51.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Power Assist — Electric — Control Module — Software
#25V488000

The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Lincoln Navigator, F-150, Expedition, Bronco, and Ranger vehicles. The Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) module may malfunction while driving or when the driver is utilizing an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature, resulting in a loss of…

The risk: An unexpected loss of power brake assist while driving can extend stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, a loss of power brake assist while ADAS features are engaged can result in the vehicle not braking as expec…

The fix: The EBB module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall…

Buyer analysis

FORD Mustang or FORD Expedition: which should you buy?

The Ford Mustang has fewer complaints per year (104.8) compared to the Ford Expedition (207.9), indicating a lower frequency of reported issues. However, both vehicles have significant problems, with the Expedition showing more severe safety-related complaints like fires and brake failures.

Recommendation. If you prioritize a lower likelihood of encountering issues and are willing to deal with electrical and engine quirks, the Mustang may be the better choice. If you need a large SUV and can accept a higher risk of powertrain and electrical problems, the Expedition could still be considered, but be prepared for potentially costly repairs.

Key differences

  • The Mustang has about half the complaints per year as the Expedition, suggesting a lower rate of reported problems.
  • The Expedition has a much higher number of powertrain complaints (781) compared to the Mustang (162), indicating more frequent transmission or drivetrain issues.
  • The Mustang's top issue is electrical (225), while the Expedition's top is powertrain (781), pointing to different reliability weak spots.
  • The Expedition has more crash-related complaints (62 vs 70) and injuries (138 vs 36), though both have zero deaths.
Watch on FORD Mustang
  • Check for any open recalls, especially the engine and engine cooling recall (NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V122000), and ensure parts are available.
  • Test the throttle response during a test drive, as multiple owners report a dead throttle issue that can recur.
Watch on FORD Expedition
  • Inspect the engine bay for any signs of oil leaks or previous fire damage, given the reported engine fire incident.
  • Test the trailer brake and turn signals if you plan to tow, as the trailer module may fail to communicate.

Before you buy

  • Check NHTSA recall status for both vehicles and confirm all recalls are completed.
  • For the Mustang, test the air conditioning and throttle response during a test drive.
  • For the Expedition, drive at highway speeds to feel for vibrations and test acceleration from a stop.
  • Ask for service records, especially for any transmission or engine repairs.
  • Have a trusted mechanic inspect the electrical system and powertrain components before purchase.

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.

YearFORD MustangFORD Expedition
202657
20251427
20247371
202314564
202249108
202155226
2020116383
2019141471
2018186368
2017264354
Years to scrutinize: the 2017 FORD Mustang drew the most complaints (264); the 2019 FORD Expedition drew the most (471). Inspect these model years especially closely.

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 Mustang or FORD Expedition in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

FORD Mustang vs FORD Expedition — comparison facts
Comparison
FORD Mustang vs FORD Expedition
FORD Mustang total complaints
1,048
FORD Expedition total complaints
2,079
FORD Mustang total recalls
64
FORD Expedition total recalls
92
FORD Mustang avg complaints/year
104.8
FORD Expedition avg complaints/year
207.9
More reliable overall
FORD Mustang
FORD Mustang top complaint area
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FORD Expedition top complaint area
POWER TRAIN