2004 FORD MUSTANG Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Ford Mustang. This model year has 129 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Unintended Acceleration.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2004 Ford Mustang Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Unintended Acceleration
Uncategorized Issues
Engine Problems
Considering a 2004 Ford Mustang?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Ford Mustang. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unintended Acceleration | 35 | 4 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 17 | 6 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 12 | — | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 11 | 10 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 10 | 2 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 9 | 1 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 7 | 2 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Ford Mustang. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 129 most recent complaints
See attached document for complaint
CASUAL DRIVER. NOTICED ACCELERATION AND COASTING/ROLLING WERE SLUGGISH. MECHANIC NOTED BRAKE AREA TEMP ON FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WAS OVER 400 DEGREES. THE BRAKES ON THAT WHEEL WOULD NOT RELEASE COMPLETELY AND CAUSED CONTINUOUS FRICTION PRODUCING OVERHEATING. (I NOTICED I AM NOT TH…
NEVER KNOW WHEN CAR IS FULLY GAS UP ALWAYS PUT GAS IN AT 1/4 TO 1/2 TANK, WILL OVERFILL IF NOT VERY CAREFULLY SO REALLY JUST PUT NO MORE THAN 10 TO 15 DALLAS NEVER SHOWS FULL. DO NOT WANT TO OVERFLOW ON ME FOR ONE TWO IT'S BAD FOR MY BABY #1 MUSTANG
BACK ON MARCH 1, 2016 I BELIEVE I WAS COMING TO A STOP LIGHT I APPLIED MY FOOT ON THE BREAK AND THE CAR SEEM TO WANNA KEEP INCHING FORWARD INCHING FORWARD I HAD AT THIS TIME CONTINUED TO PRESS DOWN ON THE BREAK AS SOON AS I KNEW IT I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET PRACTICALLY DU…
GAS PEDAL GOT CAUGHT ON A PIECE OF CARPET WHICH CAUSED MY CAR TO ENTER INTO AN INTERSECTION ON A RED LIGHT AND CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. WHICH THEN MADE MY INSURANCE JUMP. I REMEMBER THIS DAY VERY WELL IT WAS THE DAY BEFORE MY BIRTHDAY I CAME UP TO THE RED LIGHT AND STOPPED …
ABS BRAKE LIGHT IS ON THIS IS UNSAFE IN WET OR SNOWY CONDITIONS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME CAUGHT IN THE FLOORMAT AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE…
BACK IN 2016 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH MY GAS PEDAL SEEMED TO HAVE GOT HUNG UP ON THE CARPET WHICH CAUSED MY GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE A LITTLE WHEN I WAS AT A RED LIGHT CAUSING ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT.. I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT WHEN THE PEDAL SEEMED TO HAV…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE OFF FROM A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FROM 0 TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS …
THE SPARK PLUGS HAVE A TENDENCY TO BLOW OUT. AN EXPLOSION MAKES THE PLUG STRIP THE THREADS AND DO DAMAGE TO THE HEAD. THERE IS ALSO POTENTIAL FOR FIRE AS FUEL VAPOR IS THEN RELEASE DIRECTLY INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
FRONT BRAKES DRAG OR FREEEZE UP CAUSING EXTREME HEAT OR ACTUALLY STOP VEHICLE. CAR HAS 18,000 MILES. FRONT CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REBUILT TWICE. FIRST FAILURE AT TEN YEARS,THEN FAILED AFTER APX 3 YEARS. THE PROBLEM IS THE PHENOLIC PISTONS SWELL AFTER TIME OR DUE TO LOSE OF LUBRICA…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, A VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS TURNED SIDEWAYS AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS PINNE…
WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT ON 2-28-2016 AND WAS HIT FROM THE SIDE AND PUSHED INTO A DITCH WHILE PASSING A FORD 250 HE TURNED INTO US WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HEADLAMPS FAILED TO RESPOND INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE W…
FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS THE CONVERTIBLE TOP LEAKS WATER INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR WHEN THE TOP FOLDS DOWN INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR, THEN THIS WATER LEAKS ONTO THE BACK FLOOR BOARDS. AFRAID IT IS GOING TO ROT OUT THE FLOOR BOARDS. THIS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. I KNOW OF MANY FORD…
AFTER STARTING ENGINE, SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM BLOCK AND EXPLODED. ENGINE WAS IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN AND HAULED TO A REPAIR MECHANIC. COST OF REPAIR WAS $2,400 AND VEHICLE WAS IN SHOP FOR 5 DAYS. EXPLOSION WAS LOUD AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH THE SHOCK OF THE LOUD NO…
PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTS ONLY AND WILL NOT EXTEND, SO THEREFORE IS NON-FUNCTIONAL. THIS IS NOT A CASE OF TWISTED BELT, AS WE HAVE ACCESSED THE PART AND ENSURED "FLAT" WIND. MY SON JUST BOUGHT CAR. PRIOR OWNER SAYS IT NEVER WORKED FOR SEVERAL YEARS. DRIVER'S …
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED HOWEVER, THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHAT REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. TH…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR CONDENSATION DRIPPED ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE AND THE EXHA…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE PEDAL WOULD BECOME STUCK. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS.THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO KICK AT THE PEDAL OR …
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2004 Ford Mustang.
Recalls for 2004 Ford Mustang
6 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2004 Ford Mustang. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2004 Ford Mustang — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2004 Ford Mustang reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2004 Ford Mustang has 129 NHTSA owner complaints, 24 crash-related, and 6 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Unintended Acceleration (35 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Ford Mustang?▾
#1: Unintended Acceleration (35 complaints). #2: Uncategorized Issues (17 complaints). #3: Engine Problems (12 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Ford Mustang?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2004 Ford Mustang?▾
The 2004 Ford Mustang has 24 crash-related complaints and 0 fire reports out of 129 total NHTSA complaints. 11 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2004 Ford Mustang have any recalls?▾
Yes — 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2004 Ford Mustang. The largest issue: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2004 Ford Mustang?▾
The 2004 Ford Mustang has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Unintended Acceleration issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Ford Mustang reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2004 Ford Mustang
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.