2013 Ford Mustang Problems, Recalls & Reliability

325 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2013 Ford Mustang, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 30/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Airbags leads the reports, typically around 27,000 miles.

325Complaints
30/100Trouble index
6Recalls
42,000Typical trouble mileage

Typical

Where 2013 sits among all Mustang years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Airbags 145 complaints (45%) · typically ~27,000 miles
“Takata recall - received a recall notice effective may 27, 2015 but have not had the air bag replaced yet.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Mustang
Transmission & drivetrain 49 complaints (15%) · typically ~57,000 miles
“While driving at highway speed it randomly shifts into first gear almost causing and accident/.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Mustang
Engine 23 complaints (7%) · typically ~52,000 miles
Electrical 20 complaints (6%) · typically ~60,000 miles
Speed control 19 complaints (6%) · typically ~60,000 miles
Other 17 complaints (5%) · typically ~61,000 miles

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 152 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 42,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 18,000 and 73,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (6)

AIR BAGS 21V081000 2021

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or…

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17,…

AIR BAGS 21E013000 2021

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain air bag inflator and/or module replacement service parts that may have been used as part of a collision repair. The parts include certain driver-side air bag inflators and/or modules, designed to fit 2005-2014…

Fix: Ford will notify dealers that purchased the affected parts, and dealers will provide replacement parts to purchasers, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Ford…

AIR BAGS 19V001000 2019 Do not drive

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern…

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The…

AIR BAGS 18V046000 2018 Do not drive

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern…

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owners…

AIR BAGS 15V319000 2015 Do not drive

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2014 Mustang vehicles manufactured April 6, 2004, to June 21, 2014, and 2005-2006 GT vehicles manufactured February 20, 2004, to September 22, 2006. The affected vehicles are equipped with a…

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver side air bag inflator, free of charge. The…

POWER TRAIN 12V190000 2012

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 FORD F-150, 2012 EXPEDITION AND LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, AND 2012-2013 MUSTANG VEHICLES, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NOS. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER…

Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE TRS AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER…

Technical service bulletins

66 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2013 Ford Mustang. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2013 Mustang TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2012peak 104 in 20162026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2013 Ford Mustang reliable?

The 2013 Ford Mustang drew 325 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 30/100, scored against the model's worst year (2005).

What are the most common 2013 Ford Mustang problems?

The top reported problems for the 2013 Ford Mustang are airbags (145 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (49), and engine (23).

At what mileage do 2013 Ford Mustang problems show up?

Owners most often report 2013 Ford Mustang problems around 42,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 18,000 and 73,000 miles.

Does the 2013 Ford Mustang have recalls?

6 recall campaigns apply to the 2013 Ford Mustang. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.

← 2012 Mustang All Mustang years 2014 Mustang →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.