Last updated: 2026-10-10

RELIABILITY SCORE: 78/100 (GOOD)

2026 Ford Mustang Reliability Report

The 2026 Ford Mustang has good reliability and one engine recall, with no owner complaints filed yet. Repair costs run above its class.

Full Breakdown Compare Models

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

0per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

$709

Annual Fuel Cost

$2,300–$5,750

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity70/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs70/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact88/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity100/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Consider

The newest year ranks first of nine scored Mustang years and has no owner complaints yet, but it carries one engine recall.

Should You Buy the 2026 Ford Mustang?

Reliability is good for this model year, and it sits close to average against other 2026 coupes. Within the Mustang's scored years it ranks first of nine, and it rates better than the 2025, which is also good. Federal crash testing gave it 5 of 5 stars.

Owners have filed no complaints, so there are no symptoms or mileage figures to report. That mostly reflects how little time the car has been on the road, not proof that nothing goes wrong. Federal recall records list one recall, in the engine area. Independent repair-cost data puts yearly repairs at $709 across the model, above the $526 typical for the class.

Before buying, ask for proof the engine recall was completed, and check it against federal recall records using the VIN. If you are weighing the 2025, check its recall history too. It has 3 recalls and 8 owner complaints.

See also the 2025 Ford Mustang for an earlier comparison.

Pros

+Acceptable reliability score
+Infrequent unscheduled repairs
+Low major repair risk (14%)
+Low recall count

Cons

−Above-average repair costs for its class

Compare 2026 Ford Mustang With

2026 Toyota Supra

Reliability: 78/100

Good

2026 Chevrolet Corvette

Reliability: 76/100

Good

2026 Tesla Model 3

Reliability: 59/100

Mixed

2026 Honda Accord

Reliability: 87/100

Excellent

2026 Toyota Camry

Reliability: 88/100

Excellent

Common Problem Categories

Safety

LOW RISK

1 manufacturer recall issued

Recall Overview

recall on record

The 2026 Ford Mustang carries 1 recall — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

per 10,000 sold

Segment avg: 0 (early)

LowAvgHigh

Very Low

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 5/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

2026 Ford Mustang Recall Details

1 recall has been issued for the 2026 Ford Mustang. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.

25V8280002025-12-01

ENGINE

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SD3. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 24, 2025.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2026 Ford Mustang? Check its history first

Every 2026 Ford Mustang has a different past. A VIN check reveals hidden accidents, title problems, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls that reliability scores can't show you.

Accidents
Open Recalls
Title History
Odometer Rollback

2026 Ford Mustang NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 5/5

Rollover risk: 7.9%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Driver, Front Passenger)Additional Air Bags (Not Available)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)Unattended Child Reminder Direct Sensing System (No)LATCH Locations (2nd row)Driver Monitoring System (No)Automatic High Beams (Standard)

View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Ford MustangRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

3.5

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Est. Annual Maintenance

$709

vs $526 avg for midsize cars

vs $652 avg for all vehicles

Repair Frequency

0.2

unscheduled repair visits per year

Severe Repair Probability

14%

chance of a major repair

Annual Cost Comparison

Mustang

$709

Category Avg

$526

All Vehicles

$652

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

Ford Mustang Resale Value

The Ford Mustang is estimated to retain about 76.8% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.

This benchmark covers the Ford Mustang model overall and is not specific to the 2026 model year.

Value Retained: 76.8%
Depreciation: 23.2%
Listings Analyzed: 720

Listings observed in June 2026. Actual resale value varies by trim, mileage, condition, and location.

Explore Ford Mustang depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.com

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

12–26 MPG

Running cost: $3,000–$6,450/yr

Fuel + repair

10–22 city / 17–33 hwy MPG

Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2026 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	City	Hwy	Comb	Fuel Cost
Mustang 2.3L 4-cyl	Rear-Wheel Drive	Automatic 10-spd	22	33	26	$2,300
Mustang 5.0L 8-cyl	Rear-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S10)	16	24	19	$3,150
Mustang 5.0L 8-cyl	Rear-Wheel Drive	Manual 6-spd	15	23	18	$3,300
Mustang Dark Horse 5.0L 8-cyl	Rear-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S10)	14	22	17	$3,500
Mustang Dark Horse 5.0L 8-cyl	Rear-Wheel Drive	Manual 6-spd	14	22	17	$3,500
Mustang GTD 5.2L 8-cyl	Rear-Wheel Drive	Automatic (AM-S8)	10	17	12	$5,750

Best & Worst Ford Mustang Years

Best Ford Mustang Years to Buy

Based on reliability index score

Top Pick

Good

Ford Mustang Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Ford Mustang reliability scores by year
Year	Score	Rating
2018	65/100	Good
2019	67/100	Good
2020	66/100	Good
2021	54/100	Mixed
2022	59/100	Mixed
2023	72/100	Good
2024	67/100	Good
2025	73/100	Good
2026	78/100	Good

Ford Mustang Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2026(selected)	78/100	+5	Good	1	0
2025	73/100	+6	Good	3	8
2024	67/100	-5	Good	10	63
2023	72/100	+13	Good	6	14
2022	59/100	+5	Mixed	17	154
2021	54/100	-12	Mixed	18	373
2020	66/100	-1	Good	8	101
2019	67/100	+2	Good	4	129
2018	65/100	—	Good	4	172

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2026 Ford Mustang reliable?

Yes, its reliability standing is good, and it ranks first of nine scored Mustang years. Against other 2026 coupes it is close to average. It has no owner complaints and one engine recall. Because it is a recent year, it has had little time to collect complaints.

What are the most common problems with the 2026 Ford Mustang?

No common problems have emerged yet, because owners have filed no complaints. The only issue on record is one federal recall in the engine area. As more owners report in, patterns may appear, so check the recall status of any car you consider.

Does the 2026 Ford Mustang have engine problems?

Federal recall records list one engine-related recall for this year. Owners have not filed any engine complaints. The data does not describe the defect or the fix, so ask a Ford dealer to confirm whether the recall work has been done on a specific car.

How much does the 2026 Ford Mustang cost to maintain?

Independent repair-cost data estimates $709 per year across the Mustang model, compared with $526 for its class. That is higher than a typical coupe. The figure covers the model as a whole, not only the 2026 year.

Is the 2026 Ford Mustang better than the 2025?

On the numbers, yes. Both years have good reliability, but the 2026 rates better. The 2025 has 8 owner complaints and 3 recalls, while the 2026 has no complaints and 1 recall. The 2026 has had less time on the road, so that gap may narrow.

Don’t buy a 2026 Ford Mustang without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2026 Ford Mustang

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2026 Ford Mustang does best on how many systems draw complaints (100/100) and worst on repair costs (70/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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