Last updated: 2026-03-04

Predicted

2026 Ford Mustang Reliability Score & Common Problems

Name: 2026 Ford Mustang
Brand: Ford

The 2026 Ford Mustang has a predicted reliability score of 71/100 based on prior model year data. Early data shows 1 recall and 0 owner complaints.

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

per 10k sold

About avg

Est. Annual Cost

$709

Above avg

Major Repair Risk

14%

NHTSA Rating

5/5

Consider

Based on historical reliability patterns, predicted to score 71/100 — worth considering.

1 recall on record

Should You Buy the 2026 Ford Mustang?

The 2026 Ford Mustang has a predicted reliability score of 71/100 ("Good") based on prior model year performance.

So far: 1 recall, 0 owner complaints. No owner-reported issues on file yet.

Prior model years suggest dependable ownership. Confirm all recall repairs are completed, and consider a pre-purchase inspection for used examples.

See also the 2025 Ford Mustang for an earlier comparison.

Pros

Acceptable predicted reliability based on prior model years
Infrequent unscheduled repairs
Low major repair risk (14%)
Low recall count

Cons

Score is a prediction — real-world data still developing
Above-average repair costs for its class

Compare 2026 Ford Mustang With

Predicted

2026 Chevrolet Corvette

Predicted: 74/100

Predicted

2026 Tesla Model 3

Predicted: 62/100

Predicted

2026 Honda Accord

Predicted: 78/100

Predicted

2026 Toyota Camry

Predicted: 79/100

Predicted

2026 Nissan Altima

Predicted: 81/100

Common Problem Categories

Safety

1 manufacturer recall issued

Recall Overview

recall on record

The 2026 Ford Mustang has 1 recall on record. This is a low count. Recalls are manufacturer-initiated fixes for safety or compliance issues and are repaired at no cost to the owner at authorized dealerships.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

per 10k sold

Segment avg: 0 (early)

LowAvgHigh

Very Low

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

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.

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 Mustang Repair 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.

Check Any 2026 Ford Mustang's History Before You Buy

Reliability scores tell you what to expect from the 2026 Mustang in general — but every car has its own story. Uncover past accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and service records for a specific Ford Mustang with a free VIN lookup.

Run a Free VIN Check

Best & Worst Ford Mustang Years

Best Ford Mustang Years to Buy

The best Ford Mustang year is 2025 with a reliability score of 73/100, rated good. Other strong picks include 2023 (72/100) and 2024 (67/100).

Good

2025

3 recalls · 8 complaints

Good

2023

6 recalls · 14 complaints

Good

2024

10 recalls · 63 complaints

Ford Mustang Years to Avoid

The worst Ford Mustang year is 2021 with a score of 54/100, primarily due to electrical system (113) issues.

Mixed

2021

18 recalls · 373 complaints

See full Ford Mustang years-to-avoid analysis →

Ford Mustang Reliability Score Trend

Ford Mustang reliability has remained consistent across model years, averaging 65/100.

avg 65

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

Ford Mustang Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2026(selected)	71/100 (predicted)	—	Predicted	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?

The 2026 Ford Mustang has a predicted reliability score of 71/100 ("Good") based on prior model year data. So far there is 1 recall and 0 owner complaints on file. This is a prediction — the actual score will be available once more real-world data accumulates.

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

There aren't enough owner complaints to establish common problem patterns yet for the 2026 Ford Mustang. Based on available data, the main item to verify is recall completion. Prior model years can indicate what to watch for.

How many recalls does the 2026 Ford Mustang have?

The 2026 Ford Mustang has 1 recall on record. Recalls are safety or compliance fixes issued by the manufacturer and repaired at no cost at authorized dealerships.

How is the predicted score calculated?

The predicted score of 71/100 is calculated by averaging reliability scores from prior model years of the same generation. When generation data is unavailable, the average of the most recent model years is used. The prediction updates automatically as new data becomes available.

How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.