2013 Ford Mustang Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
53/100
#8 most-complained of 16 Mustang years
The 2013 Ford Mustang has a Complaint Index of 53 and ranks 8th worst out of 16 model years, earning a "Caution" rating relative to other Mustang years. NHTSA lists 271 complaints, 5 recalls (3 do-not-drive), and airbags as the top problem area at 54% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 271
- Recalls
- 5
- incl. Do Not Drive
- Crashes / fires
- 16 / 2
- Injuries / deaths
- 9 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 18.5 city / 27 hwy
Top 2013 Ford Mustang problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags145 (54%)
- Transmission & Powertrain48 (18%)
- Engine36 (13%)
- Electrical System20 (7%)
- Other14 (5%)
- Fuel System11 (4%)
- Steering10 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (4%)
- Brakes8 (3%)
- Structure & Body8 (3%)
What owners report
- Airbags deployed unexpectedly or with excessive force during minor low-speed collisions, sometimes causing burns or injuries.
- In one case only the driver's side airbag deployed in a crash while the passenger airbag failed to fire.
- Owners report the automatic transmission failing to hold park, allowing the car to roll away unattended and strike an object.
- Brakes and steering reportedly seized simultaneously at low speed in one case, leading to a collision.
- Ball joints in the suspension collapsed while driving around 50 mph, causing loss of control.
- Power steering suddenly stopped working at highway speed, making the steering wheel difficult to turn.
2013 Ford Mustang recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V081000Feb 16, 2021Airbags1,067 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
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 passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
- NHTSA 19V001000Jan 7, 2019Airbags782,384 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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 Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Ford is also recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2010-2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, and 2010-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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 recall began February 13, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 19S01.
- NHTSA 18V046000Jan 11, 2018Airbags327,796 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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 Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge, Fusion, Mustang and Ranger, Lincoln MKX and Zephyr/MKZ, and Mercury Milan vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Ford is also recalling certain 2009 Ford Edge, Fusion, Mustang and Ranger, Lincoln MKX and Zephyr/MKZ, and Mercury Milan vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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 may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.
2013 Ford Mustang fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18.5 MPG
- Highway
- 27 MPG
- Combined
- 21 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,100
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2013 compared with other Mustang years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2013 Ford Mustang reliable?
- Compared to other Mustang model years, the 2013 has a Complaint Index of 53 and ranks 8th worst of 16 years tracked, placing it in the "Caution" category. Airbags account for 54% of its 271 NHTSA complaints.
- Does the 2013 Ford Mustang have a recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2013 Mustang, and 3 of them are do-not-drive recalls, mostly related to airbags.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2013 Ford Mustang?
- Airbags are the top problem area, making up 54% of complaints (145 of 271), with a median failure mileage of 25,000 miles and 9 crashes reported.
- How does the 2013 Mustang compare to other years?
- Its Complaint Index of 53 is lower than 2011 (100), 2012 (87), and 2015 (93), which are all rated "Avoid," but higher than newer years like 2017 through 2025, which score between 0 and 60.