YearToAvoid

2013 Ford Mustang Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2013 Ford Mustang has a complaint index of 30 and ranks 15th worst out of 21 model years, carrying a Caution verdict capped due to three Do Not Drive airbag recalls despite a moderate complaint count. Airbags dominate owner complaints, accounting for 145 of 271 complaints (54%).

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
30/100
#15 of 21 Mustang years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
271
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
5
3 Do Not Drive
Crashes
16
reported in complaints
Fires
2
Injuries
9
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
2019
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
21
18.5 city / 27 hwy
Injuries / deaths
9 / 0

Top 2013 Ford Mustang problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags145 (54%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain48 (18%)
  3. Engine36 (13%)
  4. Electrical System20 (7%)
  5. Other14 (5%)
  6. Fuel System11 (4%)
  7. Steering10 (4%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (4%)
  9. Brakes8 (3%)
  10. Structure & Body8 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Airbags deployed unexpectedly during low-speed collisions, sometimes with only one side firing and objects ejecting with enough force to burn or injure occupants.
  • Automatic transmission failed to hold park, allowing the car to roll away unattended and strike a building.
  • Brakes and steering reportedly seized simultaneously at low speed, causing loss of control and a collision.
  • Engine compartment produced smoke and caught fire while driving at highway speed, destroying the vehicle.
  • Suspension ball joints collapsed while driving, causing loss of control and a crash into a median.
  • Power steering suddenly malfunctioned at speed, making the wheel difficult to turn and leading to a curb impact.
2013 Ford Mustang complaints: complaints filed per quarter352012 Q22014 Q22016 Q12017 Q42019 Q32021 Q32023 Q22025 Q2
271 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q2 to 2026 Q2; peak 2016 Q4 (35).

2013 Ford Mustang recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V081000Feb 16, 2021Airbags1,067 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

See all 5 recalls for the 2013 Ford Mustang →

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

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Avoid954664 !21
2012Avoid804696 !21
2013Caution302715 !21
2014Avoid753593 !21
2015Avoid904361121.5

All Ford Mustang years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Ford Mustang reliable?
NHTSA lists 271 complaints for the 2013 Mustang, giving it a complaint index of 30 and a rank of 15th worst among 21 model years. Its verdict is Caution, capped from a lower rating because of three Do Not Drive recalls tied to airbags.
What is the biggest problem with the 2013 Ford Mustang?
Airbags are the top problem area, making up 145 of 271 complaints (54%), with a median failure mileage of 25,000 miles. Owners reported unexpected or incomplete airbag deployment, sometimes causing injuries.
Does the 2013 Ford Mustang have a Do Not Drive recall?
Yes. It has three Do Not Drive recalls, all related to airbags (campaigns 15V319000, 18V046000, and 19V001000), plus two additional recalls covering airbags and the electrical system, for five total.
How does the 2013 Mustang compare to other model years?
Its complaint index of 30 is better than years like 2005 (85), 2007 (100), and 2011 (95), all rated Avoid, but worse than 2017-2025 years such as 2019 (20, Best) and 2023 (0, Best).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.