YearToAvoid

2013 Ford Mustang Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 36 engine complaints for the 2013 Ford Mustang, 13% of the 271 total complaints filed for the year. Median mileage at failure was 52,000 miles, and there are no related recalls for this issue.

Engine complaints
36
13% of 271
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
52,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden engine stalling while driving, including at highway speeds around 65 mph, sometimes recurring multiple times.
  • Several complaints describe the throttle sticking at full throttle or failing to respond to acceleration, in one case with a diagnosed throttle position system failure.
  • Owners describe the engine losing power or shutting down unexpectedly, sometimes accompanied by a rattling noise or warning light before the vehicle idled again after restart.
  • One complaint describes smoke and a fire starting near the front of the vehicle while driving at 45 mph, resulting in the vehicle being destroyed.
  • Owners report a check engine light with a strong odor, later diagnosed as a damaged emissions sensor.
  • Some owners describe engine misses or rough running followed by loss of accelerator pedal control, with a throttle actuator control fault code recorded.

When 2013 Ford Mustang engine complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 18, 2012, latest Mar 24, 2025.

2013 Ford Mustang engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Sep 2012Jul 2015Oct 2016May 2018Mar 2019Jul 2020Apr 2024
36 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2012 to Mar 2025; peak Oct 2014 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2013 Ford Mustang

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Mustang model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201021 (8%)
  2. 201181 (17%)
  3. 201260 (13%)
  4. 201336 (13%)
  5. 201424 (7%)
  6. 201564 (15%)
  7. 201688 (23%)
  8. 201736 (14%)
  9. 201862 (32%)
  10. 201962 (42%)
  11. 202031 (26%)
  12. 202111 (20%)
  13. 20228 (16%)
  14. 20233 (20%)
  15. 202411 (14%)
  16. 20255 (29%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2013 Ford Mustang?
NHTSA lists 36 engine complaints for the 2013 Mustang, which is 13% of the 271 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Ford Mustang engine?
No. The data shows no related recalls tied to the engine complaints for this model year.
At what mileage do 2013 Mustang engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported in NHTSA complaints is 52,000 miles.
Are the engine issues dangerous?
Most complaints involve stalling or throttle problems without a crash, but NHTSA records one fire and no injuries among the 36 engine complaints.
How does 2013 compare to other Mustang years for engine complaints?
The 2013 model year's 36 engine complaints and 13% share are lower than 2011 (81 complaints, 17%) and 2016 (88 complaints, 23%), but higher than 2014 (24 complaints, 7%).

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.