YearToAvoid

2013 Ford Mustang Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 48 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 Ford Mustang, 18% of its 271 total complaints. Owners most often report rough or failed gear shifts and clutch problems, with median mileage at failure around 57,000 miles. No related recalls are listed for this issue.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
48
18% of 271
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
57,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Manual transmissions fail to shift into 3rd gear or grind when shifting, even after dealer visits, with the dealer sometimes calling it normal operation.
  • Clutch pedal sticks in the fully depressed position or fails to disengage, preventing the driver from selecting any gear.
  • Automatic transmission downshifts unexpectedly to a lower gear at speed, in one case causing the tires to lock up and the vehicle to lose control.
  • Rough or hesitant shifting appears shortly after purchase and persists despite repeated dealership attempts to diagnose or repair it.
  • A parked vehicle with an automatic transmission rolled away from a stop despite the gear selector reportedly being in park.
  • Owners report the transmission needing a full rebuild at very low mileage, with the problem sometimes recurring after repair.

When 2013 Ford Mustang transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 7, 2013, latest May 6, 2026.

2013 Ford Mustang transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2Jan 2013Aug 2014May 2017Mar 2019Jul 2020Jan 2022Oct 2023
48 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2013 to May 2026; peak Jan 2013 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2013 Ford Mustang

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Mustang model year

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

  1. 201013 (5%)
  2. 2011200 (43%)
  3. 2012177 (38%)
  4. 201348 (18%)
  5. 201430 (8%)
  6. 201542 (10%)
  7. 201629 (8%)
  8. 201722 (8%)
  9. 201845 (23%)
  10. 201928 (19%)
  11. 202025 (21%)
  12. 20219 (16%)
  13. 20224 (8%)
  14. 20231 (7%)
  15. 20247 (9%)
  16. 20252 (12%)

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Ford Mustang's transmission reliable?
NHTSA records 48 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 Mustang, 18% of all complaints filed for that year, with a median failure mileage of 57,000 miles.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2013 Ford Mustang?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2013 Mustang.
What transmission problems do 2013 Mustang owners report most?
Owners describe rough or missed gear shifts, clutches that stick or fail to disengage, and unexpected downshifting, based on NHTSA complaint narratives.
How does the 2013 Mustang compare to other years for transmission complaints?
The 2013 Mustang's 48 complaints and 18% share are lower than 2011 (200 complaints, 43%) and 2012 (177 complaints, 38%), but higher than 2016 or 2017 (29 and 22 complaints).
Did any 2013 Mustang transmission complaints involve crashes?
Yes, NHTSA data lists 2 crashes and 1 injury tied to Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 Mustang, with no fires reported.

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.