YearToAvoid

2017 Ford Mustang Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

47/100

#9 most-complained of 16 Mustang years

The 2017 Ford Mustang has a Complaint Index of 47 and ranks 9th worst out of 16 model years, earning a "Good" rating relative to other Mustang years. It has 265 complaints, 6 recalls, and no reported deaths.

Complaints
265
Recalls
6
Crashes / fires
14 / 8
Injuries / deaths
11 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
21
18 city / 27 hwy

Top 2017 Ford Mustang problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Collision Avoidance & Cameras65 (25%)
  2. Structure & Body62 (23%)
  3. Other37 (14%)
  4. Engine36 (14%)
  5. Electrical System35 (13%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain22 (8%)
  7. Seat Belts16 (6%)
  8. Steering11 (4%)
  9. Airbags10 (4%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (4%)

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy during low-to-moderate speed crashes, including one impact at 20 mph and another at 30 mph.
  • Owners report the rearview camera showing a blank or distorted image due to loose or damaged wiring.
  • Some drivers experienced sudden unintended acceleration, including one incident that caused a vehicle to jump a curb and another that led to full throttle in a parking lot with brakes unable to stop the car.
  • A driver's side door hinge reportedly fractured after hydroplaning at 30 mph, causing the door to fly open.
  • One owner reported the engine stalling and catching fire with less than 20,000 miles on the odometer and no prior warning signs.
  • An oil filter reportedly detached from the engine due to vibration, spilling oil that owners say could cause loss of vehicle control.
2017 Ford Mustang complaints: complaints filed per quarter192016 Q42018 Q32020 Q12021 Q22022 Q32023 Q42025 Q12026 Q2
326 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2023 Q1 (19).

2017 Ford Mustang recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V614000Sep 12, 2025Seat Belts332,778 vehicles

    Seat belts:pretensioner

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles. Water and road salt may corrode the front seat belt anchor pretensioner cables.

    Risk: A corroded cable can break, preventing the seat belt from properly restraining an occupant, and increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace both front seat belt anchor pretensioner assemblies, as necessary. In addition, dealers will remove sections of the carpet and underlayment that contact the cables. Dealers will also inspect the A-pillar sealing patches, and as necessary, install A-pillar body plugs, and/or inspect and replace the front outboard seat bolts. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed October 20, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated December 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S92. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov September 17, 2025.

  2. NHTSA 25V572000Sep 3, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,456,417 vehicles

    Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

    Risk: A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 8, 2025.

  3. NHTSA 22V082000Feb 16, 2022Collision Avoidance & Cameras330,784 vehicles

    Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera wiring may be loose or damaged, which can result in a blank or distorted image.

    Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank or distorted image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the decklid wiring harness and/or replace the rearview camera, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2022 and June 26, 2023. Remedy parts are expected to become available in the 4th Quarter of 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S06.

See all 6 recalls for the 2017 Ford Mustang →

2017 Ford Mustang fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 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.

2017 compared with other Mustang years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Avoid934361121.5
2016Caution73377521.5
2017Good47265621
2018Good33193323
2019Good27149623

All Ford Mustang years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Ford Mustang reliable?
Compared to other Mustang model years, the 2017 is rated "Good," with a Complaint Index of 47 and rank of 9th worst out of 16 years tracked by NHTSA data.
What problems does the 2017 Ford Mustang have?
NHTSA data shows the top problem areas are Collision Avoidance & Cameras (25% of complaints), Structure & Body (23%), Engine (14%), and Electrical System (13%).
Does the 2017 Ford Mustang have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2017 Mustang, covering seat belt anchor pretensioner corrosion, rearview camera defects, a passenger airbag inflator rupture risk, a driver door handle spring issue, and an engine oil cooler hose leak.
How does the 2017 Mustang compare to other years?
The 2017 Mustang's Complaint Index of 47 is lower than years like 2011 (100), 2012 (87), and 2015 (93), which are rated "Avoid," making 2017 a relatively better choice among Mustang years.
What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Ford Mustang?
EPA rates the 2017 Mustang at 21 mpg combined (18 city / 27 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,100.

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.