2018 Ford Mustang Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 32 Electrical System complaints for the 2018 Ford Mustang, 17% of that year's 193 total complaints. A related recall (17V814000) covers the digital instrument cluster shutting off when ignition is turned off out of PARK. Median mileage at failure is 31,500.
- Electrical System complaints
- 32
- 17% of 193
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 31,500 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Digital instrument cluster goes completely dark or blank while driving, sometimes for several seconds at a time.
- Instrument panel indicators freeze or seize for about thirty seconds without warning, then resume.
- Touchscreen infotainment display goes black and stops responding to resets or fuse checks, eventually requiring an APIM module replacement.
- Orange wrench warning light appears along with a loss of half engine power, recurring at two separate mileage points.
- Instrument cluster fails to illuminate at startup or while the vehicle is stationary.
When 2018 Ford Mustang electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Aug 21, 2018, latest Sep 24, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2018 Ford Mustang
- NHTSA 17V814000Dec 18, 2017Electrical System2,100 vehicles
Electrical system:software
Ford Motor Company is recalling certain 2018 Ford Mustang vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission and a 12.4" digital instrument cluster. If the ignition is turned off when the transmission is not in PARK, the instrument cluster may not illuminate the PRNDL gear position display and the operator may not receive the "Key in Ignition" chime when the driver's door is opened. As such, these vehicles fails to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence/Starter Interlock/Transmission Braking Effect," and number 114, "Theft Protection."
Risk: Without a visual or audible warning to the driver that the vehicle is in PARK, the vehicle may roll away after it has been exited if the parking brake has not been applied, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 5, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C21.
Electrical System complaints by Mustang model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many electrical complaints does NHTSA have for the 2018 Ford Mustang?
- NHTSA lists 32 Electrical System complaints for the 2018 Mustang, which is 17% of the 193 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2018 Ford Mustang instrument cluster?
- Yes. Recall campaign 17V814000 covers 2018 Mustangs with an automatic transmission and 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster, where the cluster can behave incorrectly if the ignition is turned off before the transmission is in PARK. Ford's remedy is a free software update to the instrument cluster.
- At what mileage do electrical problems typically show up on the 2018 Mustang?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 31,500 miles for Electrical System complaints on the 2018 Mustang.
- Are the electrical issues dangerous?
- Among the 32 Electrical System complaints, NHTSA records one crash, one fire, and one injury associated with this problem area for the 2018 Mustang.
- Is the 2018 Mustang worse than other years for electrical complaints?
- The 2018 Mustang's 17% share of complaints tied to electrical issues is lower than 2015 (24%) and 2016 (20%), but higher than earlier years like 2013 (7%) and 2014 (3%).