YearToAvoid

2018 Ford Mustang Transmission & Powertrain Problems

Transmission & powertrain issues account for 45 complaints on the 2018 Ford Mustang, 23% of its 193 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 10,000. Ford issued recall 18V213000 for a possibly missing roll pin in the 10-speed automatic transmission on this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
45
23% of 193
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
10,000 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report hard slamming or jarring shifts into reverse or drive on the 10-speed automatic transmission.
  • Some describe the transmission refusing to engage third gear during passing or on-ramp acceleration, forcing them to stay in a lower gear.
  • Others report the transmission slipping out of gear or grinding loudly when shifting from park to reverse or drive, sometimes from the first days of ownership.
  • Manual-transmission owners report the clutch pedal intermittently sticking to the floor between gear changes, causing stalls in traffic.
  • A separate group reports the engine stalling unexpectedly at highway speed with a dashboard message telling the driver to shift to neutral to restart.
  • One owner reported the rear wheels locking up unexpectedly while slowing down, causing a loss of control.

When 2018 Ford Mustang transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 28, 2018, latest Aug 4, 2026.

2018 Ford Mustang transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month3Jun 2018Sep 2019Jul 2020Oct 2021Jun 2023Apr 2025Dec 2025
45 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2018 to Aug 2026; peak Oct 2022 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2018 Ford Mustang

  1. NHTSA 18V213000Apr 4, 2018Transmission & Powertrain142 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-150 and 2018 Ford Expedition and Mustang and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions. A roll pin may not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of the "Park" function.

    Risk: Despite the transmission shift lever being placed in 'Park' and the instrument panel display indicating '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 inspect the transmission to make sure it has the roll pin, installing one if it is missing, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S09.

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

How many transmission complaints does the 2018 Ford Mustang have?
NHTSA lists 45 transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2018 Ford Mustang, which is 23% of the 193 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2018 Ford Mustang?
Yes. Recall 18V213000 covers 2018 Ford Mustangs with the 10-speed automatic transmission, where a roll pin may not have been installed. Dealers inspect the transmission and install the pin if missing.
At what mileage do 2018 Mustang transmission problems usually appear?
NHTSA data shows a median failure mileage of 10,000 miles for transmission & powertrain complaints on the 2018 Mustang.
Did the 2018 Mustang transmission problems cause any crashes?
NHTSA records 4 crashes associated with transmission & powertrain complaints on the 2018 Ford Mustang, with no reported fires or injuries.
Is the 2018 Mustang's transmission complaint rate high compared to other years?
The 23% share for 2018 is higher than 2016 (8%), 2017 (8%), 2019 (19%), and 2022 (8%), but well below 2011 (43%) and 2012 (38%).

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.