VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Ford Mustang1967–2026
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Ford Mustang
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Ford Mustang Years to Avoid
4 recalls · 526 complaints
26 reported injuries
Top issue: AIR BAGS
4 recalls · 381 complaints
32 reported injuries
Top issue: AIR BAGS
4 recalls · 339 complaints
16 reported injuries
Top issue: AIR BAGS
Federal Defect Investigations
NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 9 past investigations into the Mustang became recalls.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of October 27, 2026.
Ford Mustang — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 6 | — | — | 57 | 32 | 48 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 3 | 18 | — | — | 57 | 47 | 54 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 8 | 87 | — | — | 46 | 60 | 51 | Good |
| 2023 | 1 | 16 | — | — | 57 | 70 | 62 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 1 | 40 | 4 | — | 57 | 77 | 64 | Excellent |
| 2021 | 0 | 32 | 3 | — | 57 | 80 | 65 | Excellent |
| 2020 | 1 | 93 | 5 | — | 47 | 79 | 58 | Good |
| 2019 | 2 | 96 | — | — | 48 | 75 | 57 | Good |
| 2018 | 2 | 110 | 4 | — | 44 | 69 | 53 | Good |
| 2017 | 2 | 170 | 2 | — | 33 | 62 | 43 | Good |
| 2016 | 1 | 254 | 8 | — | 32 | 55 | 40 | Caution |
| 2015 | 2 | 300 | 20 | — | 32 | 48 | 38 | Caution |
| 2014 | 2 | 201 | 16 | — | 32 | 42 | 36 | Caution |
| 2013 | 4 | 155 | 5 | — | 34 | 37 | 35 | Good |
| 2012 | 4 | 293 | 15 | — | 32 | 33 | 32 | Caution |
| 2011 | 2 | 297 | 9 | — | 32 | 30 | 31 | Caution |
| 2010 | 3 | 151 | 7 | 2 | 33 | 30 | 32 | Good |
| 2009 | 3 | 113 | 6 | — | 42 | 30 | 38 | Good |
| 2008 | 4 | 195 | 15 | — | 32 | 30 | 31 | Caution |
| 2007 | 4 | 381 | 32 | 1 | 32 | 30 | 31 | Avoid |
| 2006 | 4 | 339 | 16 | — | 32 | 30 | 31 | Caution |
| 2005 | 4 | 526 | 26 | — | 32 | 30 | 31 | Avoid |
| 2004 | 5 | 76 | 6 | — | 48 | 30 | 42 | Good |
| 2003 | 5 | 149 | 8 | — | 33 | 30 | 32 | Good |
| 2002 | 6 | 114 | 9 | — | 39 | 30 | 36 | Good |
| 2001 | 6 | 152 | 23 | 6 | 32 | 30 | 31 | Caution |
| 2000 | 7 | 261 | 23 | 2 | 32 | 30 | 31 | Caution |
| 1999 | 7 | 161 | 20 | — | 32 | 30 | 31 | Caution |
| 1998 | 9 | 188 | 24 | 1 | 32 | 30 | 31 | Caution |
| 1997 | 8 | 126 | 8 | 1 | 35 | 30 | 33 | Good |
| 1996 | 9 | 176 | 14 | — | 32 | 30 | 31 | Caution |
| 1995 | 9 | 491 | 32 | 4 | 32 | 30 | 31 | Avoid |
| 1994 | 9 | 295 | 17 | 1 | 32 | 30 | 31 | Caution |
| 1993 | 4 | 82 | 9 | 2 | 44 | 30 | 39 | Good |
| 1992 | 4 | 43 | 8 | — | 54 | 30 | 46 | Good |
| 1991 | 6 | 44 | 2 | — | 55 | 30 | 46 | Good |
| 1990 | 4 | 56 | 3 | — | 53 | 30 | 45 | Good |
| 1989 | 5 | 61 | 11 | — | 49 | 30 | 42 | Good |
| 1988 | 4 | 65 | 1 | — | 52 | 30 | 44 | Good |
| 1987 | 5 | 22 | — | — | 57 | 30 | 48 | Excellent |
| 1986 | 1 | 14 | 1 | — | 57 | 30 | 48 | Excellent |
| 1985 | 2 | 6 | — | — | 57 | 30 | 48 | Excellent |
| 1984 | 3 | 20 | — | — | 57 | 30 | 48 | Excellent |
| 1983 | 0 | 3 | — | — | 57 | 30 | 48 | Excellent |
| 1982 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 30 | 48 | Excellent |
| 1981 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 30 | 48 | Excellent |
| 1980 | 0 | 5 | — | — | 57 | 30 | 48 | Excellent |
| 1979 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 30 | 48 | Excellent |
| 1978 | 2 | 9 | — | — | 57 | 30 | 48 | Excellent |
| 1977 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 30 | 48 | Excellent |
| 1976 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 57 | 30 | 48 | Excellent |
| 1975 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 30 | 48 | Excellent |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 30 | 48 | Excellent |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 30 | 48 | Excellent |
| 1972 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 30 | 48 | Excellent |
| 1971 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 30 | 48 | Excellent |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 30 | 48 | Excellent |
| 1969 | 4 | 2 | — | 2 | 57 | 30 | 48 | Excellent |
| 1968 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 57 | 30 | 48 | Excellent |
| 1967 | 5 | 3 | — | — | 57 | 30 | 48 | Excellent |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Ford Mustang Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the Mustang compares — best year within each era shown.
2018–Present
Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2021 (Buyer Score 65).
2013–2017
Mid-decade models in the depreciation sweet spot — typically 35–55% below original MSRP. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and recall completion. Best: 2017 (Buyer Score 43).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year Mustang to buy?+
The 2021 Ford Mustang scores highest on our Buyer Score (65/100) — combining a reliability score of 57/100 with a value score of 80/100. It has 0 recalls and 32 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which Mustang years have the most problems?+
The 2005, 2007, 2006 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2005 Mustang leads with 4 recalls and 526 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common Mustang problems?+
The most frequently reported Ford Mustang issues involve: AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.