Is the 2013 Ford Mustang a bad year?
271 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 48, 3.7× a quiet Mustang year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
The transmission draws 3.7× the complaints of a quiet Mustang year, spread over 11k–86k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2013 Mustang owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 57,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 48 (18%) | 11k–86k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 22 (8%) | 12k–65k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Speed control | 19 (7%) | 10k–64k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 18 (7%) | 16k–71k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Fuel system | 11 (4%) | 32k–68k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 145 (54%) | 13k–51k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 10 (4%) | 21k–51k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 8 (3%) | 14k–45k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 6 (2%) | 4k–20k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 5 (2%) | 7k–51k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 57,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 271 complaints: 16 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 8 report an injury · 10 say the car was towed.
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in May 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
My vehicle is doing the exact same thing as this recall #19S07 - 6R80 transmission unexpected downshift into 1st gear.
Car shifts down by itself and shows dashes on the odometer as the speedometer gets stuck on zero. It alse shows wrench light when this happens.
Cannot shift from forth to fifth in my car and 2nd gear experiences a lock out / missed shift and will not go in to 2ND.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 57,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2013 Ford Mustang: 6
These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The parts include certain driver-side air bag inflators and/or modules, designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford Mustang and Mustang GT500. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags)… An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags)… An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles may have a transmission range sensor (Trs) that was calibrated out of specification for reverse gear. If this condition exists, the transmission may not go into reverse or when the driver pushes the shift lever in the reverse r position and the vehicle s transmission does go in reverse…
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 60
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2013 Ford Mustang. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some 2011-2024 Mustang and F-150 vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine may exhibit a tick tap and/or typewriter ticking noise at idle after an engine oil change
Some 2011-2021 Mustang and F-150 vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine may exhibit a ticking noise at idle after an engine oil change
On vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission it is imperative that the converter pilot hub be greased with Motorcraft Multi-Purpose Grease Spray XL-5-A…
Some vehicles may exhibit poor A/C performance/improper climate function and/or a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P06A0 in the powertrain control module (PCM)
Neighbouring years
2012 Mustang: 466 complaints, consider selling · 2014 Mustang: 359 complaints, keep it.
Every Ford Mustang year
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Questions
Is the 2013 Ford Mustang a bad year?
271 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 48, 3.7× a quiet Mustang year. At 57,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. The transmission draws 3.7× the complaints of a quiet Mustang year, spread over 11k–86k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Ford Mustang?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (48), engine (22), speed control (19), electrical system (18), fuel system (11). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 11k–86k miles.
How many recalls does the 2013 Ford Mustang have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 21V-081), Air bags (NHTSA 21E013000), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-001), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-046) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.