Is the 2015 Ford Mustang a bad year?
439 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Mustang years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2015 Ford Mustang are in line with other Mustang years. Brakes, body structure, exterior lighting and 1 more stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2015 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 30,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 50 (11%) | 2k–66k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 45 (10%) | 10k–56k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 42 (10%) | 24k–61k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Backup cameraSTANDS OUT | 41 (9%) | 28k–76k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 68 (15%) | 9k–52k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 51 (12%) | 5k–64k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 42 (10%) | 2k–51k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Fuel system | 32 (7%) | 10k–51k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 23 (5%) | 10k–50k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 18 (4%) | 8k–48k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Speed control | 15 (3%) | 4k–43k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 21 (5%) | 50k–85k miles · ahead | — |
| Wheels | 16 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 15 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
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 30,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 439 complaints: 26 mention a crash · 7 mention a fire · 12 report an injury · 19 say the car was towed.
15 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Huntington beach Ford, ca from 2018-2020, has not found a knocking noise ether in the transmission or engine V-6, 3.7L.
First occurrence (Mid december 2014): I was coming up to a red light and the turn was slightly uphill.
White smoke in the morning. Vibration, engine power loss, the head for cylinder 1 is warp and leaking coolant into cylinder 1 causing the white smoke.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 30,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2015 Ford Mustang: 11
Water and road salt may corrode the front seat belt anchor pretensioner cables. A corroded cable can break, preventing the seat belt from properly restraining an occupant, and increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse. 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.
The rearview camera wiring may be loose or damaged, which can result in a blank or distorted image. A rearview camera that displays a blank or distorted image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Exposure to certain environmental conditions, such as high temperatures, high humidity, and salt air can cause the brake pedal bumper to corrode and separate from the brake pedal. A separated brake pedal bumper can cause the brake lights to illuminate continuously, causing confusion to other drivers and increasing the risk of a crash.
These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
A hose may separate from the engine oil cooler tube assembly causing an oil leak. A sudden loss of engine oil may cause engine failure, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, an oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
A component within the door latches may break, preventing the doors from latching and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The affected vehicles have a brake caliper guide pin that may not have been sufficiently tightened during installation of the half shafts. As a result, the caliper guide pin may loosen while driving, reducing the vehicle's rear braking ability. A partial loss of the rear braking system can increase the risk of a crash.
Prolonged exposure to elevated underbody temperatures can cause degradation of the fuel tank and/or fuel vapor lines, which may eventually result in a fuel leak. In addition, this condition could cause seals in the parking brake cable to degrade, potentially affecting parking brake function. If the vehicle experiences a fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source it can, increase the risk of a vehicle fire.
The fuel pressure sensor may not have been seated properly to the fuel jumper line, which may cause a fuel leak. A partially seated fuel pressure sensor could cause a fuel odor or a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire in the presence of an ignition source.
In the affected vehicles, the passenger safety belt tension sensor may misclassify the size of the front passenger seat occupant. This could cause a child size occupant to be classified as an adult and an adult passenger to be classified as a child passenger. If the tension sensor misclassifies the front passenger, improper passenger air bag deployment may occur, increasing the risk of occupant injury in the event of a vehicle crash.
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: 131
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2015 Ford Mustang. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022…
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
For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an engine oil leak, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM)…
During service and repair requiring removal and replacement of a crankshaft bolt and/or crankshaft damper…
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Door Latch Failures
Door Latch Failure
Neighbouring years
2014 Mustang: 359 complaints, keep it · 2016 Mustang: 380 complaints, keep it.
Every Ford Mustang year
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Questions
Is the 2015 Ford Mustang a bad year?
439 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Mustang years. At 30,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Ford Mustang?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: brakes (50), body structure (45), exterior lighting (42), backup camera (41), electrical system (68).
How many recalls does the 2015 Ford Mustang have?
11 recall campaigns list this model year: Seat belts (NHTSA 25V-614), Backup camera (NHTSA 25V-572), Backup camera (NHTSA 22V-082), Brakes (NHTSA 22V-011) 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.