Is the 2017 Ford Mustang a bad year?
269 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Mustang years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2017 Ford Mustang are in line with other Mustang years. Backup camera and body structure 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 2017 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 46,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backup cameraSTANDS OUT | 64 (24%) | 28k–84k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 41 (15%) | 34k–68k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 34 (13%) | 22k–53k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 34 (13%) | 10k–68k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Latches and locks | 29 (11%) | 46k–86k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 23 (9%) | 3k–46k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bags | 10 (4%) | 8k–45k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seat belts | 16 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 11 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 5 (2%) | 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 46,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 269 complaints: 14 mention a crash · 8 mention a fire · 9 report an injury · 19 say the car was towed.
27 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
My vehicle, manufactured june 2016, is having an oil leak from the engine cooler hose.
My 2017 Ford mustang gt with only 3000 miles on it has almost to no coolant in it it's been a garage kept car hasn't even seen a track or driving it hard!!
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 46,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2017 Ford Mustang: 6
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.
The air bag inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may rupture in the event of a crash. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The return spring for the driver side interior door handle may come loose, allowing the driver's door to unlatch in a side impact crash. If the door unlatches in a crash it can increase the risk of injury.
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 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: 141
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2017 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: 1
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Neighbouring years
2016 Mustang: 380 complaints, keep it · 2018 Mustang: 197 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Ford Mustang year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Mustang years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2017 Ford Mustang a bad year?
269 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Mustang years. At 46,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Ford Mustang?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: backup camera (64), body structure (41), electrical system (34), engine (34), latches and locks (29).
How many recalls does the 2017 Ford Mustang have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Seat belts (NHTSA 25V-614), Backup camera (NHTSA 25V-572), Backup camera (NHTSA 22V-082), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-529) 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.