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2016 Ford Mustang problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2016 Ford Mustang has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated November 2, 2026.
- 5safety recalls
- 380owner complaints
- 13crash reports
- 7fire reports
- 18%fail the UK MOT
380 complaints, against an average of 178 for the other 14 Ford Mustang model years.
Every Ford Mustang model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
Buying a 2016 Ford Mustang? Get the pre-purchase checklist →
What goes wrong with the 2016 Ford Mustang?
The components named most often in the 380 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2016 Ford Mustang owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 380 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why does the backup camera not work on my 2016 Ford Mustang?37 owners · 9.7% · Recall 25V572000
- Why does my 2016 Ford Mustang stall, lose power or shut off while driving?35 owners · 9.2%
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2016 Ford Mustang?23 owners · 6.1%
- Why is the air conditioning not blowing cold in my 2016 Ford Mustang?19 owners · 5%
- Why does my 2016 Ford Mustang overheat?17 owners · 4.5%
- Has the 2016 Ford Mustang had engine failures?15 owners · 3.9%
- Why does my 2016 Ford Mustang idle rough, misfire or hesitate?15 owners · 3.9%
Fault codes 2016 Ford Mustang owners mention
Diagnostic trouble codes owners wrote in their complaints. Open a code to see what it meant on other cars and whether a recall names it.
Has the 2016 Ford Mustang been recalled?
5 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Seat Belts: Pretensioner Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles. Water and road salt may corrode the front seat belt anchor pretensioner cables.
Risk: A corroded cable can break, preventing the seat belt from properly restraining an occupant, and increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace both front seat belt anchor pretensioner assemblies, as necessary. In addition, dealers will remove sections of the carpet and underlayment that contact the cables. Dealers will also inspect the A-pillar sealing patches, and as necessary, install A-pillar body plugs, and/or inspect and replace the front outboard seat bolts. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed October 20, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated December 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S92. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov September 17, 2025.
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Risk: 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.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 8, 2025.
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera wiring may be loose or damaged, which can result in a blank or distorted image.
Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank or distorted image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the decklid wiring harness and/or replace the rearview camera, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2022 and June 26, 2023. Remedy parts are expected to become available in the 4th Quarter of 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S06.
Engine And Engine Cooling: Cooling System: Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles manufactured February 24, 2015, to August 30, 2016. A hose may separate from the engine oil cooler tube assembly causing an oil leak.
Risk: 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.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil cooler tube assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March 23, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S40.
Seat Belts Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Mustang vehicles manufactured September 26, 2015, to October 1, 2015. The front and rear seat belts and child seat tether anchors may have been damaged in shipping from the supplier to the vehicle assembly plant and may not adequately restrain the occupant in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," and 225, "Child restraint anchorage systems."
Risk: If the restraint components do not function as intended, the occupants may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front and rear seat belt assemblies and the child seat tether anchors, free of charge. The recall began on December 18, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C13.
Is the 2016 Ford Mustang recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSAMvl: rear-view camera distorted and/or loss of image
Risk: Affected vehicles may have an issue with the rear-view camera. Drivers may experience a distorted or loss of image.
Fix: Check vehicle and replace camera as required.
UK DVSA25S92 Mustang - Potential Seat Belt Anchor Pretensioner Issue
Risk: Affected vehicles may experience corrosion that can weaken or detach the seatbelt anchor pretensioner cables for both front seats. A corroded pretensioner cable may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash.
Fix: Replacement parts are not yet available. If corrosion is detected dealers will provide the affected customer with a rental car until replacement seat belt pretensioner parts are available to be installed.
UK DVSAFire may occur
Risk: There may be reduced clearance between the battery cable wiring loom and the exhaust manifold. There is a possibility that the wiring could contact the manifold and result a short circuit and possible engine compartment fire.
Fix: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and apply additional heat resistant foil tape to the wiring loom and secure it away from the exhaust manifold using an additional clip fitted to the inner wing panel.
EU Safety GateCorrosion of the front seatbelt pretensioner cable may cause it to weaken or break, reducing seatbelt effectiveness and increasing the…Corrosion of the front seatbelt pretensioner cable may cause it to weaken or break, reducing seatbelt effectiveness and increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Other; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe oil pipe is not adequately connected to the metal oil-cooler baseplate and can detach, leading to engine oil leaking onto the road.This presents a skid hazard for other road users, and/or if leaking onto hot surfaces after the vehicle has been parked, it presents a risk of fire.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2016 Ford Mustang fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2016, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2016 Ford Mustang owners report?
12 of the 380 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
Coolant intrusion caused by a crack in the engine block coolant leaking into cylinder 3, engine replacement needed. 50k miles on the vehicle.
A new Walmart-brand EverStart Plus 96R, 590 CCA automotive battery was purchased on August 4, 2026, and installed in a 2016 Ford Mustang Convertible. On the evening of September 26, 2026, my family and I drove the Mustang and returned home at approximately 11:00 p.m. The vehicle operated normally. There were no warning signs, electrical problems, overheating, or other indications of a mechanical problem. The Mustang remained parked and untouched overnight. At approximately 2:00 p.m., 15 hours later, on September 27, my daughter came into the room and told me that the car was on fire. Riverside…
The contact owned a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at highway speeds, the driver's side door independently opened. The failure caused severe wind noise to enter the vehicle, and the door ajar warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, where technicians confirmed that the door latch mechanism had failed and stated that the mechanism was subjected to unintended opening. The vehicle was repaired out of pocket. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) as the cause of the failure; however, the VIN was…
On or about June 24, 2026, the CHECK ENGINE light came on. Since I was near the local Ford Dealership, I stopped there. The car was evaluated the next day. I was told the the gas tank assembly and pipe had to be replaced. The repair was almost $4000. My car only as 63,117 miles on it. Before the problem was diagnosed, I was getting lousy gas mileage and assumed it was because the government was allowing more ethanol. In fact, the problem could have been disastrous... The car could have caught on fire . The car was in the repair shop until July 2, and I had to rent a car for $300. I am unable…
Brought the car in for service. The tech called me back and said the engine was blown. Condensation in cylinder 3. This was due to the cylinder walls being engineered to small. Which caused a leak in the coolant jacket. I paid out of pocket nearly $10,000 to have it replaced because the third party warranty that I had purchased declined my coverage to fix it because it’s a known issue by ford. Bc
This complaint is a formal notification of a Recall Remedy Failure regarding NHTSA Campaign 22V082000 / 25V572000 (Rearview Camera Wiring Harness / Camera Replacement). My vehicle was brought to an authorized Ford dealership on 07/22/2026 to complete the recall remedy. Following the service, the backup camera functionality has completely degraded and is now worse than before the service. The screen is consistently displaying entirely black / distorted screen / Message Camera not available, presenting an ongoing, unmitigated back-over safety hazard. The manufacturer's remedy has failed to…
The passenger side door is periodically opening to the first catch while driving on the highway without anyone touching the handle and it does not matter that the door is locked. It is very scary for any passenger when it happens. For the driver the tendency is to try to reach over and re-close the door at highway speed which seems dangerous.
I am experiencing the same issues as NHTSA 22V-011 where the brake pedal stop bumper had disintegrated, causing continuous brake lights and a potential rollaway risk
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse(R), the rear-view camera was blank and then operated intermittently; however, the image was blurry. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on two occasions. During the first visit, the contact was informed that the harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was then taken to a different dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the camera needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted during the first inclement…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse, the screen turned blue with a message that the back over prevention camera was unavailable. The failure was intermittent. The contact first received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V082000 (Back Over Prevention). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who inspected the vehicle and replaced the wiring harness clips in the rear of the vehicle. The contact received a second notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was…
At about 75k miles my mustang started misfiring at about 2,500 rpm’s and higher. Turns out it was a blown head gasket. This engine model is prone to what happened to it. Ford should have a recall for these engine and a solution as they’re ticking time bombs. I wish I could drive with the peace of mind of not worrying about it. I couldn’t drive my car for months because of the warranty not even wanting to cover it. The warranty from the used car dealership. Got unlucky.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and shifting gear, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall and referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.
2016 Ford Mustang: questions owners ask
Is the 2016 Ford Mustang reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 380 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Mustang; the most common categories were engine (76, 20%), electrical system (73, 19.2%), back over prevention (52, 13.7%). There are 5 safety recalls. 13 complaints mention a crash, 7 mention a fire, 11 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Ford Mustang?
Across 380 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are engine (20% of complaints), electrical system (19.2% of complaints), back over prevention (13.7% of complaints), power train (7.6% of complaints), structure (7.4% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2016 Ford Mustang have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2016 Ford Mustang; the most recent (campaign 25V614000, 2025-09-12) concerns Seat Belts: Pretensioner. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does the backup camera not work on my 2016 Ford Mustang?
37 of the 380 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Ford Mustang (9.7%) describe the rearview or backup camera failing or showing a blank screen. 2 related recalls exist: campaign 25V572000 (back over prevention: sensing system: camera). The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. One owner wrote: "Backup Camera doesn’t work after purchasing a new camera from dealership and new wires. dealership said they didn’t know what was wrong after 3 months of working on car and new parts purchased" (NHTSA complaint 11678016, August 2025). Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2016 Ford Mustang stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
35 of the 380 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Ford Mustang (9.2%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "Weld between my clutch pedal and pedal assembly broke causing car to stall out in the road. This is a common issue with 2015-2017 manual mustangs." (NHTSA complaint 11640105, February 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2016 Ford Mustang?
23 of the 380 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Ford Mustang (6.1%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "From what I can remember its always been an issue with cylinder 3. I was always repaired by Ford Auto Nation of Fort Worth and Auto World Repair 2021 Engine Failure: Confirmed and repaired blown head gasket 2022 Check Engine Light code P303 - Found faulty as…" (NHTSA complaint 11705197, December 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the air conditioning not blowing cold in my 2016 Ford Mustang?
19 of the 380 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Ford Mustang (5%) describe the air conditioning not cooling or failing. One owner wrote: "Consistent failure of mustang air conditioning evaporator consistent with Ford TSB18-2256. Evaporator has failed 3 times, leading to at least one A/C compressor replacement. Failed evaporators are not available. Vehicle has less the 40k miles." (NHTSA complaint 11418791, May 2021). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2016 Ford Mustang overheat?
17 of the 380 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Ford Mustang (4.5%) describe the engine overheating or coolant loss. One owner wrote: "Coolant intrusion caused by a crack in the engine block coolant leaking into cylinder 3, engine replacement needed. 50k miles on the vehicle." (NHTSA complaint 11772817, October 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Has the 2016 Ford Mustang had engine failures?
15 of the 380 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Ford Mustang (3.9%) describe complete engine failure or a replaced engine. One owner wrote: "Coolant intrusion caused by a crack in the engine block coolant leaking into cylinder 3, engine replacement needed. 50k miles on the vehicle." (NHTSA complaint 11772817, October 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2016 Ford Mustang idle rough, misfire or hesitate?
15 of the 380 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Ford Mustang (3.9%) describe rough idling, misfires or hesitation when accelerating. One owner wrote: "At about 75k miles my mustang started misfiring at about 2,500 rpm’s and higher. Turns out it was a blown head gasket. This engine model is prone to what happened to it. Ford should have a recall for these engine and a solution as they’re ticking time bombs." (NHTSA complaint 11714747, February 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Mustang
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved November 2, 2026. Model year 2016 only. How these reports are made.