Reliable Auto DB

2018 Ford Mustang reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 191 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Ford Mustang over 9 years — 18 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Mustang years here — over the median of the other years, which is 16. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Camera, Turbocharger, and Automatic transmission.

2018 Ford Mustang GT coupe
Photo by Vauxford, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

191

Per year

18

Recalls

4

Years on the road

9

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (56 of 191), then Powertrain (45) and Electrical system (30). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 28,890 miles, and the middle half falls between 5,000 and 51,000 miles. Those filings include 8 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 3 that report an injury.

Next to 2017 and 2019

The 2017 Mustang has 265 complaints, 14 per year, and the 2019 has 148 complaints, 12 per year. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2019.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2018 Ford Mustang. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (4)

Recall back-over prevention, sensing system, camera 2025-09-04 · NHTSA campaign 25V572000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.
Vehicles affected 1,456,417
Recall engine and cooling, engine, gasoline, turbocharger 2018-05-24 · NHTSA campaign 18E035000
Summary Roush Performance Products, Inc. (Roush) is recalling certain aftermarket supercharger kits, part number R1318-6006P1-AA, sold for installation on 2018 Ford Mustangs. The hose barb fittings on the supercharger kits may be manufactured incorrectly, possibly causing damage to the fuel lines and resulting in a fuel leak.
Remedy Roush will notify the known owners and replace the defective fuel rail subassemblies, free of charge. The recall began on May 31, 2018. Owners may contact Roush customer service at 1-800-597-6874. Roush's number for this recall is REMay2018.
Vehicles affected 146
Recall powertrain, automatic transmission 2018-04-04 · NHTSA campaign 18V213000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-150 and 2018 Ford Expedition and Mustang and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions. A roll pin may not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of the "Park" function.
Remedy Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission to make sure it has the roll pin, installing one if it is missing, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S09.
Vehicles affected 142
Recall electrical system, software 2017-12-18 · NHTSA campaign 17V814000
Summary Ford Motor Company is recalling certain 2018 Ford Mustang vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission and a 12.4" digital instrument cluster. If the ignition is turned off when the transmission is not in PARK, the instrument cluster may not illuminate the PRNDL gear position display and the operator may not receive the "Key in Ignition" chime when the driver's door is opened. As such, these vehicles fails to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence/Starter Interlock/Transmission Braking Effect," and number 114, "Theft Protection."
Remedy Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 5, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C21.
Vehicles affected 2,100

NHTSA's count is every vehicle in that campaign. A campaign can cover other model years and other models.

Complaints by component (191 total)

Engine
56
Powertrain
45
Electrical system
30
Structure
15
Latches, locks, and linkages
12
Back-over prevention
11
Engine and engine cooling
8
Fuel and propulsion system
8
Service brakes
6
Steering
4
Wheels
3
Air bags
2
Forward collision avoidance
2
Lane departure
2
Seat belts
2
Tires
2
Visibility and wipers
2
Exterior lighting
1
Seats
1
Speed control
1
Suspension
1
Show 13 more Show less
Crash-flagged

8

Fire-flagged

1

Injury reports

3

Death reports

0

Of the 93 complaints that include an odometer reading, the median is 28,890 miles. The middle half fall between 5,000 and 51,000 miles.

Complaints filed per year

102018202019242020162021172022212023192024422025222026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "I own a 2018 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Premium with the 2.3L EcoBoost engine. The vehicle initially developed a check-engine light and was diagnosed with P0303 (Cylinder 3 misfire), P0316 (startup misfire), and P018C. On…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-11
  • "I own a 2018 Ford Mustang EcoBoost convertible and am reporting persistent spider activity that has become a recurring driver-safety concern. Spider activity occurs on or around the vehicle essentially every day. I…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-09-11
  • "I own a 2018 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Premium with the 2.3L EcoBoost engine. The vehicle initially developed a check-engine light and was diagnosed with P0303 (Cylinder 3 misfire), P0316 (startup misfire), and P018C (fuel…"
    Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-09-11
  • "It is a well-known issue across Mustang forms that the brake pedal sensor switch goes bad as well as the small rubber pad that presses against the brake pedal switch. This has happened to me multiple friends in my…"
    Service brakes · filed 2026-09-06
  • "2018 WITH 118,000 MILES. Had to get a full block engine replacement due to coolant intrusion into the cylinders. This was diagnosed and replaced at a Ford dealership."
    Engine · filed 2026-08-17

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2018 Ford Mustang 2 DR RWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars
2018 Ford Mustang C RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated 5 stars
2018 Ford Mustang GT350R 2 DR RWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Mustang 2.3L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 21 31 25 MPG $2600
Mustang 2.3L, 4-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 21 32 25 MPG $2600
Mustang 5L, 8-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 16 25 19 MPG $3400
Mustang 5L, 8-cyl Manual 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 15 25 18 MPG $3600
Mustang convertible 5L, 8-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 15 24 18 MPG $3600
Mustang convertible 2.3L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 20 28 23 MPG $2800
Mustang convertible 2.3L, 4-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 20 29 23 MPG $2800
Mustang Performance Package 2.3L, 4-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 20 29 23 MPG $2800
Mustang Performance Package 2.3L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 20 28 23 MPG $2800

Specs and fitment

6th generation (S550), 2015–2023
Body styles Coupe, Convertible
Oil 5W-20 (3.7L V6/5.0L GT); 5W-30 (2.3L EcoBoost); 5W-50 (GT350/GT350R/GT500) , 6 qt capacity
Tire size 235/55R17 (EcoBoost/V6 base) to 305/30ZR20 (Shelby GT500) front / 235/55R17 (EcoBoost/V6 base) to 315/30ZR20 (Shelby GT500) rear
Towing capacity 1,000 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA recall 22V-082 (Ford campaign 22S06) covers 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles built at Flat Rock Assembly Plant between February 2014 and October 2017 for damage to the luggage-compartment-lid wiring harness in the area of the right-side hinge, causing intermittent rear-view-camera operation, loss of satellite-radio reception, an inoperative trunk lamp, or a trunk release that fails to work; some early 2015-model cars also had an internal camera circuit-board conductivity issue contributing to the same symptoms. Separately, NHTSA recall 16V-779 (Ford campaign 16S40) covered 2015-2017 Shelby GT350 and GT350R models specifically for an engine oil cooler tube assembly with insufficiently crimped hoses that could separate and leak oil, risking engine damage and, in the presence of an ignition source, a fire.

Compare

Previous year 2017 Ford Mustang Next year 2019 Ford Mustang See every Ford Mustang model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Ford Mustang reliable?

Owners have filed 191 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Ford Mustang over 9 years — 18 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Mustang years here — over the median of the other years, which is 16. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Camera, Turbocharger, and Automatic transmission.

What are common problems with a 2018 Ford Mustang?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (56 of 191), then Powertrain (45) and Electrical system (30). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 28,890 miles, and the middle half falls between 5,000 and 51,000 miles. Those filings include 8 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 3 that report an injury.

Is the 2018 Ford Mustang more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2017 Mustang has 265 complaints, 14 per year, and the 2019 has 148 complaints, 12 per year. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2019.

Has the 2018 Ford Mustang been recalled?

The 2018 Ford Mustang has 4 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2018 Ford Mustang?

Owners have filed 191 complaints about the 2018 Ford Mustang with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2018 Ford Mustang get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2018 Ford Mustang is 21.9 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

Does the Ford Mustang have a towing capacity?

Ford's RV & Trailer Towing Guide rates the 2015-2023 (S550) Mustang at 1,000 lbs with an aftermarket hitch, and does not rate the GT350/GT350R to tow at all. Ford publishes no towing rating for the 2010-2014 or 2024-present Mustang.

What generation is my Ford Mustang?

2010-2014 is the facelifted S197 (5th generation), 2015-2023 is the S550 (6th generation, first with independent rear suspension), and 2024-present is the S650 (7th generation).