2012 Ford Mustang Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

30Engine complaints

6.4%Of all 469 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS158 · 33.7%

POWER TRAIN157 · 33.5%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL35 · 7.5%

ENGINE30 · 6.4%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM21 · 4.5%

Share of the 469 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Ford Mustang overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST…”NHTSA complaint 10524852 — filed 07/15/2013

“IT WAS A CLEAR AND WARM DAY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. ROADS HAD NO DIRT, WATER, DEBRIS, ETC..I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35-40 AND HAD JUST GONE…”NHTSA complaint 10504639 — filed 03/26/2013

“THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE STARTED WHEN I TRIED TO START IT. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY THE VEHICLE TOOK A FEW SECONDS LONGER THAN…”NHTSA complaint 10489334 — filed 12/20/2012

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Ford Mustang have engine problems?

Engine is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Ford Mustang: 30 of 469 complaints on file (6.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Ford Mustang have in total?

469 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 20 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 9 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.