RoadVitals

2012 Ford Mustang Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Nov 13, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 469 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Ford Mustang submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Nov 13, 2022

The rear end creaks and the 2nd gear grinds and pops out in the manual transmission

NHTSA ID
11493327
Incident
Nov 13, 2022
AirbagsPowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Jun 19, 2019

FYI I CAN NOT INCLUDE THE TOP/ROOF DUE TO IT WONT ALLOW ME TO INPUT THE CHECK MARK) I BAUGHT THIS MUSTANG IN JUNE 2012,USED FROM FORD HERE IN SIOUX FALLS SD, SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE ASKED ABOUT THE TOP ABOUT THE CLUNKING AND IF THEY WOULD NOTIFY ME IF ANY RECALLS. THEY ONLY SENT ONE FOR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG , UNTIL THIS WEEK WHEN I RECEIVED A SECOND NOTICE FOR THE TAKATA AIR BAGS FROM THE DAY I TOOK HER OFF THE LOT. I WANTED TO KNOW WHY MY FRONT END SUSPENSION IS MAKING A CLUNKING SOUND IN FRONT AND IT'S BEEN THERE SINCE THE FIRST DAY, I EVEN HAD HER LOOKED AT TO MAKE SURE SHE WASN'T DAMAGED, WITHIN MINUTES THEY CAME BACK AND SAID SHE'S FINE NO PROBLEMS AND WHY MY TRANSMISSION DOES NOT WANT TO SHIFT TO HIGHER GEARS FROM 1ST THRU OVERDRIVE, SHE BOGS DOWN LIKE THERE ISNT ANY FUEL GETTING TO HER ENGINE AND SHE DOESN'T SHIFT THROUGH THE GEARS PROPERLY, IF I HAD RECIEVED THE RECALLS IT WOULD OF BEEN IN IMMEDIATELY. MY TOP LEAKS WATER WHEN WASHED SO IT CAN CAUSE DAMAGE ON THE INSIDE ESPECIALLY THE DOOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, YET FORD REFUSED TO HAVE THE TOP REDONE SINCE THEY FEEL IT'S JUST NORMAL WEAR YET ITS HAPPENED SINCE THE FIRST TIME I HAD TO WASH HER. I'M STARTING TO THINK THINK FORD HAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF ME IN THIS CASE AS I STILL CAN NOT GET ANY UPDATED INFORMATION ON MY CAR AND IF I CAN EITHER GET THE WORK DONE OR THE VEHICLE REPLACED, MIND YOU I STILL OWE ON HER AND TO BE HONEST I DO NOT WANT A TRADE IN , I'D RATHER FORD FIX THESE ISSUES AND WRITE OFF THE REMAINING DEBT DUE TO NEGLIGENCE FOR NOT ADVISING ME OF THESE RECALLS IN A TIMELY MANNER AND FOR BIT FIXING THE ISSUES WHEN THE RECALLS CAME OUT . IT'S QUITE FRUSTRATING TO KNOW I'VE PAID OVER 20000 FOR A CAR THAT THEY ARE WILLFULLY NEGLECTING TO FIX AND YET I'M TO BE LIABLE FOR THE DEBT NO MATTER THE POSSIBLITY THAT THEY ARE NEGLIGENT AND DISMISSIVE OF MY CLAIMS.

NHTSA ID
11221204
Incident
Jun 17, 2012
Mileage
35,000 mi
Suspension
Filed May 26, 2018

LEFT&RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAS UNSEASONABLE AMOUNT OF RUST WHICH IS BLISTERING FROM THE INSIDE-OUT, ALSO IS DEEP AND PROGRESSING WITH TIME,WHICH WILL BECOME A SAFETY FACTOR,THE CAR HAS ONLY 3,300 ORIGINAL MILES

NHTSA ID
11098113
Incident
May 5, 2018
Mileage
3,300 mi
Suspension
Filed Feb 9, 2017

NOISE IN THE BACK SUSPENSION- DRIVING ON NORMAL PAVEMENT MAKES CONTINUED SOUND. HAVE BEEN TOLD BUSHINGS HAVE GONE BAD. CURRENT MILES 43000 MILES. IS THIS A RECALL?

NHTSA ID
10953683
Incident
Dec 1, 2016
Mileage
42,500 mi
Suspension
Filed Dec 11, 2016

VERY AUDIBLE THUMPING NOISE IN SUSPENSION, EITHER FRONT OR BACK (NOT SURE), AT SLOW SPEED, JUST PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, OR PARKING, DRIVING AND GOING OVER MINOR BUMPS ON THE STREET. VEHICLE IS BABIED, ONLY HAS 24,000 MILES, ORIGINAL OWNER. LIVE IN THE SE PART OF THE COUNTRY. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM? *TR

NHTSA ID
10934521
Incident
Nov 16, 2016
Mileage
24,000 mi
Suspension
Filed May 11, 2015

WHILE DRIVING OVER ROUGH OR UNEVEN PAVEMENT, A VERY AUDIBLE RATTLE CAN BE HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, MOST NOTICEABLY WITH THE STEERING CENTERED. THE CAR ALSO HAS SOME UNSTABLE CHARACTERISTICS, TENDING TO PULL MUCH MORE STRONGLY TOWARDS ANY LINES OR CROWNS THAN NORMAL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER, WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO ISOLATE THE NOISE TO THE FRONT LEFT CORNER OF THE CAR WITH "CHASSIS EARS", BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE. ALL FRONT END COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. FORD ENGINEERS WERE CONTACTED, AND REPORTED BACK THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL AND THE CAR WAS RETURNED UNREPAIRED. LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH SIDES WERE REPLACED UNDER TSB 13-9-3. SERVICE DESCRIPTION READS: "FRONT SUSPENSION TECH XXXX VERIFIED CUSTOMER CONCERN AND FOUND THE THERE (SIC) IS A NOISE FOUND IN LEFT FRONT WHEN ON A GRAVEL ROAD. USED CHASSIS EAR AND FOUND LEFT FRONT HYDRO BUSHING TO MAKE NOISE. REPLACED LEFT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM PER TSB 13-9-3 OP CODE 130903A. ALSO FOUND LEFT OUTER TIE ROD BOLT STRETCHED. REPLACED LEFT FRONT TIE ROD AND PERFORMED 2 WHEEL ALIGNMENT. NOISE IS STILL PRESENT. CHECKED WITH HOTLINE, NOISE IS CHARACTERISTIC. DROVE ANOTHER LIKE CAR AND FOUND NOISE IS CHARACTERISTIC." THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO BECOME WORSE, AND FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BECOME INVOLVED. RETURNED TO LOCAL DEALER, SAID THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO, AND THAT THE NOISE AND INSTABILITY IS NORMAL. NO OTHER DEALER WITHIN 100 MILES WILL LOOK AT THE VEHICLE, AND THE PROBLEM HAS SINCE GONE UNREPAIRED.

NHTSA ID
10715818
Incident
Nov 11, 2014
Mileage
12,743 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 27, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHENEVER HE DROVE OVER A BUMP AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

NHTSA ID
10702098
Incident
Sep 13, 2013
Mileage
4,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Sep 19, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A THUMPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SPECIALIST, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THE DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR SWAY BAR BUSHING HAD BECOME PREMATURELY WORN DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ID
10544351
Incident
Sep 4, 2013
Mileage
65,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Sep 10, 2013

OUR 2012 FORD MUSTANG IS UNDER FULL WARRANTY. WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH IN PARKING LOTS GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS WE NOTICED THERE IS A CREAKING/SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. WE TOOK OUR CAR TO THE DEALER WE BOUGHT IT FROM WHICH WAS NORTH PARK LINCOLN AND THEY CANNOT DIAGNOSE OR FIND THE ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME WE TOOK IT THE MECHANICS SAID THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AND THEY LUBED THE FRONT SUSPENSION. WELL THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE AND WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE YET TO FIND AN ISSUE WITH THE SUSPENSION. WHEN WE BOUGHT THE MUSTANG THE EXACT SAME NOISE OCCURRED IN THE REAR AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE BUSHINGS AND LINKS AND THE NOISE WENT AWAY. WE ARE TRYING TO TELL THE DEALER IT'S THE BUSHING, LINKS, AND SWAY BAR BUT THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING. WE ARE GOING BACK TO THE DEALER TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THEM TO REPLACE THE COMPONENTS OF THE BUSHING AND LINKS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10542961
Incident
Aug 1, 2013
Mileage
20,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 19, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A HOLLOW KNOCKING AND FELT AS IF SOMETHING WAS LOOSE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A SWAY BAR AND BUSHING REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

NHTSA ID
10536067
Incident
Sep 15, 2012
Mileage
1,000 mi
BrakesSuspension
Filed Jun 2, 2013

122512 WHEN GOING OVER SPEED HUMPS VEHICLE MAKES SQUEAKING NOISE. DEALER CHANGED OIL, ROTATED TIRES, AND COMPLETED A MULTI POINT INSPECTION. SUGGESTED ROTATING TIRES AND CHANGING AIR PRESSURE SHOULD HELP THE PROBLEM. THE SQUEAKING CONTINUED BUT DID NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME. WHEN CALLING THE DEALERSHIP AFTER IT PERSISTED THEY SUGGESTED IT MAY BE THE COLD WEATHER. 042613 CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE AFTER HAVING TIRE PRESSURE AND TIRES CHECKED THE NOISE CONTINUED & WAS OCCURRING OVER EVERY SPEED HUMP, WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO BREAK PEDAL WOULD NOT GO DOWN ON 3 OCCASIONS, & WHEN MAKING SHARP LEFT TURNS THE CAR MADE A KNOCKING SOUND. I WAS ALSO DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE 20,000 MILE SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED MY VEHICLE 042713 AND REPLACED THE LEFT/RIGHT INNER TIE RODS BUT WHEN THEY RETURNED MY VEHICLE THE WHEEL WAS NOT ALIGNED. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THEIR MACHINE WAS BROKEN AND WHEN I COMPLAINED THEY ASKED ME TO BRING IT BACK THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY (050213) TO COMPLETE MY SERVICE. THEY ALSO MADE NOTE THERE WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE MY BRAKE PEDAL PROBLEMS. IN MY SERVICE REPORT THEY DID NOT NOTE THE OIL CHANGE, TIRE ROTATION, OR SERVICE. WHEN I MENTIONED THIS THE ADVISOR SAID IT WAS COMPLETED. 052913 I RETURNED MY CAR TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I HAD MY BRAKE PEDAL STICK 2 MORE TIMES SINCE MY LAST VISIT, THE NOISE GOING OVER SPEED HUMPS RETURNED, THE KNOCKED NOISE DURING HARD LEFT TURNS NOW ALSO OCCURRED DURING A RIGHT TURN, & LEFT SIDE TURN NOISE RETURNED. ALSO OIL SETTING READS ONLY 86%. AS OF TODAY (060213), I STILL DO NOT HAVE MY VEHICLE OR A CLEAR ANSWER AS TO WHAT IS WRONG OR WILL BE REPAIRED. AFTER CALLING THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON FRIDAY (053113) & SATURDAY (060113), THE SERVICE ADVISOR ONLY SAID THEY ARE ORDERING PARTS, THE SALES DEPARTMENT WOULD GIVE ME A CALL, & THEY MAY REPLACE THE SWING ARM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10514756
Incident
Apr 15, 2013
Mileage
19,850 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 8, 2013

UPON GOING OVER SMALL SIZE SPEED BUMP, I NOTICED A CLUNKING/GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END. I JUST HAD THE BUMPER/QUARTER PANEL WORK DONE 2 DAYS AGO "FIRST TIME HITTING BUMPS". WAS TOLD TODAY THAT THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH THIS TYPE OF ISSUE. WILL BE SEEING A DEALERSHIP SOON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10505586
Incident
Apr 8, 2013
Mileage
31,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 6, 2013

THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EMIT AN AUDIBLE SQUEAKING/CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE REAR END WHEN TRAVERSING BUMPS OR POT RIDDEN ROADS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON 1/4/13 AND THEY DENIED THE EXISTENCE OF THE NOISE AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. PICKED UP THE VEHICLE AND IDENTIFIED THAT THE NOISE WAS IN FACT THERE, SO I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DID FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS AND DETERMINED THE THE PROBLEM LIED WITH THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND THE CONNECTING ROD. THEY REPLACED ALL THREE AND WHEN I GOT THE VEHICLE BACK, I NOTICED THAT BOTH NOISE PERSISTED SO I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC. HE DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM ORIGINATED FROM WORN OUT SWAY BAR BUSHINGS AND HE ALSO FOUND MY REAR AXLE TO BE LEAKING DIFFERENTIAL FLUID. WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY DISAGREED WITH MY MECHANIC AND FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE WITH MY SHOCKS AND THE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID LEAK WAS "NORMAL". MY MECHANIC ONCE AGAIN REEXAMINED EVERYTHING AND PERSISTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH MY SWAY BAR. THE DEALER FINALLY AGREED TO REPLACE THE SWAY BAR AND BUSHINGS AND THEY ALSO REPLACED BOTH REAR SHOCKS. AFTER THIS, THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AND HAS NOT RETURNED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FLUID LEAK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10507332
Incident
Dec 15, 2012
Mileage
15,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 6, 2013

WHEN TRAVELING OVER LARGE BUMPS IN THE ROAD SURFACE, THE VEHICLE WOULD EMIT AN AUDIBLE SQUEAKING/GROANING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. IT TOOK MULTIPLE VISITS TO THE DEALER IN ORDER FOR THEM TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS EVEN THERE. I WAS FINALLY INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A TSB FOR THIS ISSUE AND THEY REPLACED BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS. ON W/E MARCH 23, 2013 THIS PROBLEM BEGAN TO REEMERGE BUT THE DEALER HAS ONCE AGAIN DENIED THE EXISTENCE OF SUCH NOISE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I MUST WAIT FOR THE PROBLEM TO WORSEN BEFORE THEY DO ANYTHING FURTHER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10507331
Incident
Sep 10, 2012
Mileage
8,600 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 24, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH OVER A HUMP WHEN A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. UPDATED 02/15/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD BOTTOM OUT WHEN HE DROVE OVER A STRAIGHT PAVED ROAD. UPDATED 02/12/12

NHTSA ID
10445087
Incident
Oct 20, 2011
Mileage
100 mi
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Aug 14, 2011

WHILE SLOWLY DRIVING AROUND SOME POT-HOLES ON A UNEVEN PAVEMENT IN A DET. MI. AREA , I FELT AND HEARD SOME LOUD SQUEALING FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR. SECONDS LATER I NOTICED THE MANUAL GEAR SHIFTS WERE VERY STIFF AND HAD USE MORE EFFORT TO MAKE MANUAL SHIFTS. DAYS LATER, I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR MY 5000 MI OIL CHANGE AND INSPECTION.AFTER ORDERING PARTS, I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BUSHING WERE CHANGED. I AM NOT SURE IF THE MECHANIC ALSO WORKED ON THE GEARBOX OR NOT. FOR ABOUT A WEEK THE GEAR SHIFTS WERE VERY SMOOTH, BUT THEY VARY NOW , FROM SMOOTH TO STIFF.

NHTSA ID
10420208
Incident
Jul 7, 2011
Mileage
4,900 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .