2016 Ford Mustang Powertrain (other) Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11714747

Incident

Nov 25, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11540262

Incident

Jul 15, 2023

Mileage

58,000 mi

2016 Ford Mustang V6 This is EXTREMELY concerning as it's a SAFETY issue losing power features while the vehicle is in motion. While driving the car provides an error message with a wrench sign/icon stating the transmission is not in Park, then it proceeds to shut down the car leaving us without power steering. The car need stopped, move the transmission to Park, and start the engine. Doing this clears the warning and you are able to drive the car without any problem. The two incidents occurrences were about 1 or 2 months apart. Below link shows other people having the same issue [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11534722

Incident

Jul 26, 2023

The new purge valve is faulty in my car. It has been replaced once in 2017, and another time in 2022 (possibly 2021), due to a total engine rebuild under powertrain warranty. This valve is a known common issue on online forums. For the model cars 2018 and 2019, this is an open recall. I strongly believe this should be investigated. In the past, this faulty valve caused my car to stall and die on a busy road. Both Ford customer service and the dealer have given me conflicting information whether or not this part is covered under emissions warranty, causing a headache. The dealer stated that if given a sequence of codes, the dealer has been instructed by Ford to replace the part for free. This indicates that Ford is aware of the common hazard that the faulty purge valve is causing. Considering this part is less than 2 years old, it should at least be covered by the 2 year emissions warranty. However, I believe others, like me, have suffered the nuisance and safety risk of this faulty part, and have paid unnecessary expenses due to Ford's negligence to address this known issue.

NHTSA ID

11527518

Incident

May 20, 2023

When putting the manual transmission in gear (1-5 and R) the transmission makes a clunk noise. The noise appeared when the car was less than one year old. Also experienced a few gear clash during shifting while clutch properly disengaged.

NHTSA ID

11474411

Incident

Oct 1, 2016

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle shifted out of gear and loss motive power. The “Vehicle Not in Park" message was displayed and the service warning light illuminated. The contact engaged the manual transmission and was able to continue to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission lead frame had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.

NHTSA ID

11460909

Incident

Mar 31, 2022

Mileage

112,000 mi

Periodically when shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear, with manual transmission, I am unable to engage 3rd gear, like I am locked out of 3rd gear. My safety (and vehicles around me) is at risk because I am unable to continue accelerating and have to either go back to 2nd gear or into 4th gear. This problem has not been addressed at service center as it is intermittent. I have had this happen dozens of times. There is no warning when this happens.

NHTSA ID

11455438

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

Clutch pedal failed. Welds broke away from break clutch housing. Resulting in the inability to disengage transmission. I was forced to use the breaks to stall the vehicle. Towed to repair shop. Replacement part was not available. Had the shop weld clutch pedal back to the assembly. See pictures.

NHTSA ID

11433033

Incident

Sep 6, 2021

TRANSMISSION WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY 280 A HIGHLY TRAVELED STATE HIGHWAY IN ALABAMA, CAUSED BY A BAD TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SENSOR

NHTSA ID

11402821

Incident

Mar 4, 2021

Mileage

48,500 mi

IN MY 2016 FORD MUSTANG ECO-BOOST, I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE AIR WAS NOT AS COOL AS IT WAS IN THE PAST. I DID NOT PAY MUCH ATTENTION AS I DID NOT HAVE FAR TO DRIVE. THE NEXT TIME I STARTED THE VEHICLE THE AIR CONDITIONING HAD STARTED TO BLOW WARM AIR, AFTER AWHILE I NOTICED A WHITE FILM ON THE INTERIOR OR THE CABIN. I LOOKED UP SEVERAL FORUMS ON WHAT THIS ISSUE COULD BE AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE MUSTANG OWNERS OF THIS YEAR THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING AND IT SEEMS TO BE THE EVAPORATOR CORE. SO I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY INFORMED ME IT WOULD COST $1900 TO FIX THE SYSTEM DUE TO THE LABOR OF TAKING OUT THE DASH. I HAVE BEEN A FORD OWNER ALL MY LIFE AND THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

NHTSA ID

11387105

Incident

Nov 15, 2020

Mileage

85,000 mi

MANUAL TRANSMISSION, CLUNKING AND KNOCKING FROM CLUTCH WHILE DRIVING, WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO GEAR SMOOTHLY, LOCKED OUT OF GEAR DURING ACCELERATION, KNOCKING FROM TRANSMISSION WHEN SHUTTING VEHICLE OFF, JERKING AND HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING AT LOW RPMS, INTERMITTENT VIBRATION WHEN DECELERATING,

NHTSA ID

11384233

Incident

Jan 15, 2020

Mileage

47,000 mi

TRANSMISSION ISSUES, EVAP SENSOR, LOW FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

11328570

Incident

Jun 12, 2020

Mileage

64,758 mi

2016 FORD MUSTANG GT 6 SPEED MANUAL. SHIFTING GEARS CLUTCH ALL THE WAY IN IT HAS A HARSH FEELING NOTCHY GOING INTO 1ST 2ND 3RD GEARS THE OTHER GEARS FEEL SMOOTH. I HAVE TALKED TO ANOTHER GUY AND HIS ONLY HAS 2K MILES AND HE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I LOVE THIS MUSTANG BUT THAT JUST MAKE IT NOT FUN TO DRIVE ANYMORE. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM ASAP.

NHTSA ID

11080212

Incident

Feb 24, 2018

SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 300 MILES I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS AT TIMES, HARD TO SHIFT, WOULD GRIND A GEAR. LOCKED ME OUT OF A GEAR, AND IN GENERAL CAN SHAKE AND PRODUCE LOUD THUMPING NOISES WHEN ENGAGING GEARS WHILE SITTING AT A STANDSTILL OR EVEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I WAS TOLD AT THE TIME THAT THIS WAS NORMAL BEHAVIOR. I HAD TEST DROVE MORE THAN ONE CAR BEFORE PURCHASING THIS ONE. NONE OF THE OTHERS BEHAVED THIS WAY. I HAVE DONE MORE RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A VERY INTERMITTENT ISSUE BETWEEN BUILDS OF THE TRANSMISSION. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN FOR SERVICE. THEY HAD REMOVED THE TRANSMISSION AND SERVICED SOME PARTS. UPON GETTING THE CAR BACK IT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WENT BACK TO DOING THE SAME THING. THIS IS NOT A BIG SAFETY CONCERN, BUT COULD CAUSE BIGGER AND MORE EXPENSIVE ISSUES DOWN THE ROAD DEPENDING ON WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS ONE OF FOUR COMPLAINTS I HAVE WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN RESOLVED.

NHTSA ID

11013468

Incident

Apr 30, 2016

Mileage

300 mi

CLUNKING WHEN SHIFTING. THIS APPEARS TO BE WIDESPREAD ON 2015, 2016, AND 2017 FORD MUSTANGS. AFTER PROBLEM APPEARS, FORD TELLS CONSUMER IT IS NORMAL. FROM INTERNET RESEARCH, THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND FORD IS NOT ADDRESSING IT.

NHTSA ID

11010351

Incident

Jun 6, 2017

CLUNKING IN SHIFTING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. LOAD CLUNK IN REAR OF CAR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STANDING STOP. PROBLEM APPEARED AT 4,500 MILES ON NEW VEHICLE. FORD ATTEMPTED TO FIX, TOOK 3 VISITS AND OVER ONE MONTH. PROBLEM STILL REMAINS. FORD NOW TELLS ME CLUNKING IS NORMAL. I AM AFRAID THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

11010334

Incident

Jun 6, 2017

Mileage

4,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD MUSTANG. WHENEVER THE CONTACT SHIFTED GEARS, A PINGING METAL SOUND WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE TOWN AND COUNTRY FORD DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. ..UPDATED 07/31/17 *BF *CN

NHTSA ID

10991787

Incident

Dec 23, 2015

Mileage

1,000 mi

ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY BROKE, WAS FIXED BY DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ORIGINAL THAT IS BEING PUT ON 4 MODELS FROM FORD HAVE FAULTY ONES, BUT SINCE ONLY 5,000-8,000 HAVE BROKEN, THERE WAS NO NEED FOR A FULL SCALE RECALL. I PULLED OUT IN TRAFFIC AND LOST ALL POWER, ONLY 1.5 MONTHS AFTER I DROVE OFF THE LOT WITH A BRAND NEW CAR.... YES IT IS MAJOR

NHTSA ID

10969443

Incident

Aug 3, 2016

Mileage

700 mi

RECALL ISSUED, TOLD NOT TO DRIVE. SITTING WITH CAR FOR MONTHS NO EXTENSION OF WARRANTY, NOT DRIVEABLE

NHTSA ID

10960234

Incident

Oct 23, 2016

Mileage

32 mi

I BOUGHT A NEW 2016 MUSTANG IN APRIL. I WAS DRIVING UPHILL AT 40 MPH. ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE ENGINE CUT OFF. WHEN THE ENGINE WENT OFF A LARGE WRENCH CAME UP ON THE DISPLAY AND IT SAID SEE MANUAL. I TRIED PRESSING THE START BUTTON BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND THEN WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT. THIS COULD EASILY LEAD TO DEATH! IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN ON THE BELTWAY OR I-95 I COULD GET KILLED. THE CAR DIDN'T OVERHEAT AND ALL THE GAUGES SHOWED NORMAL. NOW I AM AFRAID TO EVEN DRIVE IT; I DON'T WANT TO BE KILLED OR KILL SOMEONE IF THE ENGINE STOPS.

NHTSA ID

10909404

Incident

Sep 23, 2016

Mileage

6,100 mi

TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER AND REDUCED RPM. THE LOSS OF POWER IS COMPUTER CONTROLLED. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION HITS A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE THE COMPUTER REDUCES THE ENGINE POWER AND RPM. THIS IS DOCUMENTED BY MY FORD DEALER BY FINDING TRANSMISSION OVERHEAT CODES WHEN THE CARS COMPUTER IS SCANNED. LOSS OF POWER IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

10904251

Incident

Jun 8, 2016

Mileage

1,590 mi

THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND NO ACCELERATION WAS POSSIBLE. THE TROUBLE LIGHT CAME ON. CAR WOULD ONLY ROLL AT 10MPH WITH ENGINE POWER. THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT CONTROL THE MOTOR SPEED. CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I JUST PULLED IN TO A PARKING LOT. I WAS ABLE TO USE THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS TO GET THE CAR HOME USING SIDE STREETS AT 10MPH. LAST YEAR A GUY IN HIS 2015 MUSTANG ASKED ME IF I HAD THIS PROBLEM AS HE EXPLAINED THE SAME SITUATION WHEN I ALSO OWNED A 2015 MUSTANG. I DIDN'T HAVE THAT WITH THE 2015, BUT I JUST BOUGHT IT WHEN WE TALKED. I KNOW WHAT HE MEANS NOW. AS MY 2016 DID WHAT HIS 2015 DID WITH A LOSS OF POWER.

NHTSA ID

10899067

Incident

Aug 28, 2016

Mileage

8,300 mi

I JUST PURCHASED MY BRAND NEW 2016 MUSTANG LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE ALREADY BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH IT. I WAS STATIONARY WAITING AT THE STOP LIGHT AND SHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR 3 TIMES AND MY CAR WOULDN'T BUDGE. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED IT TO MOVE IT OUT OF THE STREET. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BRIEFLY THEN SHUT OFF. A WEEK LATER I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES PER HOUR ON THE FREEWAY AND MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITH NO WARNING. I DO NOT REMEMBER THE ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON THIS TIME. I JUST TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A BAD THROTTLE BODY.

NHTSA ID

10892823

Incident

Jul 5, 2016

Mileage

4,300 mi

NEW VEHICLE LESS THAN 500 MILES. BAD VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VIBRATION STARTS AT AROUND 60 MPH AND IS PRESENT ALL THE WAY BEYOND 80 MPH. THE VIBRATION CAN BE FELT INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND ALSO THROUGH THE STEERING. FORD RE-BALANCED THE TIRES AND ALSO REPLACED THE DRIVESHAFT, BUT VIBRATION STILL PERSISTS. FROM OTHER SOURCES IN THE INTERNET IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A PROBLEM WHICH IS NOT UNCOMMON ON MUSTANGS AND FORD SEEMS TO REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE. SINCE THIS OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND SEEMS TO BE COMING IN FROM THE DRIVETRAIN MAKES THIS ISSUE SCARY.

NHTSA ID

10885426

Incident

Jun 13, 2016

Mileage

250 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON LOCAL CITY ROADS. I HAD JUST TURNED AT A LIGHT ONTO A 4 LANE ROAD ACCELERATING AT A NORMAL RATE DUE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE WRENCH INDICATOR CAME ON AND I LOST ALL POWER. LUCKILY, I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A PARKING LOT. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT IT'S THE THROTTLE BODY AND WILL TAKE AT LEAST A WEEK TO GET THE PART IN. THIS IS RIDICULOUS FOR A CAR WITH LESS THAN 5000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

10883348

Incident

Jul 6, 2016

Mileage

4,900 mi