2018 Ford Mustang Problems

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 August 24, 2026, all four spark plugs and one ignition coil were replaced and a fuel/induction cleaning was performed. On September 10, the vehicle suddenly started with an extremely rough idle and produced a large cloud of white, sweet-smelling exhaust smoke. The check-engine light illuminated and the previous codes returned along with additional codes. The vehicle continued producing white exhaust smoke after several hours of diagnostic testing. Later that day, the engine shook violently while I was stopped at a traffic light and the tachometer fluctuated significantly. On September 11, the check-engine light returned and the previous diagnostic codes were again present. Firestone documented that coolant was present in the exhaust, that the coolant level was low again after coolant had been added the previous day, that the engine was burning coolant and producing white smoke, and that coolant was mixed with the engine oil. Firestone stated the engine may have a cracked head, failed head gasket, or internal engine crack and recommended complete engine replacement. The engine has now suffered a serious internal failure severe enough that the repair facility recommends replacement. The vehicle has exhibited violent shaking, unstable engine speed, repeated misfires, rapid coolant loss, coolant contamination of the engine oil, and coolant burning through the exhaust. I am concerned that continued operation could result in complete engine failure or sudden loss of engine power while driving, creating a significant safety hazard in traffic. Before September 10, the vehicle had never produced white exhaust smoke or experienced this severe shaking. I am reporting this as a potential safety defect involving the 2.3L EcoBoost engine.

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 pressure sensor circuit low). On August 24, 2026, all four spark plugs and one ignition coil were replaced, and a fuel/induction cleaning service was performed. The P018C repair was declined at that time. On September 10, 2026, the vehicle started with an extremely rough idle and produced a very large cloud of white, sweet-smelling exhaust smoke. The check-engine light came on. The original codes, including the misfire codes, were present along with additional codes. The vehicle underwent approximately three hours of diagnostics and road testing. The codes were cleared, and afterward only P018C returned. Testing reportedly did not identify a head-gasket leak, but visible white smoke was still coming from the exhaust when I left the repair facility. Possible coolant intrusion involving the turbocharger was discussed, but the source was not confirmed. Later that day, the vehicle would not crank in Park but started in Neutral. While driving home, the engine began idling so violently at a traffic light that the entire vehicle shook and the tachometer fluctuated significantly. Before September 10, the vehicle had never produced white exhaust smoke, never shaken violently at idle, and always started. The repair facility attempted to inspect the cylinders with a borescope, but both of its borescopes were not functioning. I am concerned about possible coolant intrusion or another engine defect because of the Cylinder 3/startup misfire history, heavy white sweet-smelling exhaust, and severe intermittent rough running. The cause has not yet been confirmed, and I am concerned about possible engine failure or loss of power while driving.

Was driving my vehicle roughly 10-15mph after a stop, noticed vehicle wasn’t shifting into the gears properly as it was only in 2nd gear and the RPMs kept climbing, when it finally shifted into 3rd gear my transmission proceeded to lockup cause my rear tires to skid and stop in the middle of traffic and in the middle of an intersection disrupting the flow of traffic. Vehicle displayed a wrench light on the dash saying “see manual” as related to a Powertrain issue. Vehicle is in limp mode and barely drives, any shifting after 1st gear will cause the vehicle to lockup and lose all power for several seconds. ONLY HAS 28,330 MILES, DID NOT REACH THE FIRST SERVICE INTERVAL FOR MAINTENANCE ON THE TRANSMISSION.

My 2018 Ford Mustang EcoBoost with the 10R80 automatic transmission began experiencing hesitation, delayed engagement, and harsh jerking during low-speed acceleration (15-20 mph), especially when cold. Engine RPM would increase, but the vehicle would hesitate before engaging. The condition worsened over time and eventually the vehicle entered limp mode, causing a significant loss of power and illuminating a wrench warning light. An authorized Ford dealership diagnosed DTC P07F6 (Gear 9 Incorrect Ratio). The dealer verified fluid level, updated the PCM, and performed adaptive relearn procedures, but the problem remained. The transmission fluid was found to be dark with a burnt odor, and the dealer diagnosed an internal transmission failure requiring complete transmission replacement at an estimated cost of $9,250. This created a safety concern because the vehicle did not consistently accelerate as expected when entering traffic, crossing intersections, or merging onto roadways. Delayed engagement and loss of power reduced the ability to accelerate when needed. The vehicle has approximately 82,256 miles and has been maintained according to Ford's recommended service schedule. I am also aware of numerous publicly documented owner reports, technical discussions, and litigation involving the Ford 10R80 transmission used in vehicles from this generation. One of the commonly discussed concerns involves the CDF drum design in earlier 10R80 transmissions. My understanding is that Ford later revised the CDF drum design in subsequent production; however, when I contacted Ford regarding this transmission failure and requested assistance with repair const, they advised that my vehicle was not covered by any recall, customer satisfaction program, or warranty extension related to this issue. I am submitting this report so that my experience can be considered together with other reports to determine whether a broader safety-related defect exists.

The electrical components in the vehicle stopped functioning - for the lights on the interior the overhead stopped working on and off and then dimmed until one day never came back on. At the same time the sensor for cross traffic alert became buggy and then not functional which made all my safety features and cruise control not work. Now I have a TPMS sensor and check engine light with nothing serious wrong

Touch screen system has completely stopped turning on (and wont turn on) any time the outside temperature drops below about 70 degrees fahrenheit. Per online research this is a common, known issue and given that this prevents the use of key saftey features such as the backup camera and climate controls I am unsure why this has not yet initiated a safety recall. I have dealt with this for the past 3 winters and can confirm it is 100% in relation to outside temperature. There is no warning lamp/message. The screen will simply not turn on in below 70 degree temperatures. A component to the touch screen must be shielded improperly/not graded for outdoor use.

The electrical components in the vehicle stopped functioning - for the lights on the interior the overhead stopped working on and off and then dimmed until one day never came back on. At the same time the sensor for cross traffic alert became buggy and then not functional which made all my safety features and cruise control not work. Now I have a TPMS sensor and check engine light with nothing serious wrong

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Mustang. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the camera was inoperable. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unavailable.

Over the past year, we've had this car into the Ford of Clermont Florida dealer 5 times about a leak. Whenever we have a storm, the back footwell fills with water. Their leak specialist has said he has found the source of the issue multiple times and after each "repair", we still have a leak. They've replaced the rubber around both side windows and they've asked us to have the front windshield replaced. Even with all of this work, we still have a leak. In the longer term, this could compromise the structural integrity of the car. I don't know what else to do beyond bringing the car back again. I am listing [XXX] as the date the "incident occurred" because this is the latest water breach. But, it's been happening over the past year. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Passenger door unlatches and opens on its own at highway speed.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the message "Front Passenger Door Ajar" was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and opened and closed the door. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The message was displayed three times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the passenger’s side door opened inadvertently. The contact also stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, she observed wind coming from the passenger’s side door with the door alarm chime being audible. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

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 pressure sensor circuit low). On August 24, 2026, all four spark plugs and one ignition coil were replaced, and a fuel/induction cleaning service was performed. The P018C repair was declined at that time. On September 10, 2026, the vehicle started with an extremely rough idle and produced a very large cloud of white, sweet-smelling exhaust smoke. The check-engine light came on. The original codes, including the misfire codes, were present along with additional codes. The vehicle underwent approximately three hours of diagnostics and road testing. The codes were cleared, and afterward only P018C returned. Testing reportedly did not identify a head-gasket leak, but visible white smoke was still coming from the exhaust when I left the repair facility. Possible coolant intrusion involving the turbocharger was discussed, but the source was not confirmed. Later that day, the vehicle would not crank in Park but started in Neutral. While driving home, the engine began idling so violently at a traffic light that the entire vehicle shook and the tachometer fluctuated significantly. Before September 10, the vehicle had never produced white exhaust smoke, never shaken violently at idle, and always started. The repair facility attempted to inspect the cylinders with a borescope, but both of its borescopes were not functioning. I am concerned about possible coolant intrusion or another engine defect because of the Cylinder 3/startup misfire history, heavy white sweet-smelling exhaust, and severe intermittent rough running. The cause has not yet been confirmed, and I am concerned about possible engine failure or loss of power while driving.

While completing a turn at a T-intersection, the vehicle experienced a complete loss of motive power for several seconds, leaving the car stationary in the path of oncoming traffic. The transmission (10R80) failed to engage, a known symptom of internal CDF Drum sleeve failure (TSB 24-2254). This follows a 'Green' inspection by a dealer on March 23rd where an axle seal leak and shifting issues were overlooked. The failure to engage gear during a turn creates an unreasonable risk of a T-bone collision.

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 Mustang group as well as tons online. This is a serious issue because either it will make your vehicle believe the brakes are constantly being pressed letting you shift into gears while the brakes technically aren’t even depressed. That could result in someone getting ran over. Also, it makes it appear that you’re constantly pressing the brake pedal so drivers do not know when you are actually pressing the brakes. I had that issue, I resolved it, but then my switch failed later, which let me not even start the vehicle.

I was driving down the road in my 2018 Mustang ecoboost. When all of the sudden slowing down it locked the rear wheels up. I slid off the road and fortunately I didn’t hit anything but it did pop my side skirt off in the rear of the car. Thankfully the person behind me reacted in quick enough time to get around me considering the rainy weather conditions. This is very dangerous. It’s throwing a code for a solenoid B. Had traction control lights. And says see manual. But they all illuminated after the problem first happened. The car has been parked for a while. However someone suggested I try this website. There were no pre warnings to what was going on. The car drove fine up until the point of it just randomly deciding to lock the rear wheels up. I still owe money on the car and have been paying for it for almost two years since it happened. The car has around 100k miles. I saw online where my car is not the only case. One of the cases the car almost got hit by a train. Yikes.

Recall

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at 63 MPH, the steering wheel was guided to drive forward, however, the steering wheel independently steered to the left direction. The vehicle independently accelerated and crashed into a concrete road barrier. The driver's rear and the driver's front area of the vehicle were damaged. The side air bag deployed both the passenger and driver. No injuries were sustained. A police report was filed. The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash scene. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with an unknown steering part failure and the rear driver-side wheel bearing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Mustang. While the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a grinding sound coming from the vehicle and the vehicle jerked abnormally. In addition, the contact stated that the TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was provided with the cost of a diagnostic test fee. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with valve body failure. The contact was informed that the valve body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed of Technical Service Bulletin: 21-2115. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was also informed of Technical Service Bulletin: 10R80; however, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the program. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,113.

The transmission failed while driving on a busy street making a left turn. My safety and my passenger's safety was at risk because there was oncoming traffic when I made a left turn and a car was trailing me. Just like another complaint, "10 speed transmission did not engage then failed less than a second later while pulling into an intersection. This caused the car to enter the intersection but fail to go forward more than a few feet. The problem resolved after three attempts to go forward by pumping the gas peddle. The transmission also was jerking or jumping from 1st through 3rd gear as if the car could not find the correct gear to be in while going forward. The problem resolved after the first mile of driving". However, for me the problem returned again once I turned the car off, and restarted it. After less than a mile of driving, the transmission began malfunctioning again jumping, and jerking until the transmission just stopped working altogether. Someone has posted experiencing the same malfunction on the same model and year vehicle and I wonder if there are others that have had the same scary, horrible experience? Due to my transmission malfunctioning during my turn, I was lucky that the oncoming car just stopped and blew at me, and the car behind me just went around me instead of crashing into my rear. The car was towed to the dealer and is in the process of being evaluated. There were no warning lights or messages prior to the incident and the automobile is now at the dealership because the vehicle totally stopped driving.

I was driving down the road in my 2018 Mustang ecoboost. When all of the sudden slowing down it locked the rear wheels up. I slid off the road and fortunately I didn’t hit anything but it did pop my side skirt off in the rear of the car. Thankfully the person behind me reacted in quick enough time to get around me considering the rainy weather conditions. This is very dangerous. It’s throwing a code for a solenoid B. Had traction control lights. And says see manual. But they all illuminated after the problem first happened. The car has been parked for a while. However someone suggested I try this website. There were no pre warnings to what was going on. The car drove fine up until the point of it just randomly deciding to lock the rear wheels up. I still owe money on the car and have been paying for it for almost two years since it happened. The car has around 100k miles. I saw online where my car is not the only case. One of the cases the car almost got hit by a train. Yikes.

"Swollen Lug Nuts" Car was in for service and state inspection including tire rotation. Was informed that the car had "swollen lug nuts". Soft outer metal of lug nuts has deformed due to use of impact wrenches used in tire rotation over the life of the car. Continued swelling of the lug nuts will make it impossible to remove wheels with the manufacturer supplied tire iron.

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT TWO DIFFERENT TIMES IN A MUSTANG AND THE MOST OF MY INJURY WAS TO MY LEFT LEG FROM THE AIR BAG. I AM STILL LIMPING FROM IT. IT CAUSED MASSIVE BRUISES AND A FRACTURE TO MORE THAN ONE AREA OF MY LEFT LEG. ON THE DRIVER SIDE. BOTH ACCIDENTS WAS ON A CITY STREET. GOING 35 MILES AN HOUR.

I WAS INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 8/22/20 WHILE DRIVING MY 2018 MUSTANG GT. THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY...EVEN THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER AND COLLISION SHOP ARE WONDERING WHY. MY CAR WAS TOTALED...I DO NOT BELIEVE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WORKED AS INTENDED. I WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER SIDE WHILE TRAVELING APPROX 30MPH, THE DRIVER THAT HIT ME STATED TO POLICE THAT HE WAS GOING 45MPH.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that the front driver’s side and front passenger’s side seat belts failed to retract and failed to properly secure the occupants seated in the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the seat belts, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.

The contact owns 2018 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while turned off and inspecting the vehicle, the contact became aware that the driver’s and passenger’s side seat belts failed to retract as needed. The dealer immediately replaced the driver’s seat belt system but had declined to repair the vehicle at the time. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 42,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Mustang. While the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a grinding sound coming from the vehicle and the vehicle jerked abnormally. In addition, the contact stated that the TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was provided with the cost of a diagnostic test fee. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with valve body failure. The contact was informed that the valve body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed of Technical Service Bulletin: 21-2115. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was also informed of Technical Service Bulletin: 10R80; however, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the program. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,113.

September 9, 2022 at 4:45 P.M. CST. Less than 300 yards from merging onto the interstate, my children and I heard an extremely weird noise coming from the passenger side of my car, so I immediately pulled over. My daughter and I both looked at each other and asked, “what is that?” I told my daughter I knew I did not have a flat, however I felt like there was something wrong with my tire. We exited my car and found that my passenger side front tire had wire showing and was tearing/ripping at the “belt”. This occurred on/near the inner sidewall. I drive a 2018 Mustang GT, and had this occurred while traveling at 75mph on the interstate, it is likely it would have ended badly. It is likely that I would have lost control of my car and I could have possibly totaled my car, rolled/flipped it and it could have taken the lives of myself or my two children who were with me. I have found multiple other complaints regarding the same issue that I just experience at the following link: https://continentaltire.custhelp.com/app/social/questions/detail/qid/65/~/extreme-contact%2C-unacceptable-tread-wear Based upon those reviews and what I experienced today, this seems to be a manufacturer defect, which should not only be addressed and recalled but be replaced free of cost. Once I found the problem, I put my spare on, drove home and removed both front tires and put two of my stock wheels and tires on the front. Upon inspecting the driver side front tire after removal, I found that it too had the same issue happening in the exact location of the passenger side. Had this not occurred I would not be aware of the driver side doing the same thing. I absolutely do not think this was a coincidence or any mechanical issue, as the driver side is doing the exact same thing, in the exact same location and around the exact same letters as the passenger side. no warning lights were on.

Like many many Ford Mustangs 2015 and newer, the AC Evaporator has failed and is leaking. This can cause condensation on the windshield and visibility issues with fogging / defrosting. Ford refuses to replace the defective evaporator. Ford dealer Coughlin Ford, Newark, Ohio diagnosed the defect and provided an estimate of $2,679.88 to replace the evaporator.

THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM (SYNC 3 W/ CARPLAY) THAT CAME STOCK WITH MY 2018 MUSTANG ECOBOOST RECENTLY STOPPED WORKING. THE CAR HAS 42K MILES ON IT AND IS JUST OVER 2 YEARS OLD. SYNC 3 STARTED TO RANDOMLY LAG (20-60 SEC LAG PER BUTTON PRESS), BUTTONS BECAME UNRESPONSIVE (PRESS NOT RECOGNIZED AT ALL), SHOWED INCORRECT GPS LOCATIONS WHILE USING CARPLAY (PLUGGED IN) WITH MULTIPLE MAP SERVICES, BACKUP CAM ISSUES, AND WOULD CAUSE BLUETOOTH TO DISCONNECT RANDOMLY. I LOGGED A COMPLAINT WITH MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND BROUGHT IT IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE APIM COMPONENT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE DEALERSHIP NOTED THIS IS COMMON AND PLAGUES OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME APIM. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH VERIFIED THIS. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THIS: WHILE USING THIS SYSTEM IT CAN CREATE MANY DISTRACTIONS WHILE DRIVING IF THE SYSTEM IS NOT RESPONDING AS EXPECTED. EVEN THE STEERING WHEEL BUTTONS HAVE A LAG TO THEM. ONE SUCH SCENARIO THAT CAUSED GREAT ISSUE WAS ADJUSTING THE CLIMATE CONTROL DURING COLDER MONTHS WHEN THE WINDOWS/WINDSHIELD FOG UP. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, YOU CAN'T SEE WHILE DRIVING. TYPICALLY, I CAN REACT QUICKLY TO GET RID OF THE FOG, BUT SINCE THIS COMPONENT IS DEFECTIVE, THE SYSTEM DID NOT RESPOND AND THE FOG HAD TO BE MANUALLY REMOVED. ADDITIONALLY, THIS COMPONENT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED WITHIN 2YR OF PURCHASE OF THE CAR, SINCE IT IS A COMPUTER. FORD OFFERED TO REPLACE THE APIM COMPONENT, FOR $1000 (WARRANTY EXPIRED AT TIME OF DIAGNOSTIC TEST). WHAT IS EVEN MORE RIDICULOUS IS THAT THEY WANT TO REPLACE IT WITH THE EXACT SAME MODEL NUMBER, WHICH TELLS ME IN ANOTHER 2YR I MAY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THIS ISSUE STARTED UP WHILE I WAS IN WARRANTY (~30K MI), BUT SEEMINGLY WENT AWAY UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN THE SYSTEM HAS BECOME PRACTICALLY UNUSABLE. FORD (CORPORATE) ALSO CANNOT PROVIDE ANY RATIONALE AS TO WHY THIS IS HAPPENING, PER THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE REP.

THE TRUNK WILL OPEN WHILE DRIVING WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE, GOING OVER ANY BUMP, OR EVEN WHEN I BRAKE. TOOK IT IN TO GET IT FIXED 3 TIMES WITH NO RESULTS. ALSO, THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS KEEP FAILING; RESULTING IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE RIDE.

While parked all day with the ignition off and lights off, I returned to find the brake lights and third brake light illuminated. The lights stayed on even after moving the brake pedal. I discovered a small broken plastic bumper on the floorboard, which appears to be the brake pedal stop bumper associated with recall 22V011. This failure causes the brake light circuit to remain closed, leaving the brake lamps on continuously, potentially confusing other drivers and draining the battery. No crash occurred.