FaultScore

2016 Ford Mustang acceleration problems

10 of the 497 complaints about the 2016 Ford Mustang are about the throttle and cruise control — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 8,060 miles.

C

10

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Vehicle Speed Control 8 80.0%
Accelerator Pedal 1 10.0%
Throttle 1 10.0%

Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Ford Mustang year

1995 13 2.7%
1996 10 2.1%
1998 18 3.8%
1999 26 5.5%
2000 19 4.0%
2001 13 2.7%
2002 15 3.2%
2003 16 3.4%
2004 34 7.2%
2005 55 11.6%
2006 35 7.4%
2007 43 9.1%
2008 19 4.0%
2009 22 4.6%
2010 10 2.1%
2011 39 8.2%
2012 35 7.4%
2013 19 4.0%
2014 10 2.1%
2015 14 2.9%
2016 10 2.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Irving, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Brake Stop Lamps Remain On When I was driving, my car was having throttle/acceleration issues. When I had my foot on the gas, my car would accelerate and the RPMs would rise, but then all of a sudden the acceleration stopped as if I was not applying throttle. I had to constantly take my foot off the gas and reengage for the car to drive home. When I parked my car, I noticed that my brake lights were all on even though my car was turned off & it is draining the battery out. I did some research & found out there is a recall for this issue (22S02) for the 2015 Ford model & Dealership mentioned that recall doesn't apply to my vehicle. So I have to get the repair done by replacing the break light switch & Break pedal bumper assembly with my local Auto zone shop and pay from my pocket.

NHTSA complaint #11674253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,000 miles Salem, NH Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:THROTTLE

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that with the transmission in the reverse position and while reversing from a parking space, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration, reversed, and crashed into a second vehicle. After shifting to the drive position, the vehicle immediately accelerated forward causing the driver to lose control of the steering and crash into a tree. During the incident, while pressing the brake pedal the vehicle did not stop and after crashing head-on into a tree the airbags did not deploy. The driver sustained an injured ribs which did not require medical treatment. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The contact indicated that five other parked vehicles were damaged during the incident. The cause of the failures was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 43,000.

NHTSA complaint #11564092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 92,000 miles York, SC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated the trunk failed to open as needed. The electrical sensors were inoperable. While driving at an undetermined speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond. The TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.

NHTSA complaint #11511186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 48,500 miles Vincent, AL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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 complaint #11402821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Joplin, MO

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET THE ENGINE WILL SHUTDOWN WITH NO WARNINGS. YOU START LOSING SPEED BUT ALL THE REST OF THE DASH LIGHTS AND ELECTRIC POWER STEERING CONTINUE TO WORK. THIS CAUSES A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION WHERE OTHER PEOPLE COULD RUN INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR. AS OF 12/17/2018 I HAVE TOOK THE AT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES WHERE THE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY THEN WITH IN THREE DAY THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN GOING DOWN THE STREET AGAIN. THE SECOND TIME THE CAR WAS TOOK BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THE POWER CONTROL MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED AND WITHIN THREE DAY THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN AGAIN GOING DOWN THE STREET SEVERAL TIMES. AS OF 12/17/2018 THE CAR WAS TOOK BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD TO VERIFY FOR THEMSELVES THAT THE CAR WAS DOING THIS HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING BACK AT THIS POINT YET. THIS CONDITION HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE HIT FROM BEHIND THREE TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #11162046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 4,572 miles Summerville, SC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

PURCHASE DATE 4-16. EIGHT DOCUMENTED VISITS TO DEALER/REPAIR. OTHER VISITS WHERE SERVICE ADVISER SAID TO RETURN WHEN SYSTEM FAILURES WERE HAPPENING, AS PROBLEM WOULD RESOLVE BEFORE I ARRIVED AT SERVICE. RE WATER INSIDE, DRIVER DOOR ISSUES, SYNC, CAMERA/STEREO ELECTRICAL ISSUES INCLUDE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK AT TIMES, TAKES MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO BE GRANTED ACCESS INTO CAR, THUS CAUSING SAFETY CONCERN. SYNC GOES OUT FAIRLY REGULARLY INCLUDING PHONE FUNCTION, BACK UP CAMERA, STEREO. CURRENTLY IN SHOP AGAIN SINCE 7-3-17 @ 9 AM.(16 CONSECUTIVE DAYS THIS TRIP). SAFETY CONCERN OF MOST IMPORTANCE TO ME IS THE FACT THAT CAR HAS LOST POWER MULTIPLE TIMES ON HIGHWAY AND THANKFULLY HAS NOT YET BEEN IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. QUICK REFLEXES OF DRIVERS BEHIND ME ARE ONLY REASONS THAT ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN AVOIDED THUS FAR. I AM TOLD BY DEALER THAT THIS IS A THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTION. THROTTLE BODY HAS BEEN REPROGRAMMED AFTER A NEAR REAR END ACCIDENT ( HIGHWAY/ INTERSECTION/TURN). THROTTLE BODY WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING CAR INSTANTLY DECELERATED WITH NO ACCELERATION CAPABILITY. ONE WEEK LATER THROTTLE BODY FAILS AGAIN CAUSING A NEAR ACCIDENT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FATAL IN NATURE DUE TO THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY. MY 7 YEA OLD WAS IN REAR SEAT. MY CHILDREN ARE NO LONGER FOR ANY REASON ALLOWED IN THE VEHICLE SINCE OCTOBER 2016. THROTTLE BODY HAS YET AGAIN BEEN REPLACED JUNE 2017. THIRD ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THIS CAR WITH NO INDICATION THAT THIS IS A REPAIR, IT SEEMS TO BE MERELY A REPAIR ATTEMPT AS THIS PROCESS OF ATTEMPTED REPAIRS HAS CAUSED 3 NEAR REAR ACCIDENTS. THIS CAR HAS PROVEN ITSELF TO BE A DANGER ON THE ROAD AND A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD FOR ANYONE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THIS VEHICLE WHILE IT IS IN MOTION. LOW MILEAGE IS INDICATOR OF HOW UNTRUSTWORTHY VEHICLE IS TO ME. IT IS ONLY DRIVEN BY ME, NO PASSENGERS ALLOWED. ONLY DRIVEN IF ANOTHER CAR CAN NOT BE BORROWED. UNRESOLVED ISSUES.

NHTSA complaint #11006120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,100 miles Parkville, MD

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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 complaint #10909404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 4,300 miles Tulsa, OK

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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 complaint #10892823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 8,060 miles Denham Springs, LA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON MY WAY TO WORK, I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES, BUT THE CAR STALLED AND STARTED FLASHING THE MESSAGE "SEE MANUAL". THANKFULLY, I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE AT A VERY REDUCED SPEED (MORE LIKE A COAST) INTO A GAS STATION PARKING LOT. THE CAR IS ONLY SIX (6) MONTHS OLD WITH A LITTLE OVER 8,000 MILES. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A NEW THROTTLE BODY WAS NEEDED. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD AS I LEARNED THAT THE THROTTLE BODIES HAVE BEEN GOING OUT FOR YEARS IN MANY OF THE FORD MODELS AND STILL THE SAME PROBLEMATIC THROTTLE BODIES ARE BEING INSTALLED INTO NEW VEHICLES. I AM THANKFUL THAT I HAD ALREADY EXITED THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE OUTCOME MIGHT HAVE BEEN VERY BAD HAD I BEEN TRAVELING AT 70 MPH WHEN THIS OCCURRED. FORD REALLY SHOULD LOOK INTO INSTALLING BETTER THROTTLE BODIES ONTO THEIR VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED.

NHTSA complaint #10876260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,400 miles Arlington, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

LOST POWER IN INSANELY BUSY IRVING/DALLAS INTERSECTION NEAR MAJOR HIGHWAY - COULD HAVE BEEN A HUGE ACCIDENT! 5400 PLUS MILES. FORD 2016 MUSTANG, V6 FROM A STANDING POSITION, SECOND CAR IN LINE AT RED LIGHT. LIGHT CHANGES, TRAFFIC STARTS TO MOVE, I STEPPED ON GAS AND NOTHING! HAD TO CREEP ACROSS TWO LANES OF BUSY TRAFFIC AND LIMP UP ONTO A SIDEWALK AS THAT THERE WAS NO BREAKDOWN SHOULDER. THAN GOD THE CURB WAS ABOUT 2 TO 3 INCHES HIGH. WRENCH ICON ON DASH: "SEE MANUAL". TURNED ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON - RPMS SURGED TO THE RED AND THEN DROPPED TO BELOW 1000. TRIED THE OFF/ON THING ABOUT 3 TIMES - SAME RESULTS. ENGINE WAS CHUGGING, MISSING, EVEN EXHAUST WAS CHUGGING LIKE SOME OLD JALOPY! CHECKED THE ELECTRONIC GAUGE READINGS - EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL EXCEPT THE VACUUM PRESSURE - IT WAS BETWEEN 5 AND 0! AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO DEALERSHIP, FORD ROADSIDE ASSIST AND TOW COMPANY; TURNED CAR OFF AGAIN - 30 SECONDS TO A MINUTE LATER, RESTARTED IT - AND IT WAS RUNNING PERFECT - ENGINE LIGHT HOWEVER WAS ON. VACUUM LEVEL WAS RUNNING BETWEEN 17 AND 20. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP; IT'S A WEEK NOW AND I HAVE JUST LEARNED FROM THEM THAT IT'S THE THROTTLE BODY. WAS TOLD THAT "FORD HAD A BAD BATCH OF THESE" ON THIS ENGINE SIZE (V6). THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE REP STATED IT'S TAKEN AS LONG AS A "COUPLE OF MONTHS" BUT FORD IS GETTING FASTER AT GETTING THE PART OUT, SO IT COULD BE A WEEK TO TWO WEEKS TO GET IT IN. I HAVE SEEN REPORTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM FOR EXPLORERS - FROM JUN 5TH 2016 - STATING THAT FORD HAD 7000 THROTTLE BODIES ON BACK ORDER! THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THESE THINGS LOSING POWER LIKE THIS ON HIGHWAYS AND IN MAJOR TRAFFIC. FORD NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS THROTTLE BODY!

NHTSA complaint #10873634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2016 Ford Mustang problems

← Full 2016 Ford Mustang report