2016 Ford Mustang Safety Report
2016 Ford Mustang Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Ford Mustang
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Ford Mustang. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (5) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (363) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 19 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Engine | Compare engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2021 | Compare against the 2021 Ford Mustang with 51 complaints and 6 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2015 | Check the 2015 Ford Mustang before buying across this generation. |
Ford Mustang Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Ford Mustang years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Ford Mustang | 249 | 6 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Ford Mustang | 432 | 11 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Ford Mustang | 175 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Ford Mustang | 131 | 5 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Ford Mustang | 107 | 8 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Ford Mustang | 51 | 6 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2016 Ford Mustang Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Ford Mustang, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Engine
51 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Ford onlyUnknown Or Other
40 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Ford onlyBack Over Prevention
36 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Back Over Prevention issues Ford onlyElectrical System
31 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Ford onlyPower Train
20 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Ford onlyLatches/Locks/Linkages
12 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Latches/Locks/Linkages issues Ford onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Ford Mustang
Reliability Score
The 2016 Ford Mustang receives a reliability score of 82 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Ford Mustang
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Ford Mustang
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Ford Mustang:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-View Camera Failure The rear-view camera may fail to operate properly in reverse, affecting visibility. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Seat Belt Recall Seat belts have been recalled due to potential issues, affecting passenger safety. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Engine Cooling System Issues with the cooling system, including hoses and fittings, can lead to engine overheating. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Steering Wheel Loose The steering wheel may become loose over time, affecting driving control. |
Low | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Ford Mustang:
Issues with the rear-view camera, including failure to operate properly in reverse.
Recalled due to potential issues, affecting passenger safety.
Issues with the cooling system, including hoses and fittings.
The steering wheel may become loose over time.
Recall Details for the 2016 Ford Mustang
The following 5 recalls have been issued for the 2016 Ford Mustang by NHTSA:
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles. Water and road salt may corrode the front seat belt anchor pretensioner cables.
Consequence: A corroded cable can break, preventing the seat belt from properly restraining an occupant, and increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace both front seat belt anchor pretensioner assemblies, as necessary. In addition, dealers will remove sections of the carpet and underlayment that contact the cables. Dealers will also inspect the A-pillar sealing patches, and as necessary, install A-pillar body plugs, and/or inspect and replace the front outboard seat bolts. Repairs will be performed free of charge....
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Consequence: A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and May 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identificatio...
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera wiring may be loose or damaged, which can result in a blank or distorted image.
Consequence: A rearview camera that displays a blank or distorted image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the decklid wiring harness and/or replace the rearview camera, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2022 and June 26, 2023. Remedy parts are expected to become available in the 4th Quarter of 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S06.
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles manufactured February 24, 2015, to August 30, 2016. A hose may separate from the engine oil cooler tube assembly causing an oil leak.
Consequence: A sudden loss of engine oil may cause engine failure, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, an oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil cooler tube assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March 23, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S40.
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Mustang vehicles manufactured September 26, 2015, to October 1, 2015. The front and rear seat belts and child seat tether anchors may have been damaged in shipping from the supplier to the vehicle assembly plant and may not adequately restrain the occupant in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," and 225, "Child r...
Consequence: If the restraint components do not function as intended, the occupants may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front and rear seat belt assemblies and the child seat tether anchors, free of charge. The recall began on December 18, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C13.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Ford Mustang
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Ford Mustang with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse(R), the rear-view camera was blank and then operated intermittently; however, the image was blurry. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on two occasions. During the first visit, the contact was informed that the harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was t...
Manufacturer has failed or is unable to remedy this safety recall for your vehicle IN A TIMELY MANNER. The Recall was from September 16, 2025. It has now been OVER half a year with NO remedy. I live in a salty air state and the last thing I want to happen is to drive with a seat belt with reduced effectiveness. I've ALREADY been in an accident a decade ago where a woman T-Boned me. I had a 2001 Mu...
They have a recall for the seatbelt so I got my car inspected and tested and my seatbelts are fine. I use this as a rental car and my business is stopped and I’m losing money every day that I cannot rent this out.
The steering wheel over time is very loose and in my case i need to be very careful with it because I feel I am losing control on my car while driving. You can feel the steering wheel moving up and down without little to know force also while driving. I don't even drive that fast since my way to work is always in a school zones.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse, the screen turned blue with a message that the back over prevention camera was unavailable. The failure was intermittent. The contact first received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V082000 (Back Over Prevention). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who inspected the vehicle and replaced the wiring h...
There have been 3 instances within the last year and a half where the rear window of my vehicle (Ford mustang) and the rear window of family member ford mustang both have shattered during the extreme cold possibly due to the heating coils on the window over heating and burning. You can see a burn pattern in the window This is a safety issue due to the window shattering, it sounded as if someone sh...
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V614000 (Seat Belts). The contact stated that the driver’s side front seat belt had detached from the frame. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the recall repair would be available in June 2026. The vehicle was not diagnosed or rep...
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 wan...
The driver And passengers door opens while driving
The head gasket in my 2016 mustang eco boost failed. I have 126k miles and coolant is leaking into cylinder 2. I’ve always taken care of the maintenance on a timely matter and no modifications have been done.
2016 Ford Mustang 2.3L Ecoboost Engine. Coolant intrusion into the cylinder. It's a known issue, an engine block design flaw. Ford was replacing the whole engine when those cars were under warranty. There is extensive content online about it and dozens of class actions.
My cars head gasket blew at only 45,000 miles. Replaced my a local well known mechanic for around $3500.00. Now my car at 96,000 miles has blown the head gasket again. I believe the car needs a whole new block. I have seen several lawsuits regarding this and just would love my car running again. This is NOT cheap to fix for me.
On 12/06/2025 I filled the vehicle with gasoline. As I was driving home I noticd a strong odor of gasoline. When I arrived home I parked the car in my carport. A short time later I went outside and noticed that I could still smell gasoline and I looked under the car, which was approximately 3 feet from my house and saw a puddle under it. This could have caused a fire, so I immediately took th...
From what I can remember its always been an issue with cylinder 3. I was always repaired by Ford Auto Nation of Fort Worth and Auto World Repair 2021 Engine Failure: Confirmed and repaired blown head gasket 2022 Check Engine Light code P303 - Found faulty as well as ignition coil on cylinder 3 2025 Engine Failure: code P303 - Found faulty as well as ignition coil on cylinder 3 Excessive smoke d...
The contact's daughter owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that the rearview camera was inoperable while reversing. The owner received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle had passed the recall test, even ...
Display screen went out after first back up, camera recall. Camera is fixed under the recall by the dealership shortly after the display screen was intermittently going out until the screen became completely black.
Component/system: Engine (Coolant intrusion into cylinder 1); Inspection available: Yes; Safety risk: Sudden power loss on road; Reproducibility/Confirmation: Dealer verified coolant in cylinder 1 after engine inspection; Manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others inspections: No; Warnings/symptoms: Check Engine light turned on, error code P0301, higher than normal engine temperatur...
Coolant intrusion into the cylinder head. This caused a sudden halt of he vehicle which could have caused an accident and loss of life. The engine coolant overheating temperature warning light came on. Vehicle was inspected by ford dealership and found to have blown head gasket. The car is vat for inspection.
Took car to dealership per recall. Touch screen flickering on and off. Can't depend on back up camera. According to dealer "Recall 22a06a was previously completed on TSB 19-2273. and no other repairs were neede at this time. Note, Sync MyTouch screen is blinking on and off at all times and recommend Diag." they replaced APIN and Screen. According to the repair bill. It was still flickering ...
My tire is a 255 / 40 ZR 19 model, speed rated 100W. While rotating my tires I noticed catastrophic tread separation on the inner sidewall of the tire. The separation is scattered, not all in one section, and in total covers about 1/4 of the total diameter. The underlying belt package has separated and steel wire is plainly visible at distance. The tire was still holding normal pressure at the tim...
Showing 20 of 363 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2016 Ford Mustang
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Opened 2021-09-17
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 20...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Ford Mustang
Has the 2016 FORD MUSTANG been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 FORD MUSTANG has 5 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 FORD MUSTANG have?
The 2016 FORD MUSTANG has 363 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 13 involved crashes. 11 injuries and 2 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 FORD MUSTANG?
The 2016 FORD MUSTANG does not have an NHTSA safety rating on file. This can happen for newer model years, specialty vehicles, or models that have not been crash-tested.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 FORD MUSTANG?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 FORD MUSTANG involve engine (51 complaints), unknown or other (40 complaints), back over prevention (36 complaints). Other affected components include electrical system, power train, latches/locks/linkages.
How many crash reports does the 2016 FORD MUSTANG have?
There are 13 crash reports associated with the 2016 FORD MUSTANG out of 363 total complaints (3.6% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2016 FORD MUSTANG have?
There are 6 fire reports for the 2016 FORD MUSTANG out of 363 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 FORD MUSTANG?
Yes, 2 deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 FORD MUSTANG. These are self-reported by complainants and do not imply the vehicle caused the death.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 FORD MUSTANG?
11 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 FORD MUSTANG. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 FORD MUSTANG?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 FORD MUSTANG is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 363 complaints, 5 recalls. Note: 2 death(s) have been reported. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 FORD MUSTANG?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 FORD MUSTANG are: 1. ENGINE (51 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (40 complaints), 3. BACK OVER PREVENTION (36 complaints), 4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (31 complaints), 5. POWER TRAIN (20 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 51 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 FORD MUSTANG?
Ensure your 2016 Ford Mustang is up to date with all recalls and regular maintenance to prevent potential safety issues. The 2016 FORD MUSTANG has 363 NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls on record.
How reliable is the 2016 FORD MUSTANG?
The 2016 FORD MUSTANG receives a reliability score of 82/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 363 owner complaints, 5 recalls, and 19 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Rear-View Camera Failure and Seat Belt Recall.
What are the known issues with the 2016 FORD MUSTANG?
Known issues with the 2016 FORD MUSTANG include: Rear-View Camera Failure, Seat Belt Recall, Engine Cooling System, Steering Wheel Loose. These are based on patterns found across 363 NHTSA complaints. 5 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common issues with the 2016 Ford Mustang?
Common issues include problems with the rear-view camera, seat belts, engine cooling system, and a loose steering wheel.
Are there any recalls for the 2016 Ford Mustang?
Yes, there are recalls for the rear-view camera, seat belts, and engine cooling system.
What should I do if I experience issues with my 2016 Ford Mustang?
Check for recalls, have your vehicle inspected, and address any issues promptly to ensure safety.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Ensure your 2016 Ford Mustang is up to date with all recalls and regular maintenance to prevent potential safety issues.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Ford Mustang
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Ford Mustang. The data includes 363 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 5 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 13 reported crashes, 6 fire incidents, 11 reported injuries, and 2 fatalities associated with this vehicle.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16