KnownCarProblems2005 Ford Mustang Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 705 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Ford Mustang, most often about the air bags (33% of complaints, typically around 56,500 miles). It is the most complained-about Mustang model year since 2000 and has 5 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory3 recalls for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2005 Ford Mustang problems
Air bags
235 complaints · 33%Half of these problems showed up before 56,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, on-off switch assembly.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while shifting from second to third gear, the front driver's side curtain air bag deployed haphazardly. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer but they were unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware…
Takata recall. I have been asking my local dealer when the driver side airbag will be replaced. I have been told the same quote for years, "when Ford finds a new supplier for the takata air-bag we will have one for you". My family cannot ride in my passenger front seat. If this is a mandatory recall, then why isn't…
Electrical
225 complaints · 32%Half of these problems showed up before 63,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, 12v/24v/48v battery, wiring.
The car's instrument cluster suddenly completely malfunctioned, the "fail-safe" engine system light came on, causing the engine to shut down and to suddenly stop the car in moving traffic. This was truly a life-endangering situation. The speedometer and the engine temperature dials of the instrument cluster had been…
I have an 05 Mustang, automatic, v6 it has about 65,000 miles. I like everyone else am having problems with the gauges and the car stalling for no reason. I noticed no one has been killed yet so I guess that is what Ford is waiting on before doing a recall. This is crazy. Someone should make them take a look at what…
Fuel system
100 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 35,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage, delivery, fuel injection system.
2005 Ford Mustang I purchased the car as a used vehicle. On most occurrences it takes 15 minutes to fuel the car with about 1/4 -1/8 of a tank of fuel remaining. There appears to be an issue with pressure in the tank causing the pump nozzle to shut off repeatedly. The nozzle must be removed from the tank inlet and…
2005 Ford Mustang been to the service department 3 times for not being able to fill gas tank, spews out even at a trickle from the pump 4th time returned to dealer and said there was a repair but now my warranty has run out. They knew the repair was available long ago. Surely this qualifies as a defect in the system.…
Body and structure
56 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 40,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
Water leak in passenger side kick panel Ford knew of water leak issue when vehicle was manufactured. I had about an inch of water on my passenger floorboard after a storm. Also rear brakes stick after using emergency brake. If I ever have to use my e-brake in an emergency the rear wheels will lock up and be even more…
2005 Ford Mustang leaking when it rains. I have read plenty of forms that a lot of people have this problem that no one knows why or how. If this is not corrected it could cause health problems due to mildew or fire due to the moisture.
Speed control
54 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 29,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, cruise control, cables.
My Ford Mustang has now 32k miles on it purchased new and only one owner/driver. All of my instrument are no longer working or work erratically. I am having problems knowing what speed I am traveling, if there is gas in my car. I am a woman who does not like to get stranded on the highway and this is now a big fear. I…
3 incidents: 1.needed to use the passing gear and the car kept accelerating with the pedal stuck to the floor. As I was about to go to neutral the pedal released. Dealer diagnosis was to clean throttle body and fuel system at a cost of $160 2. A week later, during moderate acceleration entering an interstate on-ramp…
Engine
44 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 53,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
My 16 yr old son was driving and the speed gauge started reading 90 then 60 then 100 also the temp gauge went into the red. He panicked that car was going to blow up and pulled off the highway at night to call to see what he should do. I find this to be very unsafe in both aspects of not knowing if the car could of…
Engine light came on and car was sticking in gear so I took it to the dealer. The dealer found out through a diagnostic test that the throttle assembly but wanted me to pay almost $1000.00 to get it fixed. I told them no and picked my car up. I went on line and found out there was a recall on the throttle assembly.
Brakes
35 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 42,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, conventional, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
Water leak in passenger side kick panel Ford knew of water leak issue when vehicle was manufactured. I had about an inch of water on my passenger floorboard after a storm. Also rear brakes stick after using emergency brake. If I ever have to use my e-brake in an emergency the rear wheels will lock up and be even more…
I have a 2005 Ford Mustang and went to go to work and my emergency brake will not release. I can not drive my car. Left it running for 20 minutes to let it warm up but it still will not release. This happened when I first got the car new and the dealership replaced the brake stating it was a defect. But now its doing…
Transmission
25 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 7,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission, clutch assembly, driveline.
Clutch is jumpy starting off in 1st gear...I have to let it out almost all the way to get it to fully engage. Owned the car since dec, 7800 miles....all highway..feel like I have no power. .dealer told me to test it in the pking lot by revving it and letting the clutch out...even w/ twc off, barely a chirp!!!
I was driving down the road at the speed limit when all of a sudden the engine light came on and the car immediately stalled. I had to pull over to the shoulder and put my hazards on so I didn't get hit from behind or cause a dangerous accident to the other motorists. I turned off the car, left the hazards on and…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 Ford Mustang recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began march 17, 2021. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21s05.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 mustang, 2004-2011 ranger, 2009-2011 mercury milan, 2006 ford gt, 2008-2012 fusion, 2007-2010 edge and lincoln mkx, and 2009-2010 lincoln mkz vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing march 1, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19s01.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2012 ford fusion and mustang and lincoln zephyr and mkz vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, ford is recalling certain 2009 ford ranger, edge, fusion and mustang, lincoln mkx, mkz and zephyr and mercury milan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia and west virginia, or "zone b." additionally, unless included in "zone a" or "zone b" above, ford is recalli
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on july 15, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19s01.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 ford ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 ford fusion, mercury milan and lincoln zephyr/mkz vehicles, 2007-2010 ford edge, lincoln mkx vehicles, 2005-2006 ford gt vehicles, and 2005-2011 ford mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 ford ranger, edge and lincoln mkx vehicles, 2006-2008 ford fusion, mercury milan and lincoln zephyr/mkz vehicles, 2005-2006 ford gt vehicles and 2005-2008 ford mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana,
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on june 10, 2016. Even if interim repairs were performed under safety recall 14v-802, owners must bring their vehicles in for the final remedy. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15s21. Note: this recall supersedes safety recall 14v-802.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2014 mustang vehicles manufactured april 6, 2004, to june 21, 2014, and 2005-2006 gt vehicles manufactured february 20, 2004, to september 22, 2006. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: During an air bag deployment, if a small female in the front passenger seat is not wearing the safety belt, and has the seat in the full forward position, there may be an increased potential for a neck injury.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the restraint control module free of charge. The recall began on march 3, 2008. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332 or through email to www.ownerconnection.com.
Full defect summary
Ford is recalling 434,593 my 2008 mustang vehicles for failing to comply with one of the neck injury requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, "occupant crash protection," for an unbelted 5th percentile female sitting in the passenger seat while it is in the full forward position.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Air bag inflator rupture
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe14-016 in june 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.all six vehicles were operated in florida or puerto rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.during the course of pe14-016, odi determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.nonetheless, at odi's in
Air bag inflator rupture
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe14-016 in june 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.all six vehicles were operated in florida or puerto rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.during the course of pe14-016, odi determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.nonetheless, at odi's in
Fleet vehicle recall completion audit
Summary
On november 18, 2010, NHTSA's recall management division (rmd) opened an audit query (aq10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.it was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.rmd queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (ford, chrysler, and general motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.the rental
Questions about the 2005 Ford Mustang
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Ford Mustang?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (235 complaints, typically around 56,500 miles); electrical (225 complaints, typically around 63,000 miles); fuel system (100 complaints, typically around 35,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Ford Mustang have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 16, 2021 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the Ford Mustang?
- It is the most complained-about Mustang model year since 2000, with 705 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.