KnownCarProblems2020 Ford Mustang Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 120 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford Mustang, most often about the engine (23% of complaints, typically around 66,500 miles). It is 19th of 27 Mustang model years by number of complaints and has 8 recalls.
Most common 2020 Ford Mustang problems
Engine
27 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 66,500 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that coolant had leaked into the engine, causing misfiring codes and a lack of motive power…
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was misfiring. Additionally, the vehicle was shaking, and the contact pulled…
Transmission
25 complaints · 21%Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle was jerking and shaking uncontrollably. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to continue to drive the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure recurred increasingly while driving on the…
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that the reverse light, the rearview camera, the cross traffic system, the blind spot detector, the lane assist system, and other unknown features had ceased to work. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 22v382000 (power train) and the…
Electrical
25 complaints · 21%Tl * the contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving and pulling into a parking spot, the contact heard a loud clicking sound coming from the vehicle. Additionally, the interior lights and headlights started flickering. The contact stated that the vehicle loss motive power and stalled, without…
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that the passenger's side rear window failed to roll up completely. The contact also stated that the front passenger's side window would continuously roll up and down upon starting the vehicle and while driving. Additionally, the contact stated that the…
Other or unspecified
22 complaints · 18%Washing my car around the exhaust pipes I cut my finger to the bone. This is the second time I have cut myself on these pipes. Afraid my son or another person will have the same issue.
Renting vehicle for long term use. Drive as mostly single woman and commute up to 2 hrs. Side lights are attention grabber for night time use. Ex driving on 8 and stopping at rest stop or for gas drew much unwanted attention. My cell phone slid under passenger seat and I had to exit vehicle move car forward and back…
Brakes
17 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 6,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components.
On 8/29/2020 a Ford agency located in miami, fl sold me my 2020 Ford Mustang vehicle with a factory defect in the brake system and they did not make the participation in time to correct the mechanical defect of my vehicle according to to NHTSA. The truth is that I had an accident in the city of miami, fl on 10/29/2020…
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds in cruise control, the brake warning lights failed to illuminated properly. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. No dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. Nhtsa campaign number…
Backup camera
12 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 56,500 miles. Parts named most often: warnings, sensing system, rearview system braking.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while attempting to park the back-up camera failed. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the wires had been cut and damaged. The dealer replaced the wiring. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was…
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while in reverse(r), the back over prevention camera intermittently failed to operate as needed and was distorted or there was a blank image on the screen. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA campaign number: 20v575000 (visibility, back over…
Air bags
8 complaints · 7%The contact owned a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving at 65 MPH, in the center lane a tractor-trailer side swipe and hit the contact front passenger side door which caused the contact vehicle to spin around and hit a median wall, and spin out again with the vehicle coming to a stop in the middle of…
Fuel system
8 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: storage.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that a fuel inlet warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed, however; the contact was not provided the diagnostic result. The…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2020 Ford Mustang recalls
Backup camera: camera
Risk: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driverâs view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on october 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed january 2, 2026. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25sa9. Vehicle identification numbers (vins) involved in this recall bec
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 flex, 2015 explorer, lincoln mkt, lincoln mkz, 2015-2016 c-max, escape, taurus, 2016 fusion, 2018-2019 taurus, 2019 lincoln mkt, fiesta, and 2020 mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Backup camera: software
Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed september 4, 2025. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25s72.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 transit connect, 2019-2020 mkz, mkx, edge, continental, f-150, nautilus, fusion, 2019-2023 ranger, mustang, 2020-2021 ecosport, expedition, navigator, 2020-2022 escape, f-250 sd, corsair, 2020-2023 aviator, transit, 2020-2024 explorer, 2021-2024 bronco sport, and 2022-2024 maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Electrical: body control module/bcm
Risk: Without a low brake fluid warning light, the vehicle may be driven with low brake fluid, reducing braking performance and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed december 21, 2023. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23c35.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 mustang vehicles. The brake fluid level sensor may not activate the visual warning indicator when the brake fluid is low. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 135, "light vehicle brake systems."
Transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Risk: A rearview camera or reverse light that is disabled reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash. Disabled driver assist features (traction control, forward collision warning, blind spot warning, cross traffic indicator) may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the PCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed june 15, 2022. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22s37.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 mustang vehicles equipped with 5.0l engines and manual transmissions. The powertrain control module (PCM) may broadcast an unintended faulted signal to the modules controlling the reverse camera, reverse light, and driver assist features, which may disable all of these functions.
Backup camera: camera
Risk: Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began november 17, 2020. Remedy became available on february 1, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on february 1, 2021. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20c19.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2020 ford f-150, f-250, f-350, f-450, f-550, explorer, mustang, transit, expedition, escape, ranger and edge, and lincoln nautilus and corsair vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 111, "rear visibility."
Brakes: service brakes
Risk: A broken brake pedal could affect braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal bracket assembly, free of charge. The recall began january 26, 2021. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20s52.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2020 mustang vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The brake pedal bracket may fracture during sudden stopping.
Driver assistance: camera
Risk: If the driver is unaware that the pre-collision assist feature is not operating effectively, they may rely on a system that is not functional, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will perform the lane departure warning system camera alignment procedure, free of charge. This recall began june 17, 2020. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20s26.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2020 mustang vehicles equipped a forward-looking camera. The camera may be misaligned to the vehicle and features that are dependent on the camera such as pre-collision assist, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping system, driver alert, and auto high beam control may not function as intended.
Electrical: instrument cluster/panel
Risk: If the driver exits the vehicle without the transmission being shifted into park, unintended vehicle movement may result, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began may 26, 2020. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20s21.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2019 expedition and 2019-2020 mustang vehicles. The "transmission not in park" warning message and associated chime duration are shorter than intended.
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
Rearview camera fmvss 111 noncompliance
Summary
On september 23, 2020, ford motor company (ford) filed a noncompliance recall report under 49 cfr part 573 (NHTSA recall no. 20v-575), recalling 620,246 model year (my) 2020 ford f-150, f-250, f-350, f-450, f-550, explorer, mustang, transit, expedition, escape, ranger and edge, and lincoln nautilus and corsair vehicles for a noncompliance with federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) 111, rear visibility. Ford's recall described the noncompliance as insufficient electrical conductivity within the printed circuit board (pcb) internal to the camera leading to intermittent rearview camera operation. The supplier of the cameras was magna electronics.according to ford's chronology in the par
Questions about the 2020 Ford Mustang
- What are the most common problems with the 2020 Ford Mustang?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (27 complaints, typically around 66,500 miles); transmission (25 complaints); electrical (25 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2020 Ford Mustang have?
- 8 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 13, 2025 (backup camera). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2020 a bad year for the Ford Mustang?
- It is 19th of 27 Mustang model years by number of complaints, with 120 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.