The Lemon Index2013 Ford Mustang.
The 2013 Ford Mustang is worse than average by owner complaints: 158 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 161, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about airbags, it has 6 recalls, and it gets 19 to 23 mpg combined. The best Ford Mustang year is 2010.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 271 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ford Mustang year. 2013 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 11K to 72K miles on the car (120 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- airbags complaints mostly came at 8K–37K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 8K–86K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 27K–71K miles
Recalls 6
- airbags 2021
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 hu…
- airbags 2021
Please see Ford's recall report for the specific part numbers.
- airbags 2019
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Show all 6 recalls
- airbags 2018
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- airbags 2015
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.
- transmission & drivetrain 2012
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 FORD F-150, 2012 EXPEDITION AND LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, AND 2012-2013 MUSTANG VEHICLES, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NOS. …
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 66 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Factory installed spark plugs meets gap specification; if changing or installing new spark plugs
- Illuminated mil or safety stop now message, or a no
- On some vehicles and trucks, a whining noise, during acceleration, coming from transmission…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Mustang 2 DR RWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Ford Mustang C RWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★★ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2800–3400 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.7L 6-cyl, 5.0L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
Takata air bag recall. I have been waiting to have my airbag replaced since may of 2015, apperantely they still don't have the parts. How long do I have to wait?!!!
2013 Ford Mustang owner · NHTSA complaint 10934197
More owner reports
Cannot shift from forth to fifth in my car and 2nd gear experiences a lock out / missed shift and will not go in to 2nd. Bad transmission and syncro. Problems
NHTSA complaint 10724477
Received a recall letter in may of 2016. Dealer says they still don't have the replacement air bag.
NHTSA complaint 10915686
Quick answers
Is the 2013 Ford Mustang reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.6× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 161; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford Mustang year by this measure is 2010.
What are the most common 2013 Ford Mustang problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are airbags (67%), transmission & drivetrain (9%) and engine (6%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2013 Ford Mustang have?
6 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2013 Ford Mustang get?
19 to 23 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2013 Ford Mustang safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2013 Ford Mustang problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 11,100 and 72,800 miles. The middle report was at 40,000 miles, from 120 complaints.
Does the 2013 Ford Mustang have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 9% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2013 Ford Mustang cost in fuel a year?
About $2800 to $3400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2013 Ford Mustang have?
3.7L 6-cyl, 5.0L 8-cyl.
What Ford Mustang year is better than the 2013?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2010, 2021 and 2022.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works