The Lemon Index2017 Ford Mustang.
The 2017 Ford Mustang is better than average by owner complaints: 69 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 73, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about body structure, it has 6 recalls, and it gets 17 to 24 mpg combined. The best Ford Mustang year is 2010.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 100 YouTube videos about the 2015–2023 Ford Mustang, 69.7M views. The 2017 is the same generation.
- Infotainment, battery & electrical777K views
DIY - 2017/2016 Ford Mustang - How to change SmartKey Key fob Battery on Ford MustangKey Fob Rob · 506K views · 2 videos - Timing chain & engine289K views
Watch This Guide BEFORE You Buy A 2020 Ford Mustang!TFLnow · 289K views - Windows, doors & mirrors202K views
2015 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible Soft Top Open CloseLoonyGarage · 202K views
Before you buy, watch
Should You Buy a 2018 Mustang GT Over a 2013 Mustang GT? - Which is Better? (In Depth Comparison)ThatDudeinBlue · 576K views
Ford Mustang coupe 2015-2018 review - CarbuyerCarbuyer · 331K views
Ford Mustang V8 Sports Car 2018 review | Mat Watson Reviewscarwow · 2.0M viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them.
How serious. Out of 267 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ford Mustang year. 2017 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 20K to 63K miles on the car (144 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- backup camera complaints mostly came at 28K–89K miles
- body structure complaints mostly came at 33K–67K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 20K–59K miles
Recalls 6
- seat belts 2025
Water and road salt may corrode the front seat belt anchor pretensioner cables.
- back over prevention 2025
The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
- back over prevention 2022
The rearview camera wiring may be loose or damaged, which can result in a blank or distorted image.
Show all 6 recalls
- airbags 2017
The air bag inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may rupture in the event of a crash.
- latches/locks/linkages 2017
The return spring for the driver side interior door handle may come loose, allowing the driver's door to unlatch in a side impact crash.
- engine 2016
A hose may separate from the engine oil cooler tube assembly causing an oil leak.
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 155 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- To help differentiate engine oil leaks from other possible sources, a new white-colored…
- Rattle or rapping type sound
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Mustang C RWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★★ |
| Ford Mustang 2 DR RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2700–3800 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.3L 4-cyl, 3.7L 6-cyl, 5.0L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
I've notice after a few months of washing my car I've noticed my back bumper paint bubbling up. Almost as if it was melting. And my driver seat stitching just started unstitching. Car has 35k miles.
2017 Ford Mustang owner · NHTSA complaint 11221486
More owner reports
The rear view camera sometimes works and sometimes does not. When backing up, the camera screen goes black
NHTSA complaint 11079436
All of a sudden, the driver side door latch doesn't close. Also, the window doesn't open.
NHTSA complaint 11376083
Quick answers
Is the 2017 Ford Mustang reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.4× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 73; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford Mustang year by this measure is 2010.
What are the most common 2017 Ford Mustang problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are body structure (20%), electrical (17%) and engine (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2017 Ford Mustang have?
6 safety recalls (latest: seat belts). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2017 Ford Mustang get?
17 to 24 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2017 Ford Mustang safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 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 2017 Ford Mustang problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 20,000 and 63,400 miles. The middle report was at 40,000 miles, from 144 complaints.
Does the 2017 Ford Mustang have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 13% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2017 Ford Mustang cost in fuel a year?
About $2700 to $3800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2017 Ford Mustang have?
2.3L 4-cyl, 3.7L 6-cyl, 5.0L 8-cyl.
What Ford Mustang year is better than the 2017?
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