Pre-purchase inspection checklist — 2017 Ford Mustang
The 2017 Ford Mustang has notable issues, including seat belt, camera, airbag, door latch recalls, and engine cooling problems. Despite its performance appeal, these safety concerns demand thorough inspection.
Known issues to inspect
Seat belt pretensioner corrosion
How to check: Inspect seat belt anchors for corrosion or damage.
Rearview camera failure
How to check: Test rear camera for clear image when reversing.
Passenger airbag inflator rupture risk
How to check: Verify airbag system functionality and recall service.
Driver door latch may fail
How to check: Check driver side door latch operation closely.
Oil leak from cooler hose
How to check: Look for oil stains under the engine area.
Test-drive walkthrough
- 01
Cold start
What to check: Listen for unusual engine noises or vibrations.
Red flag: Loud knocking or clicking sounds.
- 02
First minute idling
What to check: Check dashboard for warning lights.
Red flag: Persistent warning lights on display.
- 03
City driving
What to check: Notice the brake responsiveness and effectiveness.
Red flag: Soft or unresponsive brake pedal.
- 04
Parking
What to check: Test rearview camera functionality during reverse.
Red flag: Camera image is blank or distorted.
- 05
Highway acceleration
What to check: Monitor for any lack of power or surging.
Red flag: Engine hesitates or lacks power.
- 06
Final stop
What to check: Look for steam or coolant smell from engine bay.
Red flag: Signs of overheating or coolant leak.
Questions for the seller
Use this exact phrasing.
- Has the seat belt recall been addressed?
- Are there any known camera issues?
- Has the airbag issue been fixed?
- Is there a history of oil leaks?
- Have all recalls been repaired?
Documents to request
Don't sign anything until you have these.
- Recall completion documentation
- Recent repair invoices
- Maintenance records
- Vehicle inspection report
- Title and registration
Generated by gpt-4o on 6/7/2026. Grounded in the NHTSA recall corpus and owner-complaint patterns for the 2017 Ford Mustang.