Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2013 Ford Mustang
NHTSA data on file today
The 2013 Ford Mustang has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 271 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #21V081000 Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21E013000 Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V001000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V046000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V319000 Driver Side Frontal Air Bag May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V190000 "PRNDL" ILLUMINATION AND BACKUP LAMP ACTIVATION NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 145 complaints
- Power Train 48 complaints
- Engine 22 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 19 complaints
- Electrical System 18 complaints
- Unknown or Other 14 complaints
Of the 271 complaints on file, 16 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 271 complaints, owners report 9 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $3,000–$8,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2013 Ford Mustang has an average reliability rating due to frequent airbag recalls and powertrain issues. While safety is compromised by potential airbag failures, other systems present moderate concerns, necessitating regular inspections to prevent costly repairs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| airbags | 30,000–70,000 miles | $400–$1,200 | very common |
| transmission | 40,000–85,000 miles | $1,500–$3,500 | common |
| engine | 50,000–100,000 miles | $500–$2,500 | occasional |
| vehicle speed control | 60,000–90,000 miles | $300–$900 | occasional |
| electrical system | 50,000–100,000 miles | $200–$800 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Change oil and filter every 5,000 miles
- Inspect brakes every 15,000 miles
- Replace spark plugs at 60,000 miles
- Flush coolant system every 30,000 miles
- Replace timing belt at 90,000 miles
- Inspect suspension annually
- Rotate tires every 10,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Airbag warning light
- Harsh transmission shifts
- Unstable engine idle
- Delayed throttle response
- Frequent electrical shorts
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2013 Ford Mustang at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.