2007 Ford Mustang Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2007 Mustang report two dominant themes: the Takata airbag inflator recall and the long wait for replacement parts, and airbags that did not deploy in crashes. Beyond the restraint system, complaints cluster around water leaking into the passenger-side floor area and shorting electrical components, intermittent unintended acceleration or throttle hesitation, manual and automatic transmission problems, and fuel-filling difficulty.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbag recall parts delays and no-deploy reports

   • 335 complaints (54%)
   • median 67,500 mi at 10.3 yrs old (76 state mileage)
   • 28 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2024

   Many owners describe waiting months or years after a recall notice because replacement inflators were unavailable, and some say dealers would not remove or disable the inflator while they waited. Separately, several complaints describe frontal impacts in which the airbags did not deploy, and a few describe an airbag warning light staying on. A recall repair bulletin for this vehicle concerns airbag module quality control inspection. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 10,000 to over 150,000 miles, mostly from 2016 onward as recall notices arrived.

   Recall 21V081000Recall 17V024000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 16V384000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 15V319000 · DO NOT DRIVE5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for proof that the driver and passenger inflator recalls were completed, using the VIN at a dealer. Confirm the airbag warning light goes out after the bulb check on start-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall. This recall came out in june of 2016, more than a year ago. To date, I still have not received a letter from Ford saying that the remedy was available. And when I call a Ford dealer they confirm that the parts are not available to remedy the recall. It's been over a year, the part should available to fix this substantial safety issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11004823, filed 2017-07, 30,000 miles

   “Takata recall my 2007 Mustang was sold new in tokyo japan and has now been imported to australia.I have owned it for 6 years and am concerned that the recall database may not include my car as it was sold in japan and it states on the database that it doesn't cover international products . …”

   NHTSA complaint #11082606, filed 2018-04, 55,000 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Sudden acceleration or throttle sticking

   • 64 complaints (10%)
   • median 37,880 mi at 6.0 yrs old (54 state mileage)
   • 18 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2026

   Owners describe the engine speeding up on its own at parking-lot speeds, during gear changes, or while braking at a stop, with reports of the car overriding braking and hitting a wall, curb or barricade. Others describe a hesitation or bog on light throttle from a stop. Most say the vehicle was not diagnosed or the dealer found no fault; one bulletin covers intermittent low power and surge with brake override. Spread from about 23,000 to 160,000 miles, often at low speed or when pulling away.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test the throttle response at low speed and during a slow rolling start, and check the floor mat does not interfere with the pedal. Ask whether any throttle-body or pedal-related diagnosis was recorded.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2007 Ford Mustang 4.0 v6 with approximately 42k miles. It has recently developed a very serious safety-related defect which the Ford dealership has refused to investigate. For no apparent reason, while stopped in traffic and with my foot firmly on the break pedal,, the engine will suddenly go full throttle. This forces the car to suddenly lunge forward as the rear tires start spinning, overriding the front breaks. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10280355, filed 2009-08, 42,000 miles

   “I purchased a 2007 Mustang pony v-6 and it has all kinds of problems. The transmission was replaced at 1100 miles and still does not shift correctly and is noisy. I have also twice experienced an odd acceleration with this car. This car vibrates from the rearview mirrors, the dash, and steering wheel. I feel it is an accident waiting to happen. I have 1500 miles on this car and am hoping Ford will buy it back--because no dealership will take in trade.”

   NHTSA complaint #10238626, filed 2008-08, 1,000 miles
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Water leak into passenger floor, electrical faults

   • 59 complaints (10%)
   • median 43,579 mi at 5.2 yrs old (46 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2025

   Owners describe water pooling on the passenger-side floor and behind the dash after rain, sometimes backing up into the rear seat area. They link it to damaged wiring, a soaked smart junction box, dead batteries, inoperative horn, lights, wipers and defroster, and in some cases a no-start condition. Complaints reference a Ford service bulletin covering water leaks at the cowl and A-pillar area. Reported from roughly 34,000 to 100,000 miles, typically after heavy rain or on cars parked outside.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the passenger carpet and under-dash area for dampness, musty smell or water stains after rain, and test the horn, wipers, lights and blower. Ask whether the cowl and A-pillar leak bulletins were applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have 4 mustangs- 85lx and an,05-06-07 4,0s the 3 0? Have water leaks on the passenger side, water comes in and ends up in back seat panel. I looked up everything online about this problem and im not! The only one with this problem. It is not the window it's coming in from somewhere? From front to back.”

   NHTSA complaint #11402977, filed 2021-03, 100,000 miles

   “Went to drive my 3 and a half year old Mustang to work the other day after a big rainstorm. Noticed a musty mold smell but assumed it was nothing. As I drove my car up my driveway, (a slight incline) gallons of water spilled out from under the dashboard on the passenger side behind the glove box. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10430656, filed 2011-10, 34,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shift and clutch problems

   • 46 complaints (7%)
   • median 19,000 mi at 4.7 yrs old (41 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2022

   Owners of manual cars describe clutch slip at low mileage, hard engagement of first and reverse, and grinding or a raspy feel going into second and third when cold; some were told the clutch needed replacement. Automatic owners describe failure to go into overdrive, having to shift manually, and loss of reverse and third when warm. Others report leaks at the driveshaft seal and a shifter that would not move out of park. Reports range from under 1,000 miles to about 185,000 miles; several clutch and shifter complaints appear below 35,000 miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a manual car, feel for clutch slip on a hill and notchiness into second and third when cold; on an automatic, confirm overdrive and reverse engage when warm. Check for oil seepage at the transmission tailshaft.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Contact owns a 2007 Ford Mustang. The contact stated the shift cover or tracking fractured and the contact was unable to shift from park to drive. The failure was repaired four times but continued to recur. The manufacturer advised an investigator would be sent to further inspect the vehicle. The failure mileage was 32,850.”

   NHTSA complaint #10335285, filed 2010-06, 32,850 miles

   “The transmission would not go into overdrive on the highway so I pulled over and then the automatic transmission had to be manually switched from gear to gear and then drove fine. The the vehicle starts doing the same thing after warming up. Now reverse and 3rd are out when the vehicle is warm. Ive had sensors bands and other things replaced. Everything short of a new transmission has been replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11395672, filed 2021-02, 185,000 miles

Buying note. Confirm the airbag inflator recalls were completed for the specific VIN before anything else, and check the passenger floor for water damage and electrical gremlins. A pre-purchase inspection covering front suspension joints, brakes, tires and transmission behavior is worthwhile on a car of this age.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.