2011 Ford Mustang Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 2%of 466 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 4,700miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2011 Ford Mustang, 2% of the 466 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 4,700 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was traveling on a major highway at the speed limit (75 MPH in this area of texas) and had just changed lanes when the car would not go, I kept pushing the accelerator and the car would not go. Fortunately, I was able to coast off the highway and was able to go up an off ramp and pull off the shoulder of the road. The Mustang started to make a noise and shuttered, so I turned off the engine being afraid that the engine would be damaged. I was able to start the car again and was able to pull into a parking lot and call for help. …”
NHTSA complaint #10567185, filed 2014-02, 60,800 miles“Just a few of the issues I had while my car . I was told there was no problem with my car after I almost got killed twice because it would not down shift into lower gears at highway speeds. Trans will look up once shifter is in between gears and will not go into gears still speed and RPM slow down. Most evident when trying to go from 6th to 4th. I was almost in an accident twice because I was not able to down shift to get out of the way of a oncoming traffic. Had a cracked rim that was obviously a casting defect. Had a ticking in the engine after long trips. . 5.0 sounded like a diesel.”
NHTSA complaint #10444933, filed 2012-01, 3,500 miles“2011 Mustang gt with manual transmission- inability to shift into 3rd gear. It almost caused an accident as I was stuck slowing down into on coming traffic. The car is been in the shop multiple times. Also has severe knocking in the engine that goes way after 5 minutes. Ford states this is piston rattle and they tried a software fix. Nothing helped.I'm afraid of the engine damage or catastrophic engine failure while driving. There are youtube videos posted labeled 2011 Mustang knock. Ford is aware... They referred me to it(at least the service tech did. Ford is doing nothing!!! …”
NHTSA complaint #10418260, filed 2011-08, 4,700 miles“Bought this 2011 Ford Mustang on april 8 2011. Everything was fine for about this first month. Car did not want to start when clutch was pressed down had 800 miles at the time, classic Ford 1st dealer said needed a clutch adjustment? Its hydraulic there is no adjustment on them! They had the car for about 6 hours to tell me that. Clutch still felt funny ,started hearing grinding, shifter would get stuck in r,1,2,3,4 gears then it went out stuck in 2nd gear! …”
NHTSA complaint #10440527, filed 2011-12, 800 miles“2011 Mustang gt with 6477 miles, with 6 speed manual transmission. Taking off from a stop sign and attempting to shift from 1st gear to 2nd gear, resulted in only being able to shift from 1st gear to neutral. Once the shifter moved into the neutral position, the vehicle is no longer able to shift into any gear. Had to coast the vehicle to a safe stopping point with no engine power and towed to the nearest dealer for repair. This is the 2nd incident with the transmission on this vehicle in less than 1 year, with the prior incident being a faulty slave clutch cylinder. …”
NHTSA complaint #10432637, filed 2011-10, 6,477 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10251951Mar 6, 2024Some 2011-2024 Mustang and F-150 vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine may exhibit a tick tap and/or typewriter ticking noise at idle after an engine oil change. It is often…
- 10191525Apr 29, 2021Some 2011-2021 Mustang and F-150 vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine may exhibit a ticking noise at idle after an engine oil change. It is often referred to as typewriter noise…
- 10155576Feb 26, 2019Some 5.0L 4V engines may exhibit a tick/tap/rattle or knock immediately after secondary timing chain tensioner installation. In some cases the secondary timing chain tensioners…
- 10156877Feb 7, 2019Some 2009-2017 Expedition/Navigator, 2009-2014 F-150/Mustang, 2008-2009 Sable, 2008-2019 Taurus/Flex/MKT, 2013-2019 Police Interceptor Sedan/Utility, and 2011-2019 Explorer…
- 10109070Sep 21, 2016The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to…
- 10183775Apr 21, 2016Some 2011-2014 Mustang vehicles equipped with a 3.7L engine may exhibit coolant pump leakage due to air entering the system.
- 10039053Mar 1, 2011Ford: if there is an intermittent lack of power, surge, or hesitation while driving the brakes will override acceleration.
- 10037088Sep 1, 2010Ford: some vehicles may have unitiated mykey activation or the car alarm/sos will activate.
- 10037087Sep 1, 2010Ford: on some 2011 mustangs there is a vibration felt in steering wheel or chair upon deceleration.
- 10039148Aug 1, 2010Ford: the engine may be rough on idle due to the high performance characteristics. 2011 mustangs.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 5% |
| 2022 | 1 | 2% |
| 2021 | 2 | 4% |
| 2020 | 3 | 2% |
| 2019 | 11 | 7% |
| 2018 | 8 | 4% |
| 2017 | 8 | 3% |
| 2016 | 8 | 2% |
| 2014 | 1 | 0% |
| 2013 | 1 | 0% |
| 2012 | 3 | 1% |
| 2011 | 7 | 2% |
| 2010 | 4 | 2% |
| 2009 | 1 | 1% |
| 2008 | 2 | 1% |
| 2007 | 5 | 1% |
| 2006 | 16 | 4% |
| 2005 | 25 | 4% |
| 2004 | 6 | 5% |
| 2003 | 39 | 27% |
| 2002 | 22 | 19% |
| 2001 | 24 | 14% |
| 2000 | 34 | 11% |
| 1999 | 31 | 15% |
| 1998 | 40 | 17% |
| 1997 | 38 | 22% |
| 1996 | 82 | 33% |
| 1995 | 339 | 56% |
| 1994 | 160 | 45% |
| 1993 | 11 | 11% |
| 1992 | 7 | 10% |
| 1991 | 6 | 8% |
| 1990 | 10 | 12% |
| 1989 | 6 | 6% |
| 1988 | 4 | 4% |
| 1987 | 5 | 13% |
| 1986 | 5 | 17% |
| 1985 | 2 | 13% |
| 1984 | 4 | 22% |
| 1983 | 1 | 20% |
Other parts of the 2011 Ford Mustang
200 complaintsAir bags
125 complaintsEngine
48 complaintsVehicle speed control
39 complaintsFuel system
26 complaintsSteering
25 complaintsElectrical system
24 complaintsOther or unknown
19 complaintsBrakes
14 complaintsElectronic stability control
14 complaintsBody and structure
10 complaintsSeats
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 Ford Mustang
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology