2012 Ford Mustang Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 21about this part
- Share
- 4%of 469 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 56,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 21 complaints about the electrical system of the 2012 Ford Mustang, 4% of the 469 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 56,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Takata recall when I was driving on highway. Several lights on dashboard turned on (airbag, fuel level , wrench light, tire pressure ) and said tire pressure monitor defaulted. After restarted the car, everything works normally. Ford dealer checked the car and said my PCM didn't work. And replaced it for $1000. After several days the problem came again. They did't fix it.”
NHTSA complaint #11080792, filed 2018-03, 86,200 miles“My 2012 Ford Mustang has been experiencing problems starting with the vehicle in the park position. All of the appropriate lights on the dash come on, but the car will not crank until I place the gear shift lever into the neutral position. This happens with the car parked on level ground and the emergency brakes applied and I have verified that the indicator shows the p for park. …”
NHTSA complaint #10607549, filed 2014-07, 63,000 miles“When starting my car, the wrench icon stays lit on my dashboard. The car manual states that this is an issue with the electronic throttle control. The car does not recognize when I am (or not) pushing on the gas pedal- sometimes when I lightly push the pedal, the engine revs, other times the car won't move at all. This has put me (and other drivers on the road) in a very dangerous position to be in, that I can't control my car. I have read many things online that there has been this issue with many other Ford/lincoln cars, from 2011-2015. …”
NHTSA complaint #11045614, filed 2017-11, 70,000 miles“I had two incidents of unintended acceleration in my 2012 Ford Mustang gt automatic transmission premium pkg. These two incidents occurred on the same day march 5, 2013. The first was after I picked up my car from its garage of several weeks at lunch and drove back to work. I had gone about two blocks from my garage and was braking to slow down to make a right hand turn when the car down shifted and accelerated by itself while I was pressing the brake pedal. I was going about 5 MPH when this all started. …”
NHTSA complaint #10503717, filed 2013-03, 4,200 miles“I was driving in the expressway at 60 MPH when suddenly my car lost power on the acceleration. A wrench tool appear and the dashboard on the RPM clock ... At that moment the car desaccelerate almost to 30 MPH and I was unable to gain speed. I went to a side of the road, turn it off and restarted the car. Everything appear to be normal but the first thing I did was go to the dealer. They run a test on it and told me that the problem was related to the electeic throttle body. I dont understand how is possible to happend something like that when my car barely has 4 years. …”
NHTSA complaint #10780603, filed 2015-10, 56,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11031792Apr 29, 2026Harvest Program 25H05 – Supplement #1 Certain 2011-2021 Model Year Vehicles Software Verification Harvest Program
- 11029052Feb 24, 2026Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing…
- 11026013Nov 19, 2025This is a proactive investigation program by Ford Motor Company to inspect a limited number of affected vehicles that are customer-owned. Ford is voluntarily conducting this…
- 10164497Aug 7, 2019For Ford and Lincoln vehicles that require positive or negative battery terminal replacement, it is not necessary to replace the complete battery cable harness (14300 and 14301)…
- 10163573Jul 2, 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…
- 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…
- 10155565Feb 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…
- 10127405Nov 2, 2017Some vehicles may exhibit a no start condition with an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and a DTC P161A after PCM replacement. This may be due to the parameter reset…
- 10183767Apr 20, 2016Some 2012-2016 vehicles equipped with a touchscreen navigation system and the language set to Arabic may exhibit a blank screen. This may be the result of the ribbon cables not…
- 10204986Feb 5, 201649 CFR Part 579.5 Monthly Communications - January 2016
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 25% |
| 2025 | 5 | 26% |
| 2024 | 40 | 48% |
| 2023 | 5 | 33% |
| 2022 | 7 | 14% |
| 2021 | 6 | 11% |
| 2020 | 25 | 21% |
| 2019 | 32 | 21% |
| 2018 | 31 | 16% |
| 2017 | 34 | 13% |
| 2016 | 73 | 19% |
| 2015 | 68 | 15% |
| 2014 | 11 | 3% |
| 2013 | 18 | 7% |
| 2012 | 21 | 4% |
| 2011 | 24 | 5% |
| 2010 | 11 | 4% |
| 2009 | 7 | 4% |
| 2008 | 15 | 4% |
| 2007 | 33 | 5% |
| 2006 | 31 | 7% |
| 2005 | 225 | 32% |
| 2004 | 3 | 3% |
| 2003 | 10 | 7% |
| 2002 | 9 | 8% |
| 2001 | 10 | 6% |
| 2000 | 17 | 5% |
| 1999 | 10 | 5% |
| 1998 | 12 | 5% |
| 1997 | 8 | 5% |
| 1996 | 11 | 4% |
| 1995 | 37 | 6% |
| 1994 | 22 | 6% |
| 1993 | 31 | 31% |
| 1992 | 29 | 42% |
| 1991 | 31 | 40% |
| 1990 | 35 | 41% |
| 1989 | 46 | 42% |
| 1988 | 56 | 52% |
| 1987 | 17 | 45% |
| 1986 | 11 | 37% |
| 1985 | 3 | 19% |
| 1984 | 9 | 50% |
| 1983 | 3 | 60% |
Other parts of the 2012 Ford Mustang
177 complaintsAir bags
158 complaintsVehicle speed control
35 complaintsEngine
30 complaintsBody and structure
23 complaintsFuel system
22 complaintsOther or unknown
18 complaintsSteering
16 complaintsSuspension
16 complaintsElectronic stability control
12 complaintsBrakes
11 complaintsWheels
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Ford Mustang
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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