2013 Ford Mustang Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2013 Mustang most often write about two things: airbag recall notices and related frustration with getting the inflator replaced, and rough or blocked shifting in the manual and automatic transmissions. A second cluster of complaints describes the car dropping into limp mode or refusing to accelerate, often tied to the electronic throttle body or to a transmission lead frame fault. Reported mileages range widely, from a few hundred miles on new cars to well past 100,000.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Loss of acceleration and limp mode (throttle body)

   • 43 complaints (16%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 5.2 yrs old (37 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2024

   Complaints describe the car suddenly failing to respond to the accelerator, sometimes at low speed in traffic and sometimes at highway speed, with the wrench light illuminating and the engine revving without the car moving. Owners often say restarting the car restores normal operation temporarily. Some report the electronic throttle body was replaced or cleaned, and that the symptom returned afterwards; one describes the throttle as the diagnosed cause. Reported from about 9,000 to over 110,000 miles, with many cases in the 50,000 to 90,000 mile range.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body has been replaced and whether any P2111 or related codes have been stored; a scan tool check before purchase is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2013 Ford Mustang would lose engine power at highway speed. Would still run very rough, chugging at about idle. After a re-start it would run for a short time and repeat the event. Had the throttle body replace with a new Ford one and the problem returned two weeks later. The wrench light would come on and I would lose power. Very dangerous at freeway travel. Ford says their recall does not apply to mustangs.”

   NHTSA complaint #11192081, filed 2019-03, 111,034 miles

   “I bought a used 2013 v6 Ford Mustang used in august 2019. Almost since the begining I've had a problem with it stalling out. The engine itself doesn't stop running but the car loses acceleration and it does not accelerate when the gas is pressed. This has mostly happened when the car is in motion but has also happened when not moving. It has happened mostly while on city streets. This has today I had a problem with this and the check engine light came on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11359889, filed 2020-09, 117,920 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic transmission downshifts and limp mode (lead frame)

   • 54 complaints (20%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 5.2 yrs old (37 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2026

   Owners of automatic cars describe the transmission shifting on its own, sometimes dropping into a low gear at highway speed while the speedometer falls to zero or the dash goes blank. Some report a wrench or transmission warning light, erratic running, or being unable to accelerate above a limited speed until the car is shut off and restarted. Complaints mention diagnosis of the output speed sensor or the molded lead frame in the transmission, with some repairs quoted around several hundred dollars and others not resolving the problem. Mostly reported between roughly 55,000 and 115,000 miles, often at highway speeds.

   Recall 12V1900001 related service bulletin

   What to check: On a test drive, watch for delayed or harsh shifting and confirm the speedometer and gauges behave; ask whether the lead frame or output speed sensor has been replaced and whether any transmission codes are stored.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Was driving my 2013 Mustang home from my parents house the car didn't want to shift or move even at full throttle stop in the middle of the road shut the vehicle off and restarted it drove home just fine. Went to drive it later that night and again car didn't want to shift nor move but this time I lost my speedometer and all my digital display in the center went blank. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11051746, filed 2017-12, 76,000 miles

   “After having my car for 5.5 years, it started to shift gears on its own (it's an automatic) and brake/stall when I'm going low speeds. Especially when I'm at a stop light or stop sign, it will not allow me to accelerate (been stuck in middle of intersections about 5 times) even with my foot on the accelerator. The engine does not shut off...so I will turn my car off and back on to get going again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11190072, filed 2019-03, 60,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Manual transmission hard shifting and gear lockout

   • 44 complaints (16%)
   • median 53,000 mi at 5.1 yrs old (31 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2026

   Owners of cars with the six-speed manual describe difficulty engaging second, fifth or reverse, grinding when shifting, and being locked out of a gear at higher rpm. Several say the dealer could not duplicate the problem, while others report synchros or the transmission being rebuilt, sometimes more than once. Some mention clutch concerns as part of the same complaint. Often reported at low mileage, many under 25,000 miles, and worse when the car is cold.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the manual gearbox cold and at higher rpm, checking for grind or lockout into second and fifth; ask whether synchros, clutch or the transmission have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Owner of a 2013 Mustang gt premium 5.0 with 6 speed transmission. Have had problems with rough shifting since shortly after buying. Have taken it into my local Ford dealership 2 times so far and made mention of my problems several other times. Ford has been unable to correct the rough shifting with both trips to the service department telling me that they can not duplicate the problem. The rough shifting occurs in 1st-2nd and 3rd gears most of the time, especially in colder temperatures. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10491687, filed 2013-01, 4,666 miles

   “12-9-13 transmission issue brought to Ford deale email to Ford: subject: repair order 43617 I would appreciate Ford to have a consideration of the following: 1. I would like to see a new transmission put into this 2013 boss 302 laguna saga with under 6000 miles. 2. Resurface fly wheel. 3. Replacing the clutch and pressure plate. I paid over $66,000k for this vehicle . And for Ford to have the nerve of placing a made in china getrag mt-82 into an american muscle car is in my opinion is despicable.”

   NHTSA complaint #10555436, filed 2013-12, 5,500 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag inflator recall notices and replacement delays

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Many complaints are about the Takata driver and passenger frontal inflator recalls rather than a new failure: owners describe receiving recall notices but being told the parts were not available, or not receiving notices at all. A few describe an airbag that did not deploy or deployed without inflating in a collision. Several say they contacted the manufacturer or a dealer and got no resolution. Reported across a wide mileage range, from cars with very few miles to over 100,000.

   Recall 15V319000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 18V046000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 19V001000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 21V0810001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask the seller for proof that the driver and passenger inflator recalls were completed, and confirm by VIN with a dealer; open recalls can still be repaired at no cost.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall I have not received the recall letters from Ford and have contacted them and cannot get the letter that apparently went out in july 2015. I am the original owner of the car purchased in january 2013. They have said this is my problem as I must not have it registered correctly with my states dmv. In contacting the dmv, they have said the car is and has been registered correctly. How can I get Ford to send me the letters and make sure the future letters come to me. I have not changed addresses since 1992.”

   NHTSA complaint #10855604, filed 2016-04, 20,900 miles

   “Turned vehicle to the left out of a driveway, pressed on accelerator pedal to shift from 1st to 2nd, back end fishtailed, shifted into neutral to try to decrease the spin of the tires, pumped the brakes, over corrected and hit a parked vehicle at between 15 to 20 miles per hour. Only one person in my vehicle and the other car was parked no one in vehicle. Drivers airbag didn't deploy from the impact.”

   NHTSA complaint #10667236, filed 2014-12, 8,800 miles
5. 5
   Steering

   Electronic power steering assist cutting out

   • 11 complaints (4%)
   • median 42,000 mi at 5.3 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2025

   Owners describe the power steering assist dropping out without warning, leaving steering heavy or locked, often during low-speed turning or parking maneuvers and sometimes at highway speed. Several say the condition clears after restarting the car, and some report a power steering malfunction message. Complaints note the steering wheel becoming difficult or impossible to turn. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 118,000 miles, with some mentions of cold weather.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: During a test drive, turn the wheel through full lock at low speed with the engine running and listen for assist drop-out or warning messages; ask whether the steering gear or its connectors have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My Mustang has the same exact same problem with the steering as the fusion and taurus which are currently on recall..... Intermittent power steering loss due to an intermittent electrical connection in the steering gear...I would like the NHTSA to look into including the 2013 Mustang in this recall.. My Mustang only has 40,026 miles”

   NHTSA complaint #11020977, filed 2017-08, 40,026 miles

   “Without warning my electronic power steering failed. This resulted in the steering shaking and then locking up while I was at highway speeds. I then only had manual steering. When I researched this online, it appears to be a common problem with mustangs of these years and adjacent years.”

   NHTSA complaint #11258710, filed 2019-09, 85,000 miles

Buying note. Check the airbag recall status by VIN first, then have an independent mechanic scan for transmission and throttle codes and drive the car long enough to test the gearbox both cold and at highway speed. Records showing completed lead frame, throttle body or synchro work are worth asking about.

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.