2013 Ford Mustang Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 48about this part
- Share
- 18%of 271 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 57,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 48 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2013 Ford Mustang, 18% of the 271 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 57,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Loss of power to the engine while driving. When this happens, the service wrench and check engine light comes on. Also, a sort of shuddering noise comes from the engine. When this occurs, I can not accelerate. The car pretty much goes limp and I have to pull over and restart my car. It could be from an electronic throttle body failure. This has happened five times.”
NHTSA complaint #11013322, filed 2017-08, 61,000 miles“Okay, I've had this incident a couple of times already. I was getting off the highway and a wrench icon came on the dashboard, I took it to the Ford dealership where I purchased the vehicle at. The Ford dealership found nothing, and it has happened several more times after I took it. I'm driving and the wrench icon comes on, I have no acceleration, I press the gas and it won't speed up. I have to be pulling over and turning off the car for a few minutes.”
NHTSA complaint #10777882, filed 2015-09, 34,000 miles“Manual transmission has problems going into gear. Synchros are being replaced a second time with less than 60k miles and this car has never been on a race track. There are times when I've tried merging onto a freeway only to find myself not being able to get into 5th gear. Now I'm told my clutch has to be replaced. Something seems wrong. Although a 2013 my car was purchased in 2012 and I imagine has the same parts as those who filed complaints resulting in an investigation of the 2012 Mustang transmissions.”
NHTSA complaint #10983064, filed 2017-05, 53,000 miles“I was unable to shift gears while driving and the service dept advised I had bad synchros and was fixed under warranty. Fast forward a couple of months and had difficulty switching gears from 1st to 2nd had really bad grinding and would take a couple of times to shift. Then, when starting my car from my house, I was unable to get the gear into reverse while the car was on. It just wouldn't go in to gear... Not any gear in fact. I had to turn the car off and put it into reverse and then turn the car on. …”
NHTSA complaint #10860269, filed 2016-04, 40,000 miles“I was shifting my car into 3rd hear and the shifter got stuck causing the transmission to not let me get out of gear this happened in my neighborhood.”
NHTSA complaint #11118840, filed 2018-08, 95,210 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10160931May 10, 2019On vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission it is imperative that the converter pilot hub be greased with Motorcraft Multi-Purpose Grease Spray XL-5-A even if grease was…
- 10148735Oct 25, 2018Some 2011 - 2014 Mustang vehicles equipped with a 3.7L V6 engine and MT82 manual transmission may exhibit a vibration felt in the shifter, and/or the seat track and steering…
- 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…
- 10099463Mar 14, 20172009-2017 vehicles equipped with a 6r80, 6r100, 6r140 automatic transmission have an updated main control valve body overhaul procedure. Refer to workshop manual (wsm), section…
- 10204987Feb 5, 201649 CFR Part 579.5 Monthly Communications - March 2016 Air bag warning light illuminated with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) B141B and/or B141C
- 10204986Feb 5, 201649 CFR Part 579.5 Monthly Communications - January 2016
- 10056928Jul 24, 2014Lincoln/ford: each and every time shifting from park to drive or reverse, a buzzing or growling noise is heard from transmission after being parked then restarted. Model 2013-14…
- 10056040May 6, 2014Ford: provided information regarding the downshifting of 5-3, on some vehicles, exhibiting a transmission squawking noise.
- 10055875Apr 22, 2014Lincoln/ford: after vehicle/truck has been parked several hours, there is a delayed engagement of park to forward or reverse transmission on initial start up. Model 2011-2014…
- 10055062Jan 1, 2014Ford: due to vehicles, with carbon fiber clutches, a chatter or moan/groan noise is heard while making sharp turns, at low speed and is characteristic of heavy duty/racing type…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 13% |
| 2025 | 3 | 15% |
| 2024 | 10 | 12% |
| 2023 | 1 | 7% |
| 2022 | 4 | 8% |
| 2021 | 9 | 16% |
| 2020 | 26 | 21% |
| 2019 | 28 | 18% |
| 2018 | 46 | 23% |
| 2017 | 22 | 8% |
| 2016 | 29 | 8% |
| 2015 | 42 | 10% |
| 2014 | 30 | 8% |
| 2013 | 48 | 18% |
| 2012 | 177 | 38% |
| 2011 | 200 | 43% |
| 2010 | 13 | 5% |
| 2009 | 7 | 4% |
| 2008 | 30 | 9% |
| 2007 | 35 | 6% |
| 2006 | 32 | 8% |
| 2005 | 25 | 4% |
| 2004 | 9 | 8% |
| 2003 | 15 | 10% |
| 2002 | 7 | 6% |
| 2001 | 16 | 9% |
| 2000 | 40 | 13% |
| 1999 | 25 | 12% |
| 1998 | 21 | 9% |
| 1997 | 29 | 16% |
| 1996 | 25 | 10% |
| 1995 | 57 | 9% |
| 1994 | 50 | 14% |
| 1993 | 5 | 5% |
| 1992 | 6 | 9% |
| 1991 | 9 | 12% |
| 1990 | 5 | 6% |
| 1989 | 3 | 3% |
| 1988 | 3 | 3% |
| 1987 | 1 | 3% |
| 1986 | 1 | 3% |
| 1985 | 2 | 13% |
| 1984 | 1 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2013 Ford Mustang
145 complaintsEngine
22 complaintsVehicle speed control
19 complaintsElectrical system
18 complaintsOther or unknown
14 complaintsFuel system
11 complaintsSteering
10 complaintsBody and structure
8 complaintsSuspension
6 complaintsBrakes
5 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaintsElectronic stability control
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2013 Ford Mustang
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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