2015 Ford Mustang Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2015 Mustang most often write about the rearview camera going blank, frozen or distorted in reverse, and about a small plastic brake pedal pad that crumbles and leaves the brake lights stuck on. Other frequent themes are doors that unlatch while driving, an intermittent right rear taillight, and occasional reports of engine noise, oil loss or sudden loss of power. Many complaints involve low-mileage cars, and several describe symptoms that began gradually and then became constant.

1. 1
   Back-over prevention (rear camera)

   Rearview camera blank, frozen or distorted

   Mentioned in 17 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the screen going blank, black, frozen or showing a dealer-contact message when reverse is selected, sometimes intermittently at first and then persistently. Several say the dealer attributed it to the camera or the deck lid wiring harness, and some report long waits for parts after a recall notice arrived. A few state the symptom returned after a recall repair was completed. Reported from roughly 8,000 to 88,000 miles, with many under 45,000 miles and some present since purchase.

   Recall 25V572000Recall 22V0820002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Put the car in reverse and confirm the camera shows a clear image; ask whether recalls 22V082000 and 25V572000 were completed and whether the trunk wiring harness has been inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Backup camera and trunk brake light do not work due to known flaw in trunk wiring harness design. Wires inside the harness break from opening and closing trunk due to compression. Dealership has repaired once while under warranty by cheaply replacing sections of broken wire and crudely wrapping the entire harness with black electrical tape, however more wires have broken in new locations along the harness. This is a known defect with a technical bulletin published by Ford. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11343732, filed 2020-08, 102,480 miles

   “Rear back up camera works intermittently when shifter placed in reverse. Sometimes it shows distorted images and sometimes it just goes blank with a message on the screen to contact your Ford dealer.”

   NHTSA complaint #11362747, filed 2020-10, 40,000 miles
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Brake light switch pad crumbles, brake lights stay on

   • 75 complaints (17%)
   • median 39,000 mi at 5.6 yrs old (37 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $500 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners report a small plastic pad on the brake pedal arm breaking apart, which leaves the brake lights lit after the car is shut off, drains the battery, and makes acceleration feel weak or cause a limp condition. Complaints describe finding broken plastic pieces on the driver floorboard, and dealers replacing the pad or the pedal assembly. Reported from very low mileage—one at under 2,000 miles—up to roughly 95,000 miles, often on cars several years old.

   Recall 22V0110003 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the car parked and off, look at the brake lights and check the pedal arm pad for cracks or missing pieces; ask whether the pedal bumper has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My battery died and required a jump the next morning. When I began driving, the car was throttling down as I was attempting to accelerate as if the engine was losing power. I didn't feel safe driving so I returned home and notice that my rear lights including the brake light stayed illuminated even when the car was off. I had to disconnect the battery in order to save my battery from draining again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11407782, filed 2021-04, 120,000 miles

   “Vehicle was sitting in driveway. My husband returned from an errand and noticed my vehicles brake lights were on would not turn off, even with the vehicle power off. I found broken plastic pieces on the driver side floorboard. When I researched the problem, results show this is a broken brake light switch pad. Missing this piece makes the brake lights remain on and the vehicle is unable to accelerate, creating a safety hazard.”

   NHTSA complaint #11362640, filed 2020-10, 24,060 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine noise, oil loss and sudden stall or power loss

   • 111 complaints (25%)
   • median 25,500 mi at 3.5 yrs old (75 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,150 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners report loud noises from the engine, oil leaking onto the exhaust or from under the car, coolant odor, and in some cases the engine stalling or losing power with the check engine light on. Complaints describe dealers recommending long block or engine replacement in the more severe cases. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 140,000 miles, including highway driving.

   Recall 16V7790004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check oil level and look for leaks or residue around the oil cooler hose, valve covers and under the engine; listen for ticking or knocking at idle and ask for service records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2015 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled in the middle of the highway. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated that the engine had been replaced six times since the vehicle was purchased in 2018. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11535880, filed 2023-08, 82,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2015 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the RPM's increase rapidly but the vehicle lost motive power. The contact also stated that there was a gasoline odor present inside the vehicle. The check engine and service engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed failures with the fuel tank filler pipe, fuel vapor line, and fuel supply tube. The fuel tank filler pipe was repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11615210, filed 2024-09, 34,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Door unlatches while driving

   • 47 complaints (11%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (28 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners state that a door, often the passenger side, pops open or moves to the secondary latch position while driving at highway speed, and the dash shows the door-ajar warning. Some had the door latch recall performed beforehand and still report the symptom; dealers in some cases said nothing was found. Mostly reported between roughly 55,000 and 97,000 miles, typically at highway speeds.

   Recall 20V331000Recall 16V6430001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the door latch recall work was actually completed on each door, and open and close both doors firmly to confirm they latch and stay latched.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2015 Ford Mustang ecoboost convertible - when driving on the highway over 65mph the passenger door unlatches and a warning signal appears on the dash stating the passenger door is open. I have to either pull over and close the door myself or my fianc puts the window down and pushes the door closed again. This has happened 6 times within the past 2 months. Ford santa monica states there was nothing found under the safety recall 20s30/20v-331.”

   NHTSA complaint #11373593, filed 2020-11, 68,700 miles

   “Was in the passenger seat and noticed the door was not closed while we were driving. We had to stop and keep opening up the door to slam it close again to make sure the door latch was secure and was properly shut.”

   NHTSA complaint #11366157, filed 2020-10, 85,548 miles
5. 5
   Exterior lighting

   Intermittent right rear taillight

   • 52 complaints (12%)
   • median 35,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $700 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2025

   Complaints describe the right rear taillight, turn signal, brake light and hazard function working intermittently or not at all, both while stopped and while moving. In some cases the wiring inside the trunk harness is described as breaking from repeated trunk opening and closing. Reported between roughly 10,000 and 105,000 miles.

   What to check: Have someone operate the taillight, turn signal and brake lights on both sides while you watch, and inspect the trunk hinge wiring for chafing or repairs.

   An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Intermittent function of right rear tail light, including taillight, turn signal, braking, and emergency flasher upon run and during drive. I suspect this is a safety issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11396936, filed 2021-02, 24,000 miles

Buying note. Check that the camera, door latch and brake pedal recalls were completed and test the rearview camera, brake lights and each door latch yourself. A pre-purchase inspection that includes oil leak checks and a look at the trunk wiring is worth doing on this model year.

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.