2020 Ford Mustang Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 2%of 121 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 86,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2020 Ford Mustang, 2% of the 121 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 86,000 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.
“The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that the engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the catalytic convertor and active grill shutter assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11604661, filed 2024-07, 86,000 miles“The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the engine overheated while driving. The contact was able to pull over and the vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was coolant in the combustion chamber, engine block, and cylinder head, and the low-pressure fuel pump had failed. The dealer recommended an engine replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. …”
NHTSA complaint #11623932, filed 2024-11, 86,000 miles“The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving 55-60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone, where the contact was informed that there was no coolant in the vehicle. The contact added coolant to the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the head gasket had failed, causing coolant intrusion into the engine. The dealer determined that the entire long block and the head gasket needed to be replaced. …”
NHTSA complaint #11637761, filed 2025-01, 53,500 milesRelated service bulletins
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- 10236033May 4, 2023Some 2018-2023 Mustang vehicles (non-Shelby GT-350) may exhibit various concerns with the active exhaust system. These may include Exhaust Mode Selection Not Available messages…
- 10225443Oct 4, 2022Some 2018-2022 Mustang vehicles (non-Shelby GT-350) may exhibit various concerns with the active exhaust system. These may include Drive Mode Not Available or Exhaust Mode Not…
- 10210472Apr 22, 2022Some 2015-2020 Mustang Shelby GT350/GT350R vehicles may exhibit a hesitation or surge in the vehicle with no diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) present. This may be accompanied by…
- 10209027Mar 11, 2022Some 2020-2021 Mustang GT500 vehicles may exhibit a lack of power and/or an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P1228. This may be due…
- 10203650Nov 5, 2021Some 2020-2021 Mustang GT500 vehicles built on or before 30-June-2021 may exhibit a no crank/no start with no powertrain control module (PCM) communication condition if the oil…
- 10201586Sep 10, 2021Some 2020 Mustang vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine built on 01-Sep-2020 and through 01-Dec-2020 may experience an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic…
- 10201579Sep 6, 2021Some 2017-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with 3.3L, 3.5L EcoBoost, or 5.0L engines may exhibit stalling, lack of power, low fuel rail pressure and/or DTCs P0087 or P008A…
- 10198613Jun 8, 2021In some of the affected vehicles, the engine's secondary timing chain tensioner may not have been properly activated during assembly, which could result in a timing loss. Timing…
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 2020 Ford Mustang
26 complaintsElectrical system
25 complaintsEngine
25 complaintsOther or unknown
22 complaintsBrakes
17 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
12 complaintsAir bags
8 complaintsFuel system
8 complaintsBody and structure
6 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaintsForward collision avoidance
4 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2020 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