2019 Ford Mustang

Photo: Jeremy from Sydney, Australia / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

2019 Ford Mustang: common problems and reliability

· 6th generation

An average Mustang year.

260 owner complaints, most about engine. 6 recalls.

Should I buy a 2019 Mustang?

The 2019 Ford Mustang has 260 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 6 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are engine and electrical system. Owners most often flag air conditioning failure (compressor, evaporator core, switches): very frequent. multiple owners across 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019 model years report ac system failures, some requiring full system replacement with dashboard removal.

Safety record for the 2019 model year

260
Owner complaints
6
Recalls
6
Crash reports
2
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2019 Ford Mustang vehicles (US, public record).

The Year Score compares this year with other Mustang years only. How we score it

Is 2019 a good year for the Mustang?

Across the 30 Mustang model years we track, complaint volume runs from 30 (2023) to 868 (2005). With 260 complaints, the 2019 Mustang sits about the same as the model's median of 271.

These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.

Where owners report problems

engine
79
electrical system
60
power train
50
engine and engine cooling
20
structure
17

Recalls affecting the 2019 Mustang

power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)

Campaign 20V263000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Expedition and 2019-2020 Mustang vehicles. The "Transmission Not In Park" warning message and associated chime duration are shorter than intended.

electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

Campaign 19V076000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Ford Mustang, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. At vehicle start-up, the Instrument Panel Cluster Assembly (IPC) may not function, showing a blank display. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."

power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Campaign 22V382000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Mustang vehicles equipped with 5.0L engines and manual transmissions. The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) may broadcast an unintended faulted signal to the modules controlling the reverse camera, reverse light, and driver assist features, which may disable all of these functions.

back over prevention:software

Campaign 25V442000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.

Show 2 more recalls

back over prevention: sensing system: camera

Campaign 25V572000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

Campaign 26V372000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Ford Mustang, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 19V076. At vehicle start-up, the Instrument Panel Cluster Assembly (IPC) may not function, showing a blank display. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."

What owners report on the 6th generation Mustang

Owners generally view the 6th generation Mustang as a solid, reliable daily driver with strong powertrains, particularly the 5.0 V8, which is frequently described as dependable.

  • Air conditioning failure (compressor, evaporator core, switches)

    Very frequent. Multiple owners across 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019 model years report AC system failures, some requiring full system replacement with dashboard removal.

  • MT-82 manual transmission shift fork failures

    Recurrent. Owners report plastic shift forks breaking, sometimes on new cars from the factory; some suggest replacing with brass units.

  • 2015 model year fit and finish issues

    Recurrent. Misaligned body panels and interior vibrations reported on 2015 models, largely resolved by 2016.

  • Battery drain and electrical issues

    Recurrent. Owners report batteries dropping to 9 volts, parasitic draws, and "deep sleep mode" issues on 2016, 2017, and 2021 models; a Ford technician recommends Motorcraft batteries with a BMS reset.

  • Sync 3 infotainment update failures

    Recurrent. Owners report updates stalling or failing on 2016 models, requiring specific USB formatting, engine running during update, or third-party tools.

Owner insights for the 6th generation Mustang. Read the full 6th generation owner report.

Typical used price

Used Mustang listings typically run $16,180–$35,387.

Other Mustang model years

Compare every Mustang year side by side to see how 2019 ranks against the rest.

Compare the Mustang against its rivals

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