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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
8 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 1
Average Mileage:
30,563 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Ford Mustang drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2012 Ford Mustang Owner Comments (Page 1 of 8)

problem #155

Jan 312024

Mustang

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Recently started having erratic shifting issues. Will downshift randomly out of nowhere while driving. Sometimes will just be stuck in 1st gear and won-??t go anywhere until I pull over and shut off/start up again. Dangerous because I never know when it will do it. Might seem like everything is fine and then all of a sudden, it downshifts and loses power. Rpm-??s rise but car has no power. Have to figure out how to get out of the way. As stated in ford-??s -?? Customer Satisfaction Program 16N02, -?? my 2012 has all the symptoms and I have DTC code P0731 but dealer refused to service my vehicle because it doesn-??t show up with my VIN, even though it-??s a 2012 and I clearly need my Molded Leadframe replaced.

- Fontana , CA, USA

problem #154

Nov 102023

Mustang

  • miles
The transmission down shifted to first gear and the rear tires locked up. Skidding on the highway.

- Ridgeville, SC, USA

problem #153

Mar 242023

Mustang

  • 67,000 miles
The contact owns a?2012 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear and the vehicle's rear tires ceased. Additionally, the speedometer failed. The air bag warning light, the traction control warning light and the check engine warning light were illuminated. The contact used an OBD reader and read the DTC code P0720. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V248000 (Power Train). The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or a dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.

- Williamsburg, KY, USA

problem #152

Nov 132022

Mustang

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The rear end creaks and the 2nd gear grinds and pops out in the manual transmission

- Vallejo, CA, USA

problem #151

Oct 312022

Mustang

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle started to jerk and downshifted. The contact then stated that the speedometer and RPM-€™s started to fluctuate rapidly. All the warning lights were illuminated. As a result, the contact crashed into a metal road post and a tree. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission seized and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed by the mechanic of the NHTSA Campaign Number 16V248000 (Power Train). The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified however, the contact was unsuccessful. The 90,000.

- Biloxi, MS, USA

problem #150

Aug 032021

Mustang

  • miles
The transmission is leaking between where engine and transmission meet and it will not go into gears correctly

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #149

Jul 222022

Mustang

  • 160,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the rear wheels locked up and the speedometer displayed 0 MPH. The vehicle started sliding sideways, causing the contact to almost lose control of the vehicle. The contact was able to veer to the side of the roadway. The contact then pulled into the nearest gas station, parked, and turned off the vehicle. The contact resumed driving; however, the failure reoccurred while driving 40 MPH. The vehicle was towed to an unknown dealer who informed the contact that they could not diagnose the vehicle as the transmission specialist was not available. The contact drove to his residence. The vehicle was towed to a second dealer where it was being diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist as the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V248000 (Power Train). The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

- Wills Point, TX, USA

problem #148

Jun 222022

Mustang

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and shifting into the drive and reverse, the vehicle would no drive forward or move backward. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not notified. The failure mileage was 130,000.

- Liverpool, NY, USA

problem #147

Jun 132022

Mustang

  • miles
Transmission unexpectedly slipped gear while driving at a steady pace in traffic. Caused RPMs to rev high and loud, with inability to control speed suddenly. Had to quickly pull over and turn off car. After waiting a few minutes, was able to restart car and continue driving without issue. This has happened 3-4 times now. Took to my local mechanic who stated there is an issue with a sensor inside the transmission. Spoke to my Ford dealer I purchased the car from, and was informed that this is a known issue occurring with many 2012 Form Mustangs, and they expect a recall to be announced shortly.

- Munster, IN, USA

problem #146

Jul 232021

Mustang

  • miles
car stopped accelerating twice on my mustang 7/23/21.first time on the way to work in traffic and then again when I was going to lunch around 11:30.

- Eddy, TX, USA

problem #145

Mar 162021

Mustang

  • 45,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Ias I was driving on the highway and let off the gas, the transmission downshifted suddenly to a lower gear causing the engine to rev up to 4000 RPM.

- Amarillo, TX, USA

problem #144

Dec 012019

Mustang

  • 17,000 miles
Same as everyone I know high rev lockout, can't shift past 7krpms clutch pedal sticks to the floor. Gears are rough to get into normal. Will hear loud clunking when changing gears sometimes. Car has 35K miles I bought it with 17K miles and the issue has always been there. This needs to be addressed this could cause transmission failure and accidents if it fails on highways.

- Mount Juliet, TN, USA

problem #143

Dec 272020

Mustang

  • 129,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the gear shifter slipped into first gear without warning. Upon restarting the vehicle, the vehicle worked as designed. The contact called gosch Ford temecula (26895 ynez rd, temecula, ca 92591, (951) 699-1302) however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the transmission failed to produce power and the first gear had ceased. The contact stated the failure was similar to NHTSA campaign number: 16V248000 (power train). The manufacturer was contacted however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 129,000.

- Wildomar, CA, USA

problem #142

Jul 062020

Mustang

  • 87,000 miles
While driving the car shifts down into first gear on its own while the dash goes blank and the speedometer stops working. It will also show a wrench light at times.

- Tulsa, OK, USA

problem #141

Aug 222020

Mustang

  • 68,900 miles
Car shakes when coasting between. 2K rpms and 3K rpms car starts to hesitate and only way to stop the shaking is step opn clutch and shift to another gear or step on the gas pedal and after a couple of seconds it will begin to accelerate and shake more aggressively before returning to normal operation without shaking which would be very dangerous if I were to try to match speed while entering a free way or avoiding a potential accident.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #140

Nov 032017

Mustang

  • 75,000 miles
The getrag mt-82 manual transmission in my Mustang has had a history of shifts that take extra effort, clunky shift engagement, and a high pitched whining noise from the drivetrain under throttle application, since I bought the vehicle used 5 years ago. I have had it looked at at a Ford dealer, but they say noting is wrong. The whine is present every time I drive, the other issues are intermittent. In the most odd incident that I had in the vehicle, I was in 2nd gear under throttle and the car began to shake wildly back and forth, with a loud clunking noise coming from the transmission. I'm not sure exactly on the date, a few years ago for sure. I have tried to replicate the effect, and it has happened a few other times in a less dramatic manner, but never quite like that. I am concerned that the transmission will not last the life of the vehicle, and feel it is not very safe. I know that I am not the only person who has had problems with this transmission. Thank you for the investigation.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #139

Dec 102019

Mustang

  • 67,000 miles
Air bag recall and iam having a code for electronic throttle body control issues that should be a recall from what I heard but my local Ford dealer said it wasnt.

- Paducah, KY, USA

problem #138

Nov 112019

Mustang

  • 44,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Mustang. While driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle downshifted to approximately 5 mph. In addition, the wrench icon illuminated. The vehicle was taken to koons Ford (3111 automobile blvd, silver spring, md 20904) where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be rebuilt or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Sandy Springs, MD, USA

problem #137

Jul 102019

Mustang

  • 70,000 miles
When trying to accelerate the car, it sometimes slows down instead of speeding up.

- Alameda, CA, USA

problem #136

Jun 172012

Mustang

  • 35,000 miles
Fyi I can not include the top/roof due to it wont allow me to input the check mark) I baught this Mustang in June 2012, used from Ford here in sioux falls sd, since that time I have asked about the top about the clunking and if they would notify me if any recalls. They only sent one for the passenger air bag, until this week when I received a second notice for the takata air bags from the day I took her off the lot. I wanted to know why my front end suspension is making a clunking sound in front and it's been there since the first day, I even had her looked at to make sure she wasn't damaged, within minutes they came back and said she's fine no problems and why my transmission does not want to shift to higher gears from 1st thru overdrive, she bogs down like there isnt any fuel getting to her engine and she doesn't shift through the gears properly, if I had recieved the recalls it would of been in immediately. My top leaks water when washed so it can cause damage on the inside especially the door electrical systems, yet Ford refused to have the top redone since they feel it's just normal wear yet its happened since the first time I had to wash her. I'm starting to think think Ford has taken advantage of me in this case as I still can not get any updated information on my car and if I can either get the work done or the vehicle replaced, mind you I still owe on her and to be honest I do not want a trade in, I'd rather Ford fix these issues and write off the remaining debt due to negligence for not advising me of these recalls in a timely manner and for bit fixing the issues when the recalls came out. It's quite frustrating to know I've paid over 20000 for a car that they are willfully neglecting to fix and yet I'm to be liable for the debt no matter the possiblity that they are negligent and dismissive of my claims.

- Sioux Falls, SD, USA

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