Print this page

2.7

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,049 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.

2013 Ford Mustang engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2013 Ford Mustang:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2013 Ford Mustang Owner Comments

problem #17

Sep 052022

Mustang

  • miles

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

I have a 2013 Ford Mustang V6 coupe with Automatic transmission. I purchased the car Certified Pre Owned through Ken Grody Ford in Carlsbad, CA with Less then ~11,000 miles on it in 2/2014. I have been complaining of a jerk/ knock at ~ 1-1.6 RPM-€™s when idling & driving in stop and go traffic/ off ramps/ on ramps and parking lots - it appears to come from the transmission area. Fast forward to complaining over the years during service intervals ~ 2x a year for for the works service - oil/ lube/ etc, dealer did a Transmission Control Module computer reset & advised to monitor for symptoms in 11/2020. As covid was present, the car wasn-€™t driven much during. However the knock/ jerk between 1-1.6 RPM-€™s has always been present, even returning after the TCM reset. Dealership was notified, and neglected to return calls or follow up. Fast forward to 9/15/2022, after 3-4 wks of calling and leaving voicemails to no avail from the dealership service department manager/ dealership. I set up an appointment for 9/15/2022. On 9/5 & night of 9/14/22, the car instrument cluster lighted up with all notifications, and dashes for the total mileage on the car, orange wrench light - indicating Ford Limp mode, and low fuel popup (car was just fuels 1 hr prior to driving from Costco for grocery) I left and drove up a hill when this occurred as I was going 40-45 miles per hour the speedometer dropped to 0 MPH & the car barely drove beyond 5-15 MPH. I pulled over at the nearest local street from The hill parked the car and powered off the engine. I had a OBDII Tool that indicates: Global OBD FORD. P0720(1 / 1) Output Shaft Speed Sensor Circuit. Severity 2 of 3. I finally heard back from dealer after calling & escalating between 9/15-9/19, once I got ahold of the customer relations managers assistant she said the service manager/ customer relations manager would call back by today 9/20/22. The service mgr states I am out of WTTY & need to cover cost of repair myself. TSB for trans. is attac

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #16

Jul 022020

Mustang 6-cyl

  • 75,000 miles
Speedometer shut off while driving on highway. Then the transmission downshifted and car started to swerve as the transmission RPM went into the red. I had to hit brake to get control of vehicle. The car has under 80,000 miles. I slowed the vehicle down and pulled over to the shoulder. I shut the vehicle off and then checked around vehicle. I then got I. and restarted and all gauges came back on and resumed cautiously to my destination at a reduced highway speed of 45mph rather than 65moh. Luckily no vehicle was behind me or beside me when the vehicle swerved.

- Tipton, OK, USA

problem #15

Jul 182019

Mustang

  • 116,245 miles
While driving my car it went into a "limp mode". it has happened several times but this particular day I was crossing an intersection and my car just lost power. I was almost smashed on each side. A wrench light popped up on my dashboard and the car would not move. I was literally stuck in the middle of the intersection. I had to place the car in park and turn it off for 3 minutes. It started back up but it still does it at least 5-6 times a week. I had the throttle body cleaned and it still does it. I am only the second owner of this vehicle and I take good care of it. I love the Mustangs, but if I would've know of this very serious safety issue, I wouldn't have bought it. I can be driving at 60mph and this will happen. This is very dangerous and frightening. I've read that some previous Ford models have been recalled for this same issue. I don't understand why the Mustangs haven't been. This is unacceptable by Ford. When I called them they just told me to keep my receipts. I cannot believe they are doing this to people.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #14

Jan 022019

Mustang

  • 34,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Mustang. While driving various speeds, the vehicle suddenly sputtered and hesitated. The service vehicle sensor displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The failure continued and the vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the throttle body was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The failure mileage was 34,000.

- Mcallen, TX, USA

problem #13

Sep 032018

Mustang

  • 60,000 miles
After having my car for 5.5 years, it started to shift gears on its own (it's an automatic) and brake/stall when I'm going low speeds. Especially when I'm at a stop light or stop sign, it will not allow me to accelerate (been stuck in middle of intersections about 5 times) even with my foot on the accelerator. The engine does not shut off...so I will turn my car off and back on to get going again. One time I was on the free way with a full tank of gas going 65 mph and my dash board went completely red and speedometer went to zero...the car did not stop until I manually turned if off on the side of the road. Also, it once did the opposite when I was trying to brake before a red light, the car jolted/accelerated forward while my foot was on the gas. I've replaced the air filters, battery, alternator, and engine's wire harness (all at separate times) and the issue remains.

- Hayward, CA, USA

problem #12

Jan 172019

Mustang

  • 156,000 miles
My 2013 Ford Mustang feels as if it drops into 1st gear while at a speed of 40 to 60 mph feels as if the car brakes on its own rpms will go up but speedometer will be on 0 mph. I think the F 150 is having a similar problem and my Mustang does have the V6 automatic transmission

- Collierville, TN, USA

problem #11

Jul 012018

Mustang

  • 84,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Mustang. While driving at low speeds, the vehicle would not accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. In addition, the wrench icon illuminated on the instrument panel and the rpms increased excessively. The vehicle was taken to david mcdavid Ford fort worth (300 w loop 820 S, fort worth, tx 76108, (682) 200-1952) to be diagnosed, but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and informed the contact to call NHTSA to file complaint. The failure mileage was 84,000.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #10

Jul 232018

Mustang

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 Ford Mustang. While driving highway speeds, the vehicle drastically decelerated without warning. The contact had to constantly adjust the speed each time the failure occurred. Westway Ford (801 airport fwy, irving, tx 75062, (972) 584-9033) was notified of the failure. The contact also received recall notices for NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V319000 (air bags) and 18V046000 (air bags). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the parts were not available for the recall repair. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Euless, TX, USA

problem #9

Jun 242018

Mustang

  • 66,500 miles
The electronic throtle body control has to be replaced because the engine accelerator quits working and the engine runs at idle but there is no acceleration when you step on the accelerator pedal. This has happened when I stop at a signal or stop sign and then attempt to continue driving, and I have been stuck in the middle of the intersection on city streets. This has occured about 4 or 5 times in the last month.

- Vero Beach, FL, USA

problem #8

Jul 152017

Mustang

  • 52,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Mustang. While driving approximately 70 mph, the orange wrench warning indicator illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle started to lose acceleration even as the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact had to pull the vehicle over to the side of the road. The vehicle was turned off, restarted after approximately three minutes, and the vehicle operated normally. The contact stated that the failure recurred two days later. The contact mentioned that the throttle body was replaced in January of 2018 by an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was notified and provided case number: Cas-14503496. The approximate failure mileage was 52,000.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #7

Dec 032017

Mustang

  • 72,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Mustang. While driving 10 mph, the vehicle went into limp mode without warning. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home and later took it to capitol Ford Lincoln of wilmington (4222 oleander, wilmington, nc 28403 910-378-3858) where it was diagnosed that the throttle failed. The manufacturer was not aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 72,000.

- Wilimington, NC, USA

problem #6

Nov 212016

Mustang 6-cyl

  • 49,700 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Mustang. While driving approximately 50 mph, the vehicle decelerated and the wrench icon illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over and towed to an independent mechanic who was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and the electronic throttle body was replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the repair cost would be refunded if the failure resulted in a recall. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 49,700...updated 01/04/17

- 1070 E Adam St, FL, USA

problem #5

Oct 042016

Mustang

  • 25,000 miles
Electronic throttle body failure caused car to go into "limp home mode" (5 mph) while driving forward at normal speed of 45 mph in traffic on a city street.

- Longwood, FL, USA

problem #4

Mar 182016

Mustang 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Mustang. While accelerating, the vehicle was at full throttle even when the accelerator pedal was not depressed. The contact stated that the throttle was stuck at full throttle and would eventually decrease after a few seconds. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred three times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing, but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000. The VIN was not available. Updated 12/13/16 updated 1219/16.

- Mountain Center, CA, USA

problem #3

May 072015

Mustang

  • 9,000 miles
Cannot shift from forth to fifth in my car and 2nd gear experiences a lock out / missed shift and will not go in to 2nd. Bad transmission and syncro. Problems

- Brooklyn Park , MN, USA

problem #2

Oct 132014

Mustang

  • 41,185 miles
Vehicle lost power while driving, engine wrench light came on, made rattling noise but still idling. After full shutdown and restart, engine appeared to work fine. Dealer determined throttle body defective, similar to other Ford vehicle throttle body issues which had recent recalls and warranty extensions, however this particular model and year is not covered. $1250 repair bill.

- Hollywood, FL, USA

problem #1

Sep 152012

Mustang 6-cyl

  • 3,210 miles
Incident: While waiting in the left turn lane for the left turn light to turn green I had my foot on the brake. I was behind another left turning vehicle. When the light changed I took my foot off the brake so to apply pressure on the accelerator. However, before I put my foot on the accelerator the vehicle lunged forward. Fortunately, I was able to reapply brake and the car stopped. This took place on level ground on South bound highway 19 at henry St. In kona.

- Pittsburg, CA, USA

Not what you are looking for?