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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
30,758 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Ford Mustang Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #34

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 #33

Mar 052013

Mustang 8-cyl

  • 4,122 miles
In 2012 or 2013 I had an accident caused by unintended acceleration. The Mustang ran into the back of semi truck. Unattended acceleration happened twice in the same day and the second time I could not get it to break free and stop until the last second but it was too late it hit the semi truck trailer in front of me. This was inspite of me having both feet pushing strongly on the brake pedal. We had started off slowly from a red light and then the car downshifted and took off. Southwest Ford in weatherford, tx had called the Ford engineer to come look at it. It took a month for him to come. He looked at it in its banged up shape and declared that there was no problem. When I got the car back something had changed. It seemed like the software had been changed because it never had the problem again and whenever the brake was touched it would kill any acceleration immediately. Also I lost about 3 miles per gallon till this day. The engineer blamed me when he obviously updated the software. Also the very next day after the engineers visit Ford was hit with a class action lawsuit for just this reported unattended acceleration across most of its models. Not my fault!

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #32

Mar 232019

Mustang

  • 64,667 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Mustang. While accelerating from a stop, the vehicle failed to accelerate and the wrench warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to john bleakley Ford (located at 870 thornton rd, lithia springs, ga 30122, (770) 941-9000) where it was diagnosed that the output shaft speed sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not assist. The approximate failure mileage was 64,667.

- Mableton, GA, USA

problem #31

Mar 072019

Mustang

  • 57,300 miles

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

While accelerating on a public highway the throttle went straight to redline and would not decelerate until the transmission was shifted into neutral and the motor was completely shut off. Vehicle was restarted by setting the key back to run and placing the clutch back in 2nd gear while in motion. The car could have easily injured motorist's had it not been shut down in properly.

- Mountain Home, ID, USA

problem #30

Jun 212018

Mustang

  • 68,000 miles
Crossing lanes on highway car stops accelerating, . car unable to speed up everything else seems to works fine. Check engine light and wrench come on. Had to coast to side of the road park checked engine restarted car operated normally all warning lights off.

- Gadsden, AL, USA

problem #29

Mar 312018

Mustang

  • 80,000 miles
Lost power in my 2012 V6 Mustang. Wrench light came on indicating limp home mode. Was able to pull off to the side of road. Turned engine off and the it was fine for about two miles then cut off again. Restarted again and was able to make it home but the engine light is on. Going to try and get it to the shop tomorrow, but this is a severe safety problem in my mind. Was lucky I didn't get rear ended

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #28

Dec 152017

Mustang

  • 73,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Mustang. While driving 45 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle jerked hard to the left for almost a minute before stopping. The traction control indicator flashed on and off and the ABS engaged. The vehicle was taken to oxmoor Ford Lincoln (100 oxmoor ln, louisville, ky 40222, (502) 426-2500), but no diagnostic failure codes were found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and a case was opened, but no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #27

Feb 062018

Mustang

  • 5 miles
I was driving my car and it just went into a idle mode barely moving a light came on it look like a tool checked in my manual and it was the electronic throttle light I was driving in heavy traffic going to work had to make to were I could turn off the highway barely made it it could of cause an accident I looked up on line and nccc had a petition on the problem with the electronic throttle Ford does not have a recall instead they extended warrant but I onlyhad the car for about 6 months and no extended warranty it has 180,00 miles on it I could of cause an accident I think Ford should replace this its a known fact that the electronic throttle is a problem with Ford

- Malabar, FL, USA

problem #26

Aug 022016

Mustang

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and idled, while the accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact stated that the wrench warning was displayed (power train fault). The contact stated that he used a diagnostic machine and received an unknown code. The vehicle was taken to oxmoor Ford Lincoln 100 oxmoor ln, louisville, ky 40222, phone number: (502) 426-2500 where the failure could not be replicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was not part of the recall but did not offer any further assistance. The failure mileage was 50,000.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #25

Apr 262017

Mustang

  • 23,000 miles
While driving the car lost power and would not respond to pushing the accelerator pedal. The wrench light illuminated and the panel and the engine dropped to a rough idle. I had to activate my flashers and coast into a parking lot. Turned off the motor and restarted the car. Operated normally until I accelerated out of the parking lot. Same condition happen again and I had to activate flashers and turn off the motor and restart the car again while stuck in the road. Operated normally again and made it home. Ran a code scanner on the car and it reported a problem with throttle: P2111 Ford throttle actuator control system ' stuck open.

- Chattanooga, TN, USA

problem #24

Mar 152017

Mustang

  • 18,500 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 that while driving at 45 mph, the electronic throttle control failed. The vehicle was pulled over to the side. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic throttle controller needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 18,500.

- North Palm Beach, FL, USA

problem #23

Feb 062017

Mustang

  • 6,400 miles
When accelerating from a traffic light engine just stops, a wrench light comes on. After a few seconds will start again, few min.later engine light comes on.few min. Will start again. On I-95 was cruising about 70mph and it also did this.almost rearended.

- Boca Raton, FL, USA

problem #22

Jun 272016

Mustang

  • 39,198 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Mustang. While driving approximately 60 mph, the wrench warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle lost acceleration. The contact pulled the vehicle off the road and turned off the engine. Once restarted, the vehicle performed normally. The failure recurred. The dealer diagnosed that the throttle body failed and needed replacement. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 39,198.

- Rosharon, TX, USA

problem #21

Dec 022016

Mustang

  • 17,115 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Mustang. While driving approximately 45 mph and merging onto an interstate, the vehicle failed to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. Also, the gear shifter failed when the contact attempted to shift into fifth gear. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, restarted, and driven to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 17,115.

- Kings Port, TN, USA

problem #20

Sep 162016

Mustang

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a complete loss of power and the maintenance warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic throttle body was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

- Roseville, CA, USA

problem #19

Jul 012016

Mustang

  • 58,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that the vehicle randomly stalled without warning. The contact was able to get the vehicle to restart, but it stalled more than three times afterwards. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no remedy. The approximate failure mileage was 58,000.

- Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

problem #18

Dec 212015

Mustang

  • 7,700 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Mustang. While pulling into a parking space at a very low rate of speed, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration. The vehicle crashed into a pole and a building. No injuries were reported and a police report was filed. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was towed and not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 7,700.

- Riveira Beach, FL, USA

problem #17

Jan 182016

Mustang

  • 59,000 miles
My vehicle constantly goes into limp home mode while driving. Turns off all cylinders except 1 which let's you drive about 5mph. Also while my vehicle is at idle it begins to loose proper idle RPM and nearly stalls until revs back to a higher RPM. After some research I found that the issue is thought to be the throttle body and throttle body sensor. Currently mymy vehicle is at the dealership going through some vehicle diagnostics to figure out the exact problem. They told me it is not covered under the vehicle warranty and I am being charged $145 for the initial inspection and then charged by the hour to fix the problem, I not including parts. My vehicle only has 59,000 miles on it and it's already failing. It appears that numerous people are have this issue and Ford has yet to recall affected vehicles.

- Vacaville, CA, USA

problem #16

May 092015

Mustang

  • miles
Was driving around 50mph on city streets when all of a sudden car lost power and went limp. Wrench light came on and car was making a weird noise under the hood like it was struggling. Couldn't accelerate and I had to coast to the right hand side of the road. Turned the car off and then back on and everything was okay. This has happened 3 times since within a 8 month time period driving at various speeds. Each time I turn the car on & off again and it seems to reset. I've noticed my car hasn't been getting the same city mpg as before. Ive only had this car 2 years, I'm the second owner and this started at roughly 62,000 miles.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #15

Oct 222015

Mustang

  • 18 miles
Wrench light comes on, followed by check engine light. Car goes into fail safe mode, down to about 2 mph; rpms fluctuate dramatically. Happens on the highway, and during normal street driving. Seems to be in the throttle, the same thing as in the recalled Ford Focus throttle plate actuator.

- Metairie, LA, USA

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