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2010 Ford Mustang: problems, recalls and fuel economy
Air bags are the story of this model year: 179 of the 261 NHTSA complaints name them[1][2]. Every recall in our data is also an air bag inflator recall, so check them before you buy[3][4][5][6][7].
Most reported problems
NHTSA has 261 owner complaints on file for the 2010 Mustang[1]. Of those, 13 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 11 injuries and 2 deaths[1]. These are unverified reports from owners, and one complaint can name more than one part.
By component group, air bags lead by a wide margin:
| Component group | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Air bags[2] | 179 |
| Structure[10] | 17 |
| Power train[11] | 13 |
| Engine[12] | 12 |
| Electrical system[13] | 11 |
| Speed control[14] | 10 |
| Brakes[15] | 10 |
| Unknown or other[16] | 7 |
The air bag group has a median mileage at failure of 42,000 and is tied to 7 crashes, 1 fire, 10 injuries and 2 deaths[2].
What owners describe. We read a small sample of complaint texts for the biggest groups. The counts below are from that sample only, not from all owners.
- Air bags. In a sample of 11 air bag complaints, 3 describe an air bag that did not deploy in a crash, 3 describe one that went off with no crash, 3 describe a warning light that stayed on, and 3 describe recall parts that were not available[2].
- Power train. In a sample of 12, 5 describe hard shifting, grinding or a shifter that would not move[11]. 3 describe lost power, limp mode or a warning light[11], and 2 describe rear axle or differential failure[11].
- Structure. In a sample of 12, 7 describe paint bubbling or peeling on the hood[10].
- Engine. In a sample of 11, 3 describe the engine stalling or shutting off and 3 describe throttle trouble[12].
The other groups have only 10 to 12 complaints each, so we do not treat them as common problems[12][13][14][15].
Recalls
Our data lists five recalls for this model year, and all five involve a frontal air bag inflator. Newest first:
- Replacement inflators (21V081). Dated 2021-02-16[3]. Some Ford inflators sold as replacement parts may explode after long exposure to humidity and heat. Metal fragments could cause serious injury or death. Dealers inspect the driver and passenger air bag modules and replace the module or inflator if needed, free of charge[3].
- Passenger inflator, zone C (19V001). Dated 2019-01-07[4]. The 2010 Mustang is covered if it was sold or ever registered in a listed group of states. The inflator may explode and throw metal fragments. The recall text advises owners not to drive the car until the repair is done. Dealers replace the passenger inflator free of charge[4].
- Passenger inflator, zone B (18V046). Dated 2018-01-11[5]. The 2010 Mustang is covered if it was ever registered in a listed group of states. Same inflator risk, same advice not to drive until repaired, and a free replacement at a dealer[5].
- Remedy pending
Passenger inflator, zone A (16V384). Dated 2016-05-31[6]. It covers 2005 to 2011 Mustangs sold or ever registered in a listed group of states. The inflator may rupture and cause serious injury or death. Owners are advised not to drive until the repair is done. The recall text says parts were not yet available when Ford mailed interim letters on July 15, 2016[6], and our data does not show when that changed. Remedy not yet available according to that notice[6]. - Driver inflator (15V319). Dated 2015-05-28[7]. The driver air bag may take in moisture over time, and the inflator could rupture and throw metal fragments. Owners are advised not to drive until the repair is done. Dealers replace the driver inflator free of charge, and the recall text says the recall began on June 10, 2016[7]. Anyone who got an interim repair under an earlier recall still has to come back for the final one[7].
Several of these recalls apply only to cars sold or registered in certain states, so ask a dealer which ones apply to a specific car. Ford customer service is listed as 1-866-436-7332[7].
Fuel economy
The EPA lists five versions. Annual fuel cost uses the EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices from when the car was new.
| Engine and transmission | City / highway / combined MPG | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 5-spd[17] | 16 / 24 / 19 | $3,550 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl, Manual 5-spd[9] | 18 / 26 / 21 | $3,200 |
| 4.6L 8-cyl, Automatic 5-spd[18] | 17 / 23 / 19 | $3,550 |
| 4.6L 8-cyl, Manual 5-spd[19] | 16 / 24 / 19 | $3,550 |
| 5.4L 8-cyl, Manual 6-spd[20] | 14 / 22 / 17 | $4,850 |
All are rear-wheel drive. The first four use regular gas. The 5.4L needs premium[17][9][18][19][20].
Safety ratings
NHTSA lists its 5-Star Safety Ratings for this model year as not rated for all three listed versions[21][22][23]. That means there is no star score to compare. The air bag recalls above are the main safety information in our data.
Engine and size
The EPA test car list gives these horsepower ratings for the 2010 Mustang:
Size comes from Canadian-market specifications, so US cars can differ slightly. The coupe and convertible share the same outside numbers: 188 in long, 74 in wide, 56 in tall, with a 107 in wheelbase[27][28][29][30]. Curb weight varies:
How 2010 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 616 | 5 |
| 1996 | 286 | 3 |
| 1997 | 214 | 2 |
| 1998 | 305 | 4 |
| 1999 | 272 | 4 |
| 2000 | 395 | 4 |
| 2001 | 249 | 1 |
| 2002 | 166 | 0 |
| 2003 | 231 | 1 |
| 2004 | 130 | 1 |
| 2005 | 868 | 5 |
| 2006 | 575 | 5 |
| 2007 | 615 | 5 |
| 2008 | 347 | 5 |
| 2009 | 181 | 5 |
| 2010 | 261 | 5 |
| 2011 | 466 | 4 |
| 2012 | 469 | 6 |
| 2013 | 271 | 5 |
| 2014 | 359 | 3 |
| 2015 | 438 | 11 |
| 2016 | 379 | 5 |
| 2017 | 268 | 6 |
| 2018 | 196 | 3 |
| 2019 | 150 | 6 |
| 2020 | 120 | 8 |
| 2021 | 55 | 6 |
| 2022 | 50 | 9 |
| 2023 | 15 | 6 |
| 2024 | 84 | 12 |
| 2025 | 19 | 6 |
| 2026 | 8 | 5 |
NHTSA has 261 complaints and 5 recalls on file for the 2010 Mustang[8]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so use them only to compare Mustang years with each other. Nearby years look like this[8]:
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 181 | 5 |
| 2010 | 261 | 5 |
| 2011 | 466 | 4 |
| 2012 | 469 | 6 |
| 2013 | 271 | 5 |
Within 2009 to 2013, 2010 has the second lowest complaint count and ties 2009 and 2013 on recalls. Across the whole table, 2005 has the most complaints at 868, and 2024 has the most recalls at 12[8].
Should you buy a used 2010 Mustang?
The 2010 Mustang has 261 complaints on file, fewer than 2011 and 2012, and most of the weight sits in one area, the air bags[1][2][8]. All five recalls in our data involve air bag inflators, and four of them advise owners not to drive the car until the repair is done[4][5][6][7]. Before buying, ask for proof that the recall work has been completed on the exact car. The 2016 recall notice said parts were not yet available at that time[6]. Outside the air bags, the complaint groups are small, though owners in our samples describe hood paint bubbling and some shifting trouble[10][11]. Combined fuel economy is 19 to 21 MPG on the four lower-power versions and 17 on the 5.4L[17][9][18][19][20].
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2010 Ford Mustang?
- Air bags. 179 of the 261 complaints on file with NHTSA name that group, and structure is next with 17[1][2][10]. In the samples we read, owners describe air bags that did not deploy or went off with no crash, and hood paint bubbling[2][10].
- Does the 2010 Ford Mustang have any recalls?
- Yes. Our data lists five, all for air bag inflators: 21V081, 19V001, 18V046, 16V384 and 15V319[3][4][5][6][7]. Some apply only to cars sold or registered in certain states.
- What gas mileage does the 2010 Ford Mustang get?
- The EPA rates it from 17 to 21 MPG combined[9][20], depending on engine and transmission. The 4.0L manual is best at 21[9] and the 5.4L manual is lowest at 17[20].
- How does the 2010 Mustang compare with 2011 and 2012?
- It has fewer complaints on file: 261, against 466 for 2011 and 469 for 2012[8]. Counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat that as a rough guide.
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 261 owner complaints on file for the 2010 Ford Mustang (13 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 11 injuries, 2 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- 179 complaints name the air bags component group (7 crashes, 1 fires, 10 injuries, median mileage at failure 42,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- Recall 21V081, filed February 16, 2021: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 19V001, filed January 7, 2019: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 18V046, filed January 11, 2018: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 16V384, filed May 31, 2016: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 15V319, filed May 28, 2015: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Ford Mustang model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Mustang, 4.0L 6-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- 17 complaints name the structure component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 50,127). NHTSA vehicle records
- 13 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 16,500). NHTSA vehicle records
- 12 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 64,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 11 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 63,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 10 complaints name the speed control component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 59,150). NHTSA vehicle records
- 10 complaints name the brakes component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 43,086). NHTSA vehicle records
- 7 complaints name the unknown or other component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- EPA rating for Mustang, 4.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Mustang, 4.6L 8-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 23 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Mustang, 4.6L 8-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Mustang, 5.4L 8-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 14 city / 22 highway / 17 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,850. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, C RWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, C RWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 2 DR RWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
- EPA Test Car List, 2010 Ford Mustang with 4.0L 6-cylinder: rated 202 hp. www.epa.gov
- EPA Test Car List, 2010 Ford Mustang with 4.6L 8-cylinder: rated 315 hp. www.epa.gov
- EPA Test Car List, 2010 Ford Mustang with 5.4L 8-cylinder: rated 540 hp. www.epa.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, MUSTANG 2DR CONVERTIBLE RWD: length 188 in, width 74 in, height 56 in, wheelbase 107 in, curb weight 3,999 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, MUSTANG 2DR COUPE RWD: length 188 in, width 74 in, height 56 in, wheelbase 107 in, curb weight 3,750 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, MUSTANG GT 2DR CONVERTIBLE RWD: length 188 in, width 74 in, height 56 in, wheelbase 107 in, curb weight 3,719 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, MUSTANG GT 2DR COUPE RWD: length 188 in, width 74 in, height 56 in, wheelbase 107 in, curb weight 3,602 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov