Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 147 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Ford Mustang, and it carries 6 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 37 | 25% |
| Electrical system | 19 | 13% |
| Power train | 15 | 10% |
| Unknown or other | 12 | 8% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 10 | 7% |
| Power train | 6 | 4% |
| Wheels | 5 | 3% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 3% |
| Steering | 3 | 2% |
| Structure | 3 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I took my car to ford and the guy working hit a curb in there own buisness and they had to replace my two tires and rims and I just don’t trust anything because it took them 2 months to fix it , happened like a year ago
NHTSA complaint: Steering
Upon start up the digital cluster remains blank. This happens often now. Th cluster remains blank when this happens until the car is off for over an hour or disconnecting the negative battery (soft reset). While this is
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that upon start the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and the contact was advised that the
NHTSA complaint: Engine
My 2019 Ford Mustang equipped with the 2.3L EcoBoost engine developed a check-engine light, rough startups, engine misfires/rough running, and some engine knocking. The vehicle had approximately 87,453 miles. I took the
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated, causing the engine to overheat. The contact pulled over to the right side of
NHTSA complaint: Engine
2019 Ford Mustang with 3.2 EcoBoost engine has coolant intrusion into the engine thru a defectively made engine block. Diagnosed by the Ford dealer in Hinesville,GA on August 11,2026. Car has 52,731 miles on it and has a
NHTSA complaint: Engine
Engine Failure where a replacement engine is required just after a few months of purchasing the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint: Engine
Coolant intrusion. This particular motor has caused NUMEROUS issues with 2019 & older Ford models, specifically with the 2.3L Ecoboost engines. The Ford Motor Company should recall & replace the engines of all models aff
NHTSA complaint: Engine
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2019 Ford Mustang. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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.
Risk: If the driver exits the vehicle without the transmission being shifted into park, unintended vehicle movement may result, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number
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 Safet
Risk: A blank instrument cluster will not show important information like vehicle speed, fuel or temperature level, or safety system warnings. Driving with an inoperative cluster can increase the risk of a
Fix: Ford has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the Instrument Panel Cluster Assembly (IPC), free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2019. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-733
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, whi
Risk: A rearview camera or reverse light that is disabled reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash. Disabled driver assist features (traction control, forward collision warning, blind
Fix: Dealers will update the PCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 15, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall
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, 2021-2
Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract
Fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number fo
| Reliability | 75 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 69 | good |
| Depreciation | 91 | excellent |
| Performance | 66 | good |
| Efficiency | 45 | below average |
| Safety | 64 | average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 147 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine is the most reported area with 37 of them (25%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 75/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.
AVOIR scores its longevity 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2019 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 65/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.