2018 Ford Mustang Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH, the overheated engine message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was notified of coolant intrusion into cylinder #1. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the engine in the vehicle was no longer being produced. The approximate failure mileage was 23,000.
Coolant leaking in 3rd cylinder causing engine misfires. The vehicle has less than 50K miles on it and shouldn't be having these issues. The shop quoted nearly $5,000 to fix. Many other mustang owners are having this same issue.
Ecoboost 4 Turbo engine has a known design flaw - coolant channels were placed between cylinders that don't allow them to seal properly and this leaks coolant into the engine eventually causing engine failure. FORD corrected this defect in 2020 but never let customers know. I now have a 5 year old car in immaculate condition that needs a new engine. It doesn't start reliably and I have lost power while driving a few times. I've already spent $1600 on repairs only to find out the issue was the engine and a KNOWN issue that Ford covered up. If I want to repair my car I am responsible for 5K in engine repair. Ford needs to be held liable for this and they should be responsible for replacing my engine.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that the vehicle was shaking at start up. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who informed him that coolant had leaked into cylinder #3, causing the engine to overheat and caused engine damage. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer who confirmed the failure and replaced cylinder heads on all four cylinders. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the purge valve was replaced due to a cylinder #3 misfire; however, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a second independent mechanic, where the fuel pressure sensor was replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced; however, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the fuel injector needed to be replaced due to a cylinder #2 misfire. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
My engine started knocking/ticking at around 6,000 miles, shortly after my first oil change. I was aware of the knocking issies, thanks to numerous youtube videos, before i even recieved my special order mustang so i made sure to use the same oil and filter that originally came with my car. Now the car has 18,500 miles on it, the knocking/ticking is getting worse and worse every year and Ford is calling the problem "normal" and refuses to do any repairs. The car has now been unsuccessfully serviced 3 times and should now be placed under the lemon law.
SO AT COLD START WHEN DRIVING WITHING 1800-2600 I GET THIS RATTLE PISTON SLAP ON THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE. I CHECKED FLUIDS NOT LOW ON ENGINE OIL. ONCE ENGINE GETS HOT ITLL STOP. HOWEVER IT DOES INCREASE IF I ACCELERATE. IT'S BEEN HAPPENING NEXT DAY I GOT MY CAR I REALIZED IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS COMING TO A STOP WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK AND TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT CALLED THREE DEALERS: LANDMARK FORD (LOCATED AT 12000 SW 66TH AVENUE, TIGARD, OR 97223, 503-639-1131), DICK'S MACKENZIE FORD (LOCATED AT 4151 SE TUALATIN VALLEY HWY, HILLSBORO, OR 97123, 844-424-8102), AND SKYLINE FORD (LOCATED AT 2510 COMMERCIAL ST SE, SALEM, OR 97302, 503-581-2411). NONE OF THE DEALERS COULD DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: CAS24128956. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
AT 60MPH ON THE FREEWAY, MY 2018 MUSTANG GT WITH 2,000 MILES ON IT BLEW THE ENGINE. MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE WERE POURING OUT THE EXHAUST PIPES AND FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE WAS VIOLENTLY SHAKING AND SOUNDER LIKE A TIN CAN FULL OF NUTS AND BOLTS. GOT THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER BUT MY WIFE AND I WERE SCARED TO DEATH AS CARS WERE WHIZZING BY JUST INCHES AWAY. ACCORDING TO ONLINE CHAT ROOMS A NUMBER OF THESE ENGINES ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR FAILURES. A BAD BATCH WAS PRODUCED AND FORD SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THEM. I ASKED FORD TO REPLACE THE CAR WITH A FACTORY INTACT VEHICLE AND THEY DENIED THE REQUEST. THEY SAY ALL THAT IS REQUIRED OF THEM IS TO FIX THE ISSUE. I BOUGHT THE CAR AS A COLLECTORS ITEM AND THIS TAKES AWAY ALL VALUE AS A COLLECTORS CAR. I OFFERED TO SPLIT THE COST OF GETTING A NEW ONE AND THEY SAID NO. I HAVE SUFFERED MONETARY DAMAGE ON THE VALUE. IT'S A DANGEROUS SITUATION HAVING THESE ENGINES BLOW UP. I FEEL FORTUNATE TO HAVE MADE IT THROUGH THE ORDEAL ON THE FREEWAY AND ITS AFTERMATH. THE BACK WHEELS COULD EASILY HAVE LOCKED UP AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. *JS
WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD AND WHEN WARM AND RUNNING UNDER 2000 RPM THE ENGINE MAKES A INCONSISTENT TICKING NOISE WHICH CAN BE HEARD WHILE DRIVING AND AT IDLE. THIS ONLY STARTED AFTER THE FIRST OIL CHANGE WHICH WAS PERFORMED WITH THE RECOMMENDED OIL.
CAR HAS A LOUD TICKING SOUND ONCE WARMED UP AND AT IDLE. ALSO OCCURS WHEN RPMS ARE BETWEEN 1500-2000. DEALER TOLD ME IT'S THE NEW DIRECT FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. RESEARCH ONLINE SHOWS MANY OTHER MUSTANG GT OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND FOUND EVIDENCE OF PISTON SLAP AND SCORING. DEALERSHIP WON'T TAKE INITIATIVE TO FIX OR DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM. PROBLEM ALSO SHOWING UP ON 2019 MODELS. FORD KEEPS DEFLECTING THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR CUSTOMERS AND HELP THEM. PLEASE HELP BRING FORD TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM AND FIX THE ISSUE.
AT CERTAIN RPM RANGES THE PISTON CAN BE HEARD SLAPPING THE CYLINDER WALLS, CYLINDER WALL SCORING IS PRESENT AND MAY CAUSE PREMATURE FAILURE OF ENGINE. IT CAN BECOME WORSE DOWN THE ROAD AND CREATE MISFIRES, FROM NO COMPRESSION, ALSO CAN MAKE FOR A VERY LOUD ENGINE KNOCKING NOISE. I HAVE DRIVEN A FEW OF THEM AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SOUND. FORD BUILT THE ENGINES WITH TOO MUCH CLEARANCE BETWEEN PISTONS AND CYLINDER WALLS. ALSO THERE IS A TICKING NOISE AT IDLE THAT FORD CLAIMS IS NORMAL BUT PEOPLE ARE HAVING DAMAGES TO THERE VEHICLES FROM THIS. ATTACHED IS CYLINDER WALL SCORING PHOTOS
PISTON SLAP NOISE FROM ENGINE. TICKING AND THUDDING NOISE FROM IDLE TO 2500 RPMS. CAN HEAR DIESEL TYPE SOUND INSIDE THE CAR WHEN AT IDLE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH CODE P0300 FOR ENGINE MISFIRE. CAR IS 1 YEAR OLD AND HAS OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES. DEALER IS OF NO HELP SAYING ALL THESE ARE NORMAL. MY CAR SHUT OFF WHILE CRUISING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND I LOST CONTROL OF BRAKES AND STEERING AS THEY WERE EXTREMELY HARD TO MODULATE. FORD AND DEALER ARE OF NO HELP IN RESOLVING THESE ISSUES AND I WORRY FOR MY AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY DRIVING THIS CAR.
ENGINE HAS A LOUD TICKING SOUND. SOUND LIKE A SLOW TYPEWRITER. I HAVE A A VIDEO WITH THE NOISE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE. THE DEALER (FIVE STAR FORD, 6618 NE LOOP 820, NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX 76180) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,500.
SIGNIFICANT ENGINE RATTLE BETWEEN 2000-2500 RPM UNDER LIGHT LOAD. RATTLE IS LOUDEST IN THIRD GEAR AT 2200 RPM. SERVICE TECHNICIAN DUPLICATED THE ENGINE RATTLE AND FOUND DAMAGE TO CYLINDERS 5-8 AND SUBMITTED HIS REPORT ALONG WITH PHOTOS TO FORD. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED FULL ENGINE REPLACEMENT. FORD ONLY APPROVED A NEW SHORT BLOCK.
2018 MUSTANG GT WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ENGINE STALLS WHEN SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL (MANUAL TRANS) AT HIGHER ENGINE SPEEDS. FOR EXAMPLE, COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT (WAS TRAVELING APPROX 50MPH) OR WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY (WAS TRAVELING 65MPH AND THEN WAS TURNING AROUND AN OFF-RAMP). HAS OCCURED AT ANY DRIVING SPEED (IF REVVING ENGINE AT FULL STOP, OR WHILE TRAVELING). STALLING DOES NOT OCCUR IF THE TRANSMISSION REMAINS ENGAGED WHILE SLOWING DOWN. IF I SHIFT TO NEUTRAL WHEN THE ENGINE IS NEAR IT'S NORMAL IDLE SPEED (500 RPM AFTER WARM-UP), IT WILL NOT STALL. THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS WHEN SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL ABOVE ~2,000 RPM, AND ONLY AFTER THE ENGINE IS WARMED UP. THE PROBLEM WAS PRESENT FROM THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW. AT 1500 MILES I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY REPRODUCE THE ISSUE TOGETHER WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR. IN SOME INSTANCES, THE ENGINE SPEED WILL DROP BELOW IDLE SPEED AND THEN WILL RECOVER AND NOT STALL. I MADE A RECORDING OF THE CAN BUS TO TRY TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE ON MY OWN, WHICH IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. IT SEEMS THAT THE ENGINE CONTROLLER IS REQUESTING MORE TORQUE FROM THE ENGINE WHEN THE SPEED DROPS, BUT THE THROTTLE WILL NOT RESPOND TO THE REQUEST AND THE ENGINE WILL STALL. NO DTCS OR WARNING LIGHTS WERE GIVEN TO INDICATE THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE. NO MODIFICATIONS WERE MADE TO THE CAR, AND IS IN COMPLETELY 'STOCK' CONDITION.
Trend Over Time
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Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2018 Ford Mustang has 42 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.