Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
17–25 mpgcombined; city 14–22, highway 22–32; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$12,990–$19,110U.S. average; Ohio $11,610–$17,070 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2023 Mustang. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Mustang. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Electrical system
5
2
0
0
Steering
5
1
0
0
Service brakes
4
3
0
0
Unknown or other
3
1
0
0
Engine
2
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
2
1
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
2
1
0
0
Air bags
1
1
0
0
Lane departure
1
1
0
0
Power train
1
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
1
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2023 Mustang over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Mustang vehicles repaired incorrectly under recall number 23V727. The brake fluid level sensor may not activate the visual warning indicator when the brake fluid is low. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk: Without a low brake fluid warning light, the vehicle may be driven with low brake fluid, reducing braking performance and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C55. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning November 17, 2025.
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, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
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 the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 for this recall is 25S72.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Ford Mustang vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 24V-493. The secondary steering torque sensor may not be calibrated properly, which can cause the steering wheel to turn side to side against the driver's intentions.
Risk: A steering wheel that turns unintentionally can cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the power steering control module (PSCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S11.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Ford Mustang vehicles. The secondary steering torque sensor may not be calibrated properly, which can cause the steering wheel to turn side to side against the driver's intentions.
Risk: A steering wheel that turns unintentionally can cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the power steering control module (PSCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S44.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Mustang vehicles. The brake fluid level sensor may not activate the visual warning indicator when the brake fluid is low. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk: Without a low brake fluid warning light, the vehicle may be driven with low brake fluid, reducing braking performance and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C35.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 F-150, Mustang, Explorer, Bronco, and 2023 Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The transmission may contain a loose bolt which could prevent the transmission from engaging the park gear, although the gear shifter position may indicate that the vehicle has been shifted to "PARK."
Risk: The inability to secure the vehicle in the park position can result in a rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transmissions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S06.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 71 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2023 Mustang, the latest on Sep 22, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: unknown or other (25), power train (22), equipment (13), electrical system (12), back over prevention (3).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2023 Mustang.
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: subcompact cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 3–5 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Mustang Rear-Wheel Drive
2.3 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic 10-spd
Regular Gasoline
22 / 32 / 25
Mustang Rear-Wheel Drive
2.3 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
21 / 29 / 24
Mustang Rear-Wheel Drive
2.3 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S10)
Regular Gasoline
21 / 31 / 24
Mustang Rear-Wheel Drive
2.3 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S10)
Regular Gasoline
20 / 28 / 23
Mustang Rear-Wheel Drive
2.3 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic 10-spd
Regular Gasoline
20 / 28 / 23
Mustang Rear-Wheel Drive
2.3 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
20 / 27 / 23
Mustang Rear-Wheel Drive
5.0 L, 8 cyl
Automatic (S10)
Regular Gasoline
15 / 24 / 19
Mustang Rear-Wheel Drive
5.0 L, 8 cyl
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
15 / 24 / 18
Mustang Rear-Wheel Drive
5.0 L, 8 cyl
Automatic (S10)
Regular Gasoline
15 / 23 / 18
Mustang HO Rear-Wheel Drive
2.3 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S10)
Regular Gasoline
20 / 27 / 23
Mustang HO Rear-Wheel Drive
2.3 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
20 / 27 / 22
Mustang HO Rear-Wheel Drive
2.3 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S10)
Regular Gasoline
19 / 26 / 22
Mustang HO Rear-Wheel Drive
2.3 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
19 / 25 / 21
Mustang Mach 1 Rear-Wheel Drive
5.0 L, 8 cyl
Automatic (S10)
Regular Gasoline
15 / 23 / 18
Mustang Mach 1 Rear-Wheel Drive
5.0 L, 8 cyl
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
14 / 22 / 17
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data