2000 Ford Mustang: problems, recalls and reliability
9 recalls and 331 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (12% of complaints); the 2001 and 2002 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 331 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Drivers side and passenger (front) seatbelts no longer operational. They do not retract and they do not lock in place -- this is a safety issue. We attempted to get them replaced, but our Ford dealer has confirmed the drivers side belt has been discontinued. We have no recourse here.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Feb 2021
“I was making a normal order delivery drop off going off my gps I came to a narrow road where no signs of a dip ahead. Came to a dip ahead that you couldn't tell it was a dip and I wasn't going no more than 11 to13 miles when I was coming over it and my airbags busted out of my steering wheel hitting my hand and my arm leaving burn marks. I couldn't stay on the road so I waited 30 mins before I drove slowly back to my house cause then my tire started going low. *tr”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jun 2020
“As many have said the pass. Side seat belt is jammed up, cannot be used. Even if you spend rime and completely straighten every thing out it works maybe once and jams up again. The complaints are legit. This car has 80,134 miles on it.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Jun 2019
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford mustang. The contact stated that the headlights were dimmed and made it difficult to see while driving in low light conditions. The contact stated that the side amber reflector lights were missing from the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the headlights failed to meet the fmvss requirements. The dealer was not called. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Jul 2018
“Is a big problem shifting in a gear after in first gear starts to sputter and shake believe it's the transmission manual 5-speed also engine overheating and knocking sounds vibrations coming from engine compartment brakes have always been shaky even if applied slowly and softly”Owner report · Power Train · Oct 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford mustang. The contact stated that while driving, there was an odor of fuel present inside vehicle and fuel was discovered to be leaking under the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the fuel filler line had corroded. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 97,000. Updated 04/06/16*lj; updated 05/02/18*jb”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Aug 2015
“The car in front of me came to the stop and so did I but as I hit my brake something blew up in my face and made me put my arms up and I lost visibility. The weird part is they went off at a rolling stop under 3 mph .also last week my car brake switch almost started an electrical fire.”Owner report · Electrical System · Apr 2015
“I have purchased a used 2000 ford mustang and to make a long story short the transmission will not go into gear unless I rev the rpms up very high and I am interested in keeping this vehicle so I looked on line and found this is a very common problem with this car, I have went from site to site, I don't mind paying for the repair if need be, but this is dangerous, I don't want to injury myself or anyone else. I have found there is a problem with the design and needs to be corrected. I would like to know what is the solution and cause of this problem. I want to thank you so much for your time. *tr”Owner report · Power Train · Oct 2014
“Vehicle was parked and turned off. Fire started in engine compartment. Witnesses said it sounded like the car was trying to start itself. Total loss. Damage was worst on the passenger side of the engine compartment centered in the area in front of the wheel. Security camera of incident shows smoke then fire starting at the front passenger side. *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Apr 2014
“Driving down the road at about 45 miles pr hr. The car started banging. I slowed down the noise wasn't as loud. I pulled the car off the road, cut the car off, it wouldn't crank back. The mechanic said they didn't understand since the motor was clean inside and out. I didn't have any service light come on. I have had to replace the motor. *tr”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2013
When filing, owners marked a crash in 57 of these complaints and injuries in 42 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 9 campaigns
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE A PIN SHAFT IN THE SWITCHABLE ELR/ALR MECHANISM THAT IS INCORRECTLY FORMED. IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SWITCHING MECHANISM COULD BECOME NONFUNCTIONAL, PREVENTING THE SEAT BELT WEBBING FROM BEING EXTRACTED FROM THE RETRACTOR. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT MALFUNCTION OF THE MECHANISM COULD PREVENT THE BELT FROM BEING SWITCHED INTO THE ALR MODE. THE ELR MECHANISM IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLIES. ASSEMBLIES WITH JULIAN DATE CODES OF 200 THROUGH 223 ARE SUSPECT AND WILL BE REPLACED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. IF A VEHICLE IS PARKED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE NOT FULLY APPLIED AND NOT IN FIRST GEAR, AS DIRECTED IN THE OWNER GUIDE, AND THE SELF ADJUSTMENT PAWL SUBSEQUENTLY SKIPS ONE OR TWO TEETH, THE VEHICLE COULD MOVE ON SOME GRADES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL AND INSTALL A PLATE OR OVER-BRACKET TO THE CONTROL TO LOCK THE SELF ADJUST MECHANISM IN POSITION FOLLOWING ADJUSTMENT.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
CERTAIN ALFAOTTO COMBINATION HEADLAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: ALFAOTTO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ALFAOTTO AT 626-656-2992 OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.ALFAOTTO.COM.
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE CONNECTION MAY BELIEVE THAT THE QUICK CONNECTOR IS FULLY ATTACHED.
Remedy: UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.
CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
How other years compare
Check your exact Mustang by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2000 Ford Mustang reliable?
NHTSA has 331 owner complaints and 9 recall campaigns on record for the 2000 Ford Mustang. The most complained-about area is air bags (12% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2000 Ford Mustang problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 65,000 miles or less.
Does the 2000 Ford Mustang have open recalls?
9 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning seat belts:front:anchorage. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.