2002 Ford Mustang: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 118 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (16% of complaints).
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 118 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The fuel pump in my 2002 3.8l mustang stopped working. When I lowered the gas tank to replace it, I found that the plastic part the fuel pump/sending unit sets down into is offset from the hole and the fuel pump/sending unit can not be removed without breaking the part that it sets down into. So not only do I have to replace the pump, I have to buy an entire gas tank since that part comes pre-installed”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Mar 2021
“While my daughter was driving on a in town road she came upon construction, all traffic was stopped because the 2 lanes were down to 1. As she was waiting for traffic to start moving her boot got caught under seat lever (thigh high boots flap got caught) and it made her foot slip from brake, she then bumped into the van in front of her, less then 5mph and both which there was no passenger or anything on her seat airbags deployed destroying her colume. Absolutely no front end damage, no damage to other vehicle, car still runs and seatbelts still work. Having it checked for malfunctions.”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford mustang. While driving approximately 35 mph, the brakes failed when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard and, as a result, the contact rear ended another vehicle. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an undisclosed location. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 70,000.”Owner report · Service Brakes · May 2018
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford mustang. While driving 35 mph, the air bags deployed without warning or impact. The steering wheel and dashboard were damaged due to the deployment. The contact took the vehicle to an auto repair facility where it was diagnosed as an air bag failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 115,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Mar 2017
“My wife was pulling in to the drive way on her way from doing some errands a drive of less than 5 miles and its a rural road where you cant drive more than 30 miles an hour when she smelt like something was burning. She checked the gauges and everything seemed fine and then saw smoke coming off the hood. She only had time to park the car and get off as the whole engine bay got engulfed in flames.the fire fighters arrived and were able to control the fire from spreading but the front half of the car was totally destroyed. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Jul 2014
“While in drive, with the car stopped, the car tries to surge forward by itself. You have to be weary that you keep additional pressure on the brake or the car will burst forward.”Owner report · Engine · May 2013
“Passenger side seat belt has always been slow to retract. Now it will not release at all. Dealer refuses to fix or replace as a defect. Will charge over $500 to fix. The vehicle has never been in an accident, has been taken care of, and has not been abused as the car has less than 83k miles. I thought seat belts were guaranteed for the life a vehicle! *tr”Owner report · Seat Belts · Mar 2013
“While driving at 45 mph the hood separated and flew over the top of the car. Into traffic almost causing a accident. The top panel flew off while the hood remained latched to the car. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Feb 2013
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford mustang. The contact stated that the passenger side seat belt retractor was jammed. The seat belt would not move and the contact felt that it was a safety issue that the manufacturer should repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified. The manufacturer was notified and stated that there were no known similar failures. The failure mileage was 50,000.”Owner report · Seat Belts · May 2012
“The motorcraft fuel filter on my 2002 ford mustang cracked at the seam where the inlet nipple is attached to the body of the filter. Gasoline was spraying out of the crack and leaking on the ground. The wynn filter I purchased to replace it with uses a one piece filter body which is much safer. Has anyone else reported the filters breaking and leaking? *tr”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · May 2012
When filing, owners marked a crash in 19 of these complaints and injuries in 11 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 6 campaigns
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 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 2002 Ford Mustang reliable?
NHTSA has 118 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 2002 Ford Mustang. The most complained-about area is air bags (16% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2002 Ford Mustang problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 45,901 miles or less.
Does the 2002 Ford Mustang have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning exterior lighting:headlights. 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.