Most common 2001 Ford Mustang problems
Share of the 249 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Mustang complaints by model year
Best Mustang years: 2023, 2025, 2021. Years to avoid: 2012, 2011, 2015, 1995, 2005. Compare all years →
2001 Ford Mustang recalls (1)
Parking brake › Conventional
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2001 Ford Mustang:
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
On September 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 Ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or…
What 2001 Ford Mustang owners say
Engine & cooling all 43 →
Where it shows how many miles it's digital and it constantly goes off. Smells of gasoline and like something is burning every time drive it. Has a very rough idle and when a /c is on the car has absolutely no power, also burns gas very quick. Exterior head lights lights are dim and I just installed new one yet still dim
I started my car and put it in drive and began to accelerate when the engine raced to 6000 rpms. Put my foot on the brake and the car kept accelerating. I pulled my parking brake and got the same result. I then put my car in park and at that time I was doing about 60 in a neighborhood heading straight for a light pole. I just barely missed the pole but still hit the curb and totaled my car. After turning the key the engine stopped. A mechanic at the collision center looked at my engine and saw that my throttle was stuck wide open. The car is still sitting at the collision center waiting for a Ford representative to come and look at it.
Air bags all 35 →
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 20 MPH with prior braking, another vehicle hit the contact head on, on the driver side. This caused the contact to hit another vehicle on the front passenger side. The airbags did not deploy. The seat belts were worn, but the contact received minor injuries. There was a police report taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed to the dealership. The insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss. There was no inspection to determine if the airbags should have deployed.
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 65 MPH, a trailer hit the vehicle on the rear passenger side. This caused the vehicle to hit a guard rail with the front end. There was braking prior to the impact and the airbags did not deploy. The driver was wearing a seat belt, but minor injuries were sustained. There was a police report taken at the scene. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot where it was deemed totaled by the insurance company. The vehicle was not inspected to determine why the airbags did not deploy.
Fuel & propulsion system all 34 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Ford Mustang. After refueling the vehicle, a fuel leak was discovered underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who discovered that a rubber washer in the fuel system was faulty and needed to be replaced. The washer was replaced and the failure was remedied. While driving at night, the low and high beam headlights were very dim and the driver was unable to see the road. Also, while the vehicle was parked on a incline with the emergency brake engaged, it rolled down the driveway and into the street. The cause of the failures was not determined. Estabrook Ford (3689 14th st, pascagoula, ms) and the manufacturer were notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 64,000.
I was losing a large amount of fuel every time I filled up. The leak starts immediately upon turning on the fuel nozzle. I am also experiencing a check fuel cap warning and a low pressure in the fuel system. This has caused the car to not start and several backfires when it does turn over. There is also fuel leaking directly onto my exhaust pipe at every fill up which could cause a fire. This leak was caused by the plastic cover over the metal filler neck. Moisture and dirt caught in the plastic caused the metal to erode and break a part.
2001 Ford Mustang engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 23 / 18 |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Ford Mustang a good car?
Based on 249 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Mustang rates average: 19% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Mustang at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Ford Mustang?
The engine & cooling — 43 complaints, 17% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the air bags (35) and fuel & propulsion system (34).
How many recalls does the 2001 Ford Mustang have?
There is 1 recall for the 2001 Ford Mustang, the most recent from October 30, 2000 (conventional). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Mustang?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023, 2025 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2012, 2011, 2015, 1995 and 2005. See the full Ford Mustang years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Ford Mustang problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 55,000 miles; 43% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.