Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Ford Mustang owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Takata my car has different manufacturing issues including the convertible roofing it does openly by itself, I got scared and chocked the first time it happened, also the transmission seemed to sent a lower speed to the motor. Airbag didn't explode in a crash. Driving is when it happens.
The paint on the hood starting at the seam on the underside started bubbling like it was rusting underneath and has spread up & around on the top of the hood. The paint is now starting to crack and fall off. I have taken it to Ford dealership collision center and to an independent collision center and both advised the hood needs to be replaced and painted. Both advised this is a known issue and appears to be some type of contamination that occurs when the seam is sealed. The quotes for this repair are for $3400 & $3300. While a 2012, our Mustang has been kept under a cover and only has 24,000 miles on it.
On March 27, 2015, I brought my mustand to Ford because I discovered on the hood of my car, that the paint was bubbling/coming apart from the hood. On April 7, 2015, the Ford dealer repainted my hood. Then, I noticed again but this time, in more than one area of my hood that the paint was lifting off of the hood. I returned to the dealership and contacted Ford motor company but they were reluctant to replace the hood or repaint at no cost. My major concern is that I brought the vehicle in during the "warranty period" as in the manual however, this problem was not corrected since it returned again.
Mustang 2012 gt rust discovered on top and under hood this winter. Very server . It is going to cost 1500-2000 dollars to fix . No guaranty that this will fix problem Ford is aware of this problem and has done nothing to correct it. Out of pocket money for a car that is covered, and garage kept. The car doesn't have a scratch or dent on it. This is very disappointing.
The fan blower motor 2p connector is damage. Mechanic indicate signs of melting and burning on the main harshness which relays the fan, and ac compressor. Also intense chipping of paint on left front quarter panel.
The paint is blistering on the hood. There is no damage. This is a known problem. Ford has issued as service bulletin affecting a number of models and years. A class action law suit has been filed.
I went to the dealer's body shop to get an estimate on repair and was then told that the problem was due to problems with the aluminum/iron contamination during the car assembly and that a new paint job would only be a band-aid. Brought problem to dealer and was told they would document and send to Ford for resolution ... 3 months later I contacted the dealer, and nothing had been done. On the 2nd visit, they documented the problem and said it would be submitted to Ford. The result was that Ford denied the claim because it was beyond the 3 year term. When I researched the aluminum corrosion issue I found that sending a complaint to Ford customer service might elevate the claim, I sent a message to [redacted] at Ford. She was very nice and sent me the contact info for my area's Ford customer service representative, [redacted]. …
After washing my car, I noticed that the paint around the front of the hood was bubbling. I took it to my dealer and they said that the hood is aluminum and the paint has been known to bubble and will eventually start to flake off. Ford has not done anything about it. The only way to fix it would be to replace the hood. This is happening all along the front edge of the hood at this time. My car has 44,000 miles on it, is not driven in the winter and garaged almost every night. It reminds me of the 1989 Mustang I had that Ford ended up having to repaint because of the bad primer. Please make Ford offer a recall on this. After checking their warranty guide, it states that "your vehicle?s body sheet metal panels are covered for an extended corrosion coverage period, which lasts for five years, regardless of miles driven. …
After washing my car, I noticed that the paint around the front of the hood was bubbling. I took it to my dealer and they said that the hood is aluminum and the paint has been known to bubble and will eventually start to flake off. Ford has not done anything about it. The only way to fix it would be to replace the hood. This is happening all along the front edge of the hood at this time. My car has 44,000 miles on it, is not driven in the winter and garaged almost every night. It reminds me of the 1989 Mustang I had that Ford ended up having to repaint because of the bad primer. Please make Ford offer a recall on this. After checking their warranty guide, it states that "your vehicle?s body sheet metal panels are covered for an extended corrosion coverage period, which lasts for five years, regardless of miles driven. …
After washing my car, I noticed that the paint around the front of the hood was bubbling. I took it to my dealer and they said that the hood is aluminum and the paint has been known to bubble and will eventually start to flake off. Ford has not done anything about it. The only way to fix it would be to replace the hood. This is happening all along the front edge of the hood at this time. My car has 44,000 miles on it, is not driven in the winter and garaged almost every night. It reminds me of the 1989 Mustang I had that Ford ended up having to repaint because of the bad primer. Please make Ford offer a recall on this. After checking their warranty guide, it states that "your vehicle?s body sheet metal panels are covered for an extended corrosion coverage period, which lasts for five years, regardless of miles driven. …
Body complaints in other Mustang years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2012 Ford Mustang?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the body & structure of the 2012 Ford Mustang, 5% of the model year's 469 complaints. The component named most often is body (20 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Ford Mustang body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2012 Ford Mustang, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Ford Mustang body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 37,000 miles, and 35% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.