Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2015 Ford Mustang owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
"Charge system service now" came on the dash, battery lost power after about 10 seconds, screen went black, dash went black, car locked up, opened the hood and the engine was on fire, called 911 who came quickly and put the fire out without the entire car burning, insurance later total losses the car. I don't know if it was the battery or the engine responsible for the failure, because the flames were on the engine and not the battery, but the incident was triggered by a battery warning. I was on the interstate driving 60mph when the car shut off and everything including my headlights and even hazard lights went black. Not only could I have been struck by a car on the interstate, I could have died in a car fire. Because the car locked up, I couldn't open the trunk or use any electronics. The door could have just as easily locked and trapped us inside a burning car. …
I was driving down the highway with heater on and defrost. All of a sudden I hear a pop and my car started bogging down. I exited the highway to get out of danger, it then had a wrench light ( transmission) pop up and when I parked the car on the access road it started smoking a lot. I turned the vehicle off immediately and when I seen smoke coming from under the hood and into the cab of the car. I lifted the hood after seeing fire in the passenger wheel well. And then in the engine block towards the windshield in the middle of the engine. I am a fire fighter and it appeared to me that the fire was being fed by some kind of substance. Fort Worth Fire department showed up and put the fire out and took a report.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled in the middle of the highway. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated that the engine had been replaced six times since the vehicle was purchased in 2018. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was informed that the engine would be replaced; however, the vehicle would not be replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated and there was an abnormal bump before the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over on the side of the road and noticed oil leaking from underneath the vehicle. The contact checked and saw a hole in the engine block. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the long block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage 109,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the valve cover was engine oil leaking onto the exhaust manifold. There was smoke coming from underneath the hood. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and four new head gasket holes were drilled, and bolts were added. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 55,000.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Connecting rod in the engine. The car is available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I was traveling on a major highway at highway speeds when the engine failed. Luckily there was a wide shoulder on the section of highway I was traveling on. I could not make it to the nearest exit less than a mile away. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes a Ford Dealership Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning messages. …
A plastic clip ("Brake Pedal Bumper") broke and fell out of place, causing the brake pedal to no longer reach the brake light switch. The brake lights now remain illuminated permanently, even with the brakes released. This also caused the engine and transmission to go into "limp mode", the engine no longer revving over 2,000 RPM, the transmission not shifting, and hill-start assist and traction control no longer working, making the car unsafe to drive. The brake lights will remain on even when the car is completely shut off and locked, draining and damaging the battery. It is my understanding that this is a known issue, and there was a recall for this in certain states. (Safety Recall 22S02, Regional Recall 22R01). …
After 5 visits to a Ford dealer, rough idling issue finally discovered and fixed on 5/4/2023. All 4 VCT solenoids were found to have malfunctioned. Issue began 06/2020 and involved car rough idling at stops or stop and go traffic. No codes were shown on dash. During episodes, car might shut off. It would turn on if car restarted again. Vehicle first seen at Ford dealer on 7/3/2020. No issue found. Follow-on visits on 3/11/2021, 10/25/2022, and 3/22/2023 brought no answers to issue. Car left at dealers for 2-5 days at a time.
The little rubber pad that it attached to the brake pedal disintegrated. Without that pad the vehicle goes into limp mode and won't drive over 40. Don't know why the brake switch is connected to other electronics in the vehicle that would make it go into limp mode. Very unsafe while driving on the highway.
The evaporator is leaking and apparently is a known issue from ford and they didn't report this. The evaporator core is leaking and it blows hot air for a good amount. It draws a lot of power form the system and drops the rpm below idling. Forcing me to rev a cold engine so that it does not stall out.
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Hoses/lines/piping/fittings
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles manufactured February 24, 2015, to August 30, 2016. A hose may separate from the engine oil cooler tube assembly causing an oil leak.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil cooler tube assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March 23, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Engine complaints in other Mustang years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2015 Ford Mustang?
NHTSA has 51 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2015 Ford Mustang, 12% of the model year's 438 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2015 Ford Mustang engine problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-779 (hoses/lines/piping/fittings, Oct 26, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2015 Ford Mustang engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 24,000 miles, and 53% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 3 fires and 1 injury to engine & cooling 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.