Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Ford Mustang owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
A new Walmart-brand EverStart Plus 96R, 590 CCA automotive battery was purchased on August 4, 2026, and installed in a 2016 Ford Mustang Convertible. On the evening of September 26, 2026, my family and I drove the Mustang and returned home at approximately 11:00 p.m. The vehicle operated normally. There were no warning signs, electrical problems, overheating, or other indications of a mechanical problem. The Mustang remained parked and untouched overnight. At approximately 2:00 p.m., 15 hours later, on September 27, my daughter came into the room and told me that the car was on fire. Riverside County Fire responded to the scene. Fire personnel specifically asked whether the Mustang had been driven or worked on that day. I told them it had not. The vehicle had remained parked since approximately 11:00 p.m. the prior evening. …
25 mph mild frontal collision caused a fire to start in the door panel as identified by the driver and the fire dept. The fire caused a majority of the cabin to burn and the vehicle to become a total loss in under a minute. Front airbags deployed but not side airbags. Electrical system in left door possibly malfunctioned causing a fire, evident by the fire reigniting every time the fire fighter ceased using the fire extinguisher. Driver was right next to the damaged electrical and was almost hurt by the fire, almost resulting in severe burns or death to the driver had they not escaped the cabin a few seconds before ignition. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others. There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the failure.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that the windows inadvertently rolled down without warning or driver input. The contact stated that it had previously rained and there was water inside the vehicle due to the failure. Additionally, the battery was drained and the vehicle had to be jump-started. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while reversing at an undisclosed speed, the back over prevention camera independently disconnected. The contact stated that he had received notification NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V082000 (Back Over Prevention) in January 2023 in which he presented to the dealer; however, the dealer informed the contact that the notification had expired. The vehicle was diagnosed by the dealer as an electrical shortage; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 17,000.
The heated/ventilated seats motherboard and wiring is under the passenger seat. There is a connector for the ground plug in that is burnt (would be better if you can send a picture of what I am talking about). Went to Ford about it and they were going to charge me $600 to have it fixed. I don't have that much to fix it right now, so now I am worried about a fire starting in my car because of that connector. I checked online and many other Mustang owners (15-17 Mustang models) complained about the same issue. Would like to see about a recall about this.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated the trunk failed to open as needed. The electrical sensors were inoperable. While driving at an undetermined speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond. The TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the A/C unit became inoperative on the driver's side of the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the evaporator core was leaking and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 33,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle began to stall. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the failure was due to the alternator. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken for inspection and the local dealer diagnosed that the third backup light and harness were defective. There were no warning lights on the instrument panel prior to the inspection. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was uncertain if the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000.
Two wiring harness went bad one stated below and the other a back up camera harness which cause safety hazards. a I spoke with Ford Motor Representative reference the issue below and she informed me that the Dealership needs to submit the paper work. I Contacted Wynne Ford,1020 W Mercury Blvd, Hampton, VA 23666, [phone], three times to send the necessary paper work to Ford Motor Company for reimbursement of approximately $278 I paid in March 2020 to replace the 3rd brake light harness. This failed harness caused my vehicle to fail the State Safety Inspection. I had only one return call from [redacted], Service Department Representative, I asked her Dealership to send the paper work to Ford Motor Company. Still I have not received any response from them if they sent the paper work. …
Electrical complaints in other Mustang years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2016 Ford Mustang?
NHTSA has 73 complaints about the electrical system of the 2016 Ford Mustang, 19% of the model year's 379 complaints. The component named most often is instrument cluster/panel (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2016 Ford Mustang electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2016 Ford Mustang, though it has 5 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 2016 Ford Mustang electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 32,000 miles, and 33% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 3 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system 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.