Ford Mustang Complaints (2020)

122 consumer complaints on file.

#11774271October 28, 2026
STEERING, SUSPENSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mechanic confirmed internal steering rack failure. Mechanic also confirmed every front suspension component is loose/makes noise. Mechanic informed me that this specific vehicle model and year is known for this steering rack problem. I did further research after getting an over $10,000 bill and realized that this problem has been recalled but our vehicle is not included because it was only for 2022-2023 (we own a 2020). I also found MANY other people complaining online about the same problem and some of which has exact scenarios as us (all of different model years). One person had a distorted backup camera and the failing steering rack which is what is going on with us. The backup camera was recalled. I have reason to believe there is an electrical problem with the car because most issues we have are electrical. The steering rack is not hydraulic it’s electrical. We have also had the cars internal tire pressure meter reading low/high when it is not. I am concerned about driving the vehicle because the steering could lock up. It is currently making an very loud noise when turning the wheel. I am also concerned about this potentially ruining the suspension. The car does NOT have a message pop up on the screen to notify there’s a problem like the recall for the 2022-2023 mustangs. We have been driving around unaware of such a significant problem because we ONLY have the noise while turning. Based on other people who have talked on forums, some people have commented almost getting in accidents due to the steering locking up at turns and driving into oncoming traffic. One person also noted the same suspension problem along with the steering like us. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance. I spoke with Ford customer service and all they can do is have me take it and pay for an inspection and they can offer to assist with the cost. The representatives were STRICTLY prohibited from referring me to report to NHTSA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11773466October 25, 2026
POWER TRAIN
2020 Ford mustang with the 10 tr80 transmission, failed at 44,600 miles. Just out of the power train warranty of 6 years. I was driving down the road fork in the road I went to the right letting up off the gas and when I went to step on the gas again there was no transmission.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11764473September 15, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Ford has several technical service bulletins on their 10 speed transmission. I have 28,000 miles on my vehicle and need a new transmission. My service manager says that the earlier 10 speeds have issues with some components that are not strong enough, and that current transmissions have been strengthened. He recommended a new transmission rather than a rebuild, because not all of the weaker parts would be replaced with a rebuild. Ford should at least have to pay part of the cost of a new transmission, since their product appears to be defective. Don't have an invoice yet. Transmission on order, but about $9,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11763386September 10, 2026
ENGINE
Vehicle has 396 miles on the odometer. While preparing to back up, with the engine idling , the engine shut off without warning and I had no control of the steering and would not restart when I attempted to do so. This could have put anyone behind me at sever risk or maybe caused an accident should I have been on the highway. The car was towed to my Ford Dealer (Varsity Ford, Ann Arbor, MI) and after inspection they informed the engine had a failure and needed to be replaced and gave me a price of $19,900. No other warning lights or messages prior to complete engine failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758368August 20, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2020 Ford Mustang with the 2.3L EcoBoost engine. The vehicle has a documented history of coolant loss with no visible external leak, consistent with the known coolant-intrusion defect in Ford's 2.3L EcoBoost engines where coolant leaks internally into the cylinders. The vehicle previously threw a cylinder misfire code (P0301) and now shows a crankshaft/camshaft timing correlation fault (P0017). A scan tool confirmed the exhaust camshaft is approximately 18–19 degrees out of correlation. A new variable valve timing oil control solenoid was installed and did NOT resolve the fault, confirming the problem is mechanical — a worn/stretched timing chain. This wear is consistent with the oil dilution and contamination caused by internal coolant intrusion. The problem has been confirmed by an independent service center via scan data. The vehicle is available for inspection. Warning symptoms included the check engine light, a loud rattle on cold startup, and occasional hard/no-start conditions. This is a safety concern because internal coolant loss can cause overheating, cylinder head cracking, and potential engine failure or fire while driving. Repair cost quoted at approximately $2,000. Mileage approximately 54,400.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755854August 10, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I suspect an electrical problem/short is causing my passenger side window to open and close about half an inch uncontrollably. This has been a minor inconvenience but last time it happened, it triggered the passenger door to open when driving. I had to pull over to manually secure the door. Very troubling safety issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754618August 3, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The 10-speed automatic transmission on my 2020 Mustang failed internally at approximately 18,073 miles. The vehicle began shifting harshly at low speeds with an intermittent clunk. While driving, the transmission would slip slightly and then either surge forward or hesitate with a dull thud before engaging. The behavior was unpredictable and worsened over time. No warning lamp ever appeared and no diagnostic trouble codes were stored, so the driver gets no advance notice of this condition. This is a safety hazard when pulling into traffic, turning across an intersection, or merging. When power arrives late, abruptly, or not at all, the driver cannot judge a gap in traffic reliably. An authorized Ford dealer verified the concern on a test drive, confirmed the vehicle failed the CDF clutch cylinder leak test, and documented an internal tapping noise in Drive and Reverse. Fluid level was in spec. The dealer performed Ford TSB 25-2475, which addresses harsh and delayed shifting on this transmission: the unit was removed, torn down on the bench, the CDF cylinder replaced, and the unit reassembled and reinstalled. It did not correct the concern. The dealer's written notes state the concern was still present, the TSB did not cure it, and the transmission has an internal failure requiring replacement. Independent transmission specialists I consulted all recommended full replacement rather than rebuild, citing known problems with this transmission in this model year. Ford has revised multiple technical service bulletins on harsh and delayed shifting for this transmission over several years. My vehicle failed at roughly 18,000 miles, far under the 60,000-mile powertrain warranty limit, but Ford declined assistance because the five-year time limit had passed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751742July 21, 2026
ENGINE
I own a 2020 Ford Mustang EcoBoost with approximately 75,000 miles. My vehicle developed a check engine light with diagnostic codes P0300 (random misfire) and P0301 (cylinder 1 misfire). I also began experiencing white smoke from the exhaust during cold starts. An independent repair shop suspects coolant is entering cylinder 1 due to a possible head gasket failure. They have recommended removing the cylinder head to inspect for cracks, check for warping, pressure test the head, inspect the cylinder walls, and replace the head gasket and related components if no further engine damage is found. The vehicle was properly maintained, and these symptoms appeared unexpectedly.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11749075July 8, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood. The vehicle was unoccupied. The contact inspected the vehicle. The contact stated that the fire was about three inches from the back of the engine, close to the fire wall. The contact used a nearby fire extinguisher and extinguished the fire. The contact stated that upon further inspection of the vehicle, the contact noticed brake fluid on the ground underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, however the diagnostic test had not been completed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the failure was a known failure with the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 41,331.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739282May 21, 2026
POWER TRAIN
My car has always been a little rough on shifting since around 40k miles when I got it. I never really noticed after awhile and never had any problems. No lights flashing or codes no issues with anything under the hood. The other day my trans light popped on, but nothing was wrong the car was still driving fine. I took it in to get looked at the first shop said no codes were popping up and then I took it to another and they said the whole transmission now needs to be replaced. I went to look around and apparently a lot of people have issues with the transmission on the 2020.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736216May 7, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Check engine light came on, car lost power on highway. Car continues to have the same issue after repairs have been made. Ford App says engine misfire, after every repair. Ford mechanics fix spark plugs, coils, electrical. None of which has fixed the issue of stalling on the highway which poses risk of me the driver and others driving on the highway. The only light that comes on is engine light.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736144May 6, 2026
AIR BAGS
My husband was notified via the Ford app that there was an issue with his airbag system. He called the dealership and set up an appointment. We brought in the car to German Ford dealership in Beavercreek on 4 May, where they confirmed that the airbag was bad and needed to be replaced. They confirmed it was the airbag on the drivers side knee. The airbag light did come on, but we were under the impression airbags usually last the lifetime of the vehicle. Thankfully the car warranty covered the replacement, and we just had to pay the deductible. However, had my husband been in a crash that airbag would not have deployed, there is also the chance that the airbag could have deployed randomly while he was driving, which would have caused a potentially fatal crash.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735913May 5, 2026
POWER TRAIN
My vehicle would suddenly downshifted to first, constantly seek for gears, loss of traction from not finding gears, and transmission died at 120k miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11734247April 28, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
IMRC actuator rod broke causing the air/fuel mix to be sporadic. Creating a misfire on random cylinders. Major loss of power and very jerky motions, causing the vehicle to loose control. Luckily it was on an open spacious road. Unfortunately this has been an ongoing problem and there is nobody selling updated parts the electronics will recognize and very difficult to find oe replacement parts, real costly. And may fix the issue for a short period of time. I have a brand new manifold off of a same totaled mustang since Dec 2025 and the same part broke.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11732166April 19, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
My 2020 Ford Mustang Ecoboost has a (P008A) AND (PO18B/PO18C) The fuel pressure fuel system you low and fuel pressure Sensor B is a well documented defects and has a customer satisfaction program 21N10 (or related TSBs). The dealer said there are no recalls under my vin number and vehicle was not repaired. I sent a certified letter to ford March 29, 2026 to Ford Motor Company and I have had no response. 2015 thru 2022 Mustangs have this well known defect. I am not sure why the 2020 mustang has not been issued a recall. It's the same identical part as the other years Mustangs that have been recalled
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11726181March 22, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
I had parked my car in a spot at an office building. As I was about to put the vehicle in park it lurched forward going over a standard curb across a sidewalk and then into the brick wall of the building. The air bag did not deploy. The car lurched about ten feet total before hitting the wall.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11725014March 17, 2026
ENGINE
FAILURE TO NOTIFY/ADDRESS A KNOWN ISSUE DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD Vehicle has been serviced in accordance with Ford’s recommended maintenance schedule by Joe Cooper Ford of Edmond, Oklahoma, since purchase. At service appointment in September 2025, with 59,968 miles – just prior to the 60k mile powertrain warranty expiration – specifically requested a thorough inspection of any conditions that could potentially be addressed under warranty coverage. During that visit, Joe Cooper Ford documented that the “coolant was low (at minimum mark) and dirty” and recommended a coolant system fluid exchange. This finding occurred in the context of the well-documented coolant intrusion defect affecting 2017–2020 Ford Mustangs and other Ford models. When an authorized dealer observes conditions consistent with a known defect during the warranty period, reasonable warranty administration requires disclosure and further diagnostic evaluation, so the customer has a meaningful opportunity to pursue timely repair. By January 2026, at only 61,640 miles, were informed our engine had failed. No such disclosure or evaluation was provided. As a result, we were deprived of a reasonable opportunity to address the condition under warranty prior to expiration. The subsequent engine failure occurred after the warranty period but was directly preceded by these unresolved indicators. Under these circumstances, denial of warranty consideration is inconsistent with the purpose of the warranty and reasonable consumer expectations.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724390March 15, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My backup camera is inverted (mirrored), causing safety concerns.( left is right). I am waiting for the 26C11/NHTSA 26V-123 software patch.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11722612March 6, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE
The vehicle has ongoing engine and turbocharger problems, including loss of power, knocking, and worsening performance. It also has brake‑booster/vacuum issues that cause reduced braking assist and a hard brake pedal. Electrical and software malfunctions occur intermittently, including warning messages and irregular system behavior. These issues create safety risks and have been observed repeatedly. Some problems were confirmed by service technicians, but the exact cause remains unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11719817February 23, 2026
POWER TRAIN
THIS IS A SAFETY RISK: TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LEAKING Oil is leaking hard out of the Transmission oil cooler, that sits underneath the car. This oil is being sprayed onto exhaust system generating oil smoke and potentially a fire hazard, when hot oil hits warm exhaust pipes.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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