MotorDeets

2011 Ford Mustang: Recalls, Problems & MPG

Here are the deets on the 2011 Ford Mustang: 4 recalls, 466 owner complaints and up to 23 mpg combined.

4vehicle recalls
466owner complaints
20mention a crash
23best combined mpg
2011 Ford Mustang
Photo: IFCAR · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons. Representative photo of this generation; trim may differ.

Recalls

4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.

Airbags Vehicle recall #15V319000 · 2015 · 1,018,622 vehicles

What's wrong: The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that May be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2016. Even if interim repairs were performed under safety recall 14v-802, owners…

Airbags Vehicle recall #16V384000 · 2016 · 1,892,343 vehicles

What's wrong: S. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, Ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford ranger, edge and Lincoln mkx vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford fusion, Mercury milan and Lincoln zephyr/mkz vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford gt vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana,…

Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on July 15, 2016. Owners will…

Airbags Vehicle recall #19V001000 · 2019 · 782,384 vehicles

What's wrong: S. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford ranger and Mercury milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford fusion and Lincoln zephyr/mkz vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina,…

Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2019.

Airbags, Airbags Vehicle recall #21V081000 · 2021 · 1,067 vehicles

What's wrong: These vehicles May be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that May explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021.

1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Airbags, Airbags Equipment recall #21E013000 · 2021 · 249 vehicles

What's wrong: The parts include certain driver-side air bag inflators and/or modules, designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford mustang and mustang gt500. It also includes certain passenger-side air bag inflators and/or modules designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford mustang, 2010-2012 Lincoln mkz, 2010-2012 Ford fusion, 2010-2011 Mercury milan, 2007-2011 Ford ranger, and 2007-2010 Lincoln mkx vehicles. Please see Ford's recall report for the…

Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: Ford will notify dealers that purchased the affected parts, and dealers will provide replacement parts to purchasers, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021.

Most-reported problems

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 17 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.

Transmission & drivetrain200
Airbags125
Engine48
Speed control / throttle39
Steering25
Electrical24
Fuel & propulsion23
Other / unknown15

What owners describe

The 2011 Ford Mustang has 466 owner complaints, ranking #5 of 37 Mustang model years for complaints (1.9× the average Mustang year). Complaints peaked in 2011 (145 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 3 years old, at a median of 22,017 miles. Neighboring years: 2010 (261 complaints, 5 recalls), 2012 (469 complaints, 6 recalls).

Engines & fuel economy (EPA)

EngineTransmissionDriveCityHwyComb.Fuel
3.7 L 6-cylAutomatic 6-spdRear-Wheel Drive193023Regular
3.7 L 6-cylManual 6-spdRear-Wheel Drive192822Regular
5.0 L 8-cylManual 6-spdRear-Wheel Drive172620Regular
5.0 L 8-cylAutomatic 6-spdRear-Wheel Drive182520Regular
5.4 L 8-cylManual 6-spdRear-Wheel Drive152317Premium

Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.

Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2011 Ford Mustang.

eManualOnline Download (PDF), keep forever

Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.

Most $25–$78, one-time
Check 2011 Ford Mustang manual
Mitchell 1 DIY Online access, factory-level data

Pro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.

From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yr
Check 2011 Ford Mustang manual
ALLDATAdiy Online access, factory OEM info

OEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.

From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yr
Check 2011 Ford Mustang manual
Haynes Print book or AllAccess online

Step-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.

Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/mo
Check 2011 Ford Mustang manual

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FAQ

Does the 2011 Ford Mustang have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2011 Ford Mustang, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common 2011 Ford Mustang problems?

Owners have filed 466 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (200), airbags (125), engine (48).

What gas mileage does the 2011 Ford Mustang get?

EPA ratings run up to 23 mpg combined (3.7 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 5 engine and transmission combos.

Where can I get a 2011 Ford Mustang repair manual?

eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.

Other Mustang years

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