NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls and 120 owner complaints for the 2020 Ford Mustang.
8Safety recalls
120Owner complaints
13Complaints citing a crash
5Complaints citing a fire
Data: NHTSA recall and complaint filesUpdated Sep 28, 2026
Recalled components: backover prevention and rearview camera, electrical system, powertrain, brakes, and 1 more. Most-described problem: backup camera problems (18 complaints, 15%). Most-reported area: electrical system (25 complaints, 21%). Includes the Shelby GT350 and the Shelby GT500. Excludes the electric Mustang Mach-E.
8 safety recalls for the 2020 Ford Mustang
Newest first. Summaries are NHTSA's own wording. Open a recall for the fix and the full notice.
The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Risk: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles.
A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles.
The brake fluid level sensor may not activate the visual warning indicator when the brake fluid is low. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk: Without a low brake fluid warning light, the vehicle may be driven with low brake fluid, reducing braking performance and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C35.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Mustang vehicles.
NHTSA listing: MUSTANG. Ford campaign 23C35.
Powertrain
May 27, 2022
automatic transmission · control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
0L engines and manual transmissions. The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) may broadcast an unintended faulted signal to the modules controlling the reverse camera, reverse light, and driver assist features, which may disable all of these functions.
Risk: A rearview camera or reverse light that is disabled reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash. Disabled driver assist features (traction control, forward collision warning, blind spot warning, cross traffic indicator) may increase the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will update the PCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 15, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S37.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Mustang vehicles equipped with 5.
The brake pedal bracket may fracture during sudden stopping.
Risk: A broken brake pedal could affect braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal bracket assembly, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S52.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Mustang vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions.
NHTSA listing: MUSTANG. Components: Brakes; Brakes: pedals and linkages. Ford campaign 20S52.
Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Remedy became available on February 1, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C19.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford F-150,F-250,F-350,F-450,F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles.
The camera may be misaligned to the vehicle and features that are dependent on the camera such as Pre-Collision Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping System, Driver Alert, and Auto High Beam Control may not function as intended.
Risk: If the driver is unaware that the Pre-Collision Assist feature is not operating effectively, they may rely on a system that is not functional, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will perform the Lane Departure Warning System camera alignment procedure, free of charge. This recall began June 17, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S26.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Mustang vehicles equipped a forward-looking camera.
The "Transmission Not In Park" warning message and associated chime duration are shorter than intended.
Risk: If the driver exits the vehicle without the transmission being shifted into park, unintended vehicle movement may result, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S21.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Expedition and 2019-2020 Mustang vehicles.
NHTSA listing: MUSTANG. Components: Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel; Powertrain: automatic transmission, gear position indication (prndl). Ford campaign 20S21.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
Owners have filed 120 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Mustang. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Backup camera problems18 · 15%
Check engine light12 · 10%
Overheating or coolant loss12 · 10%
Misfires or rough running10 · 8%
Jerking, lurching or harsh shifting9 · 8%
Stalling or shutting off while driving7 · 6%
Engine failure or replacement7 · 6%
Smoke or a burning smell7 · 6%
Counted from the complaint text: a complaint counts once for each problem it describes (how we match them). Some complaints describe none of these.
Areas named in complaints
Electrical system25 · 21%
Engine25 · 21%
Powertrain25 · 21%
Brakes17 · 14%
Backover prevention and rearview camera12 · 10%
Air bags8 · 7%
Fuel and propulsion system7 · 6%
Unknown or other22 · 18%
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Ford Mustang recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2020 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2016 Mustang drew the most (68) and the 2020 drew 29.
Owner complaints
2020: 120 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Ford Mustang
Model year
Complaints
2016
377
2017
265
2018
193
2019
149
2020
120
2021
55
2022
49
2023
15
2024
80
2025
17
2026
7
Safety recalls
2020: 8 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Ford Mustang
Model year
Recalls
2016
5
2017
6
2018
3
2019
6
2020
8
2021
6
2022
9
2023
6
2024
12
2025
6
2026
5
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
Tested version
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Ford Mustang 2 DR RWD
Rollover risk 9.3%
Ford Mustang C RWD
Rollover risk 8.1%
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
Ford Mustang GT350R 2 DR RWD
Rollover risk 9.3%
Questions
What are the most common 2020 Mustang problems?
In the 120 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Ford Mustang, the problems described most are backup camera problems (18), the check engine light coming on (12), and overheating or coolant loss (12). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2020 Ford Mustang safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2020 Ford Mustang earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
How do I check if my Mustang has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Ford dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Sep 29, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Sep 28, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: MUSTANG.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.