FORD MUSTANG · model year

2000 FORD MUSTANG

427 NHTSA complaints, 64 crash reports, and 9 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2000FORDMUSTANG carries 427 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 64 crashes, 10 fires, 50 injuries, and 2 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2000 MUSTANG is air bags:frontal with 25 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (19) and seat belts:front:retractor (16). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 9 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2000 MUSTANG, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

427
Complaints
64
Crashes
10
Fires
50
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

427 filings

Crashes Reported

64 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL25
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP19
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR16
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL15
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE15
PARKING BRAKE12
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION12
AIR BAGS11
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION10
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL10
TIRES10
UNKNOWN OR OTHER9
SEAT BELTS9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE8
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY8

Recalls (9)

00V34900030/10/2000

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. IF A VEHICLE IS PARKED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE NOT FULLY APPLIED AND NOT IN FIRST GEAR, AS DIRECTED IN THE OWNER GUIDE, AND THE SELF ADJUSTMENT PAWL SUBSEQUENTLY SKIPS ONE OR TWO TEETH, THE VEHICLE COULD MOVE ON SOME GRADE

06E04900024/05/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.

99V25000020/09/1999

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE A PIN SHAFT IN THE SWITCHABLE ELR/ALR MECHANISM THAT IS INCORRECTLY FORMED. IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SWITCHING MECHANISM COULD BECOME NONFUNCTIONAL, PREVENTING THE SEAT BELT WEBBING FROM BEING EXTRACTED FROM THE RETRACTO

06E06400017/07/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED

06E05600013/06/2006

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE

08E05000011/08/2008

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND A

09E02500011/05/2009

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES

06E03800008/05/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN ALFAOTTO COMBINATION HEADLAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPM

09E01200007/04/2009

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES

Recent Complaints

20251030CrashPOWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 1965 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle unintendedly reversed on an incline of a parking lot and struck another parked unoccupied vehicle. There was no injury sustained. The contact stated that the vehicle was not designed with air bags. The vehicle sustained fenders, bumpers, and paint damage. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had unintendedly shifted from park(P) to reverse(R). The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000. The VIN was not available.

Mileage: 105,000

20211005SEAT BELTS

Drivers side and passenger (front) seatbelts no longer operational. They do not retract and they do not lock in place -- this is a safety issue. We attempted to get them replaced, but our Ford dealer has confirmed the drivers side belt has been discontinued. We have no recourse here.

20200723SEAT BELTS

AS MANY HAVE SAID THE PASS. SIDE SEAT BELT IS JAMMED UP, CANNOT BE USED. EVEN IF YOU SPEND RIME AND COMPLETELY STRAIGHTEN EVERY THING OUT IT WORKS MAYBE ONCE AND JAMS UP AGAIN. THE COMPLAINTS ARE LEGIT. THIS CAR HAS 80,134 MILES ON IT.

Mileage: 78,854

20200708EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIMMED AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING IN LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE AMBER REFLECTOR LIGHTS WERE MISSING FROM THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO MEET THE FMVSS REQUIREMENTS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

20200627AIR BAGS

I WAS MAKING A NORMAL ORDER DELIVERY DROP OFF GOING OFF MY GPS I CAME TO A NARROW ROAD WHERE NO SIGNS OF A DIP AHEAD. CAME TO A DIP AHEAD THAT YOU COULDN'T TELL IT WAS A DIP AND I WASN'T GOING NO MORE THAN 11 TO13 MILES WHEN I WAS COMING OVER IT AND MY AIRBAGS BUSTED OUT OF MY STEERING WHEEL HITTING MY HAND AND MY ARM LEAVING BURN MARKS. I COULDN'T STAY ON THE ROAD SO I WAITED 30 MINS BEFORE I DROVE SLOWLY BACK TO MY HOUSE CAUSE THEN MY TIRE STARTED GOING LOW. *TR

Mileage: 11

20200627UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I WAS MAKING A NORMAL ORDER DELIVERY DROP OFF GOING OFF MY GPS I CAME TO A NARROW ROAD WHERE NO SIGNS OF A DIP AHEAD. CAME TO A DIP AHEAD THAT YOU COULDN'T TELL IT WAS A DIP AND I WASN'T GOING NO MORE THAN 11 TO13 MILES WHEN I WAS COMING OVER IT AND MY AIRBAGS BUSTED OUT OF MY STEERING WHEEL HITTING MY HAND AND MY ARM LEAVING BURN MARKS. I COULDN'T STAY ON THE ROAD SO I WAITED 30 MINS BEFORE I DROVE SLOWLY BACK TO MY HOUSE CAUSE THEN MY TIRE STARTED GOING LOW. *TR

Mileage: 11

20180609SERVICE BRAKES

IS A BIG PROBLEM SHIFTING IN A GEAR AFTER IN FIRST GEAR STARTS TO SPUTTER AND SHAKE BELIEVE IT'S THE TRANSMISSION MANUAL 5-SPEED ALSO ENGINE OVERHEATING AND KNOCKING SOUNDS VIBRATIONS COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SHAKY EVEN IF APPLIED SLOWLY AND SOFTLY

Mileage: 116,000

20180609ENGINE

IS A BIG PROBLEM SHIFTING IN A GEAR AFTER IN FIRST GEAR STARTS TO SPUTTER AND SHAKE BELIEVE IT'S THE TRANSMISSION MANUAL 5-SPEED ALSO ENGINE OVERHEATING AND KNOCKING SOUNDS VIBRATIONS COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SHAKY EVEN IF APPLIED SLOWLY AND SOFTLY

Mileage: 116,000

20180609POWER TRAIN

IS A BIG PROBLEM SHIFTING IN A GEAR AFTER IN FIRST GEAR STARTS TO SPUTTER AND SHAKE BELIEVE IT'S THE TRANSMISSION MANUAL 5-SPEED ALSO ENGINE OVERHEATING AND KNOCKING SOUNDS VIBRATIONS COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SHAKY EVEN IF APPLIED SLOWLY AND SOFTLY

Mileage: 116,000

20170614AIR BAGS

AS I WAS PULLING INTO A FRIEND'S DRIVE WAY, MY AIRBAGS JUST WENT OFF. THE SEAT BELTS DON'T RETRACT

Mileage: 193,550

20170614SEAT BELTS

AS I WAS PULLING INTO A FRIEND'S DRIVE WAY, MY AIRBAGS JUST WENT OFF. THE SEAT BELTS DON'T RETRACT

Mileage: 193,550

20170610STRUCTURE:BODY

VEHICLE REPORT FILE NO. 15-010497.

Mileage: 1

20151203FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS AN ODOR OF FUEL PRESENT INSIDE VEHICLE AND FUEL WAS DISCOVERED TO BE LEAKING UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL FILLER LINE HAD CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000. UPDATED 04/06/16*LJ; UPDATED 05/02/18*JB

Mileage: 97,000

20150612SEAT BELTS

MY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK.

20141031POWER TRAIN

I HAVE PURCHASED A USED 2000 FORD MUSTANG AND TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR UNLESS I REV THE RPMS UP VERY HIGH AND I AM INTERESTED IN KEEPING THIS VEHICLE SO I LOOKED ON LINE AND FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, I HAVE WENT FROM SITE TO SITE, I DON'T MIND PAYING FOR THE REPAIR IF NEED BE, BUT THIS IS DANGEROUS, I DON'T WANT TO INJURY MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE. I HAVE FOUND THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS THE SOLUTION AND CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

20140420FireENGINE

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WITNESSES SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE CAR WAS TRYING TO START ITSELF. TOTAL LOSS. DAMAGE WAS WORST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CENTERED IN THE AREA IN FRONT OF THE WHEEL. SECURITY CAMERA OF INCIDENT SHOWS SMOKE THEN FIRE STARTING AT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

Mileage: 71,500

20140420FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WITNESSES SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE CAR WAS TRYING TO START ITSELF. TOTAL LOSS. DAMAGE WAS WORST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CENTERED IN THE AREA IN FRONT OF THE WHEEL. SECURITY CAMERA OF INCIDENT SHOWS SMOKE THEN FIRE STARTING AT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

Mileage: 71,500

20130601ENGINE

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 45 MILES PR HR. THE CAR STARTED BANGING. I SLOWED DOWN THE NOISE WASN'T AS LOUD. I PULLED THE CAR OFF THE ROAD, CUT THE CAR OFF, IT WOULDN'T CRANK BACK. THE MECHANIC SAID THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND SINCE THE MOTOR WAS CLEAN INSIDE AND OUT. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY SERVICE LIGHT COME ON. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. *TR

Mileage: 111,014

20121005FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL FILLER NECK LEAKS. THIS OCCURS DIRECTLY OVER THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE OF THE VEHICLE. THE GASOLINE DRIPS DIRECTLY ON THE EXHAUST PIPE UNDER THE BEND. AND NEXT TO THE GAS TANK. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS I HAD A LONG WAY TO GO HOME AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY WATER TO WASH THE HOT PIPES OF FUEL. THE GAS CONTINUED TO DRIP ON THE PIPE MOST OF THE WAY HOME. MY KIDS COULD HAVE BEEN IN THE BACK SEAT IF THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON 2000 MUSTANGS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALLED PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 123,000

20120910FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MY GAS TANK BEGAN LEAKING FUEL BEFORE I DROVE IT IN THE FIRST PART OF 2011. NOT ONLY WAS THE GROMMET CORRODED BUT THE FILLER PIPE WAS LEAKING. I WAS UNAWARE OF THE LEAK IN THE PIPE BECAUSE OF THE PLASTIC TUBE AROUND IT AND WAS LED TO BELIEVE IT WAS EITHER JUST THE GROMMET OR THE TANK ITSELF. I GOT THE GROMMET REPLACED AND THEN THROUGH PROCESS OF ELIMINATION FOUND THAT THE PIPE NEEDS REPLACING AS WELL. THE REPLACEMENT PROCESS WAS SO EASY BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH MUSTANGS FROM '99-'04. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT BECAUSE THE GAS LEAK CAN CAUSE GAS VAPORS TO GET TRAPPED UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND IGNITE EASILY. GAS VAPORS ARE LIGHT BUT STILL HEAVY ENOUGH TO WHERE THEY WILL NOT DISPERSE COMPLETELY FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. GAS ALSO EVAPORATES VERY QUICKLY SO THIS COULD HAPPEN IN THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES TO FUEL YOUR CAR. EVERY FORD/MUSTANG FORUM I HAVE READ INDICATES THAT MUSTANGS TEND TO WEAR OUT THESE TWO PARTS TOO QUICKLY. THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED AND

Mileage: 100,000

Compare 2000FORDMUSTANG to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2000 FORD MUSTANG have?
The 2000 FORD MUSTANG has 427 NHTSA complaints, 64 crashes, 10 fires, 50 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2000 FORD MUSTANG?
Yes, the 2000 FORD MUSTANG has 9 recall(s). The most common affected component is PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 FORD MUSTANG?
The most-complained component for the 2000 FORD MUSTANG is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 25 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR.
Is the 2000 FORD MUSTANG safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.