Vehicles / Ford / Mustang / 2008

2008 Ford MustangUNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION

347 federal complaints (384 component records) · 5 recall campaigns on file · 4 federal investigations · 23 service bulletins · 6 Canadian recalls
See all 45 model years of the Ford Mustang →
Engine
4.0L 6-cyl
Fuel
Premium, Regular
Drive
RWD
EPA economy
16 city / 24 hwy
Federal complaints
347
Recall campaigns
5
Specifications show one example EPA configuration for this model year; other engines, drivetrains, and trims exist and the records below cover all of them.
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.

Fault profile

Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.

Air bags
242
Power train
30
Speed control
19
Electrical system
16
Body & structure
15
Brakes
13
Other
8
Engine & cooling
8
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.

When it fails

The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.

Vehicle age when the failure occurred

0 years old: 29 complaints01 years old: 8 complaints2 years old: 11 complaints3 years old: 11 complaints4 years old: 6 complaints5 years old: 6 complaints56 years old: 12 complaints7 years old: 60 complaints8 years old: 109 complaints9 years old: 59 complaints10 years old: 16 complaints1011 years old: 5 complaints12 years old: 4 complaints13 years old: 4 complaints14 years old: 2 complaints15 years old: 1 complaints1516 years old: 0 complaints17 years old: 3 complaints18 years old: 1 complaints19 years old: 0 complaints20+ years old: 0 complaints20+
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 347 of 347 complaints with a usable failure date.

Odometer when the failure occurred

0,000 - 20,000 miles: 46 complaints020,000 - 40,000 miles: 27 complaints40,000 - 60,000 miles: 19 complaints40k60,000 - 80,000 miles: 18 complaints80,000 - 100,000 miles: 9 complaints80k100,000 - 120,000 miles: 8 complaints120,000 - 140,000 miles: 8 complaints120k140,000 - 160,000 miles: 2 complaints160,000 - 180,000 miles: 1 complaints160k180,000 - 200,000 miles: 0 complaints200,000+ miles: 0 complaints200k+
Owner-reported mileage at failure, in 20,000-mile bands. Based on 138 of 347 complaints reporting a plausible odometer (500 to 500,000 miles; unverified).

Known issues

The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.

Air bags

242 complaint records11 crash reports
"TAKATA RECALL. I HAVE NOTIFIED THE DEALER ON TWO TIME AND I'M STILL WAITING FOR ACTION TO BE TAKER TO REPLACE THE AIRBAGS...."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse air bags parts in the directory →

Power train

30 complaint records3 crash reports
"CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 25MPH OR SLIP INTO 3RD GEAR. TOOK IT TO REPAIR SHOP NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION . CAR ONLY HAS102665 MILES . *TR..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse power train parts in the directory →

Speed control

19 complaint records6 crash reports
"I RENTED A 2008 FORD MUSTANG FROM HERTZ. WHILE TURNING A CORNER, THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, AND I HAD TO BRAKE HARD TO STOP IT. THIS ONLY OCCURRED ONCE DURING THE SEVERAL DAYS IN WHICH I DROVE THE CAR. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO HERTZ. *TR..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse speed control parts in the directory →

Federal defect investigations

Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.

InvestigationStatusComponentSubject
EA15001
opened Feb 2015
OPENAir BagsAir Bag Inflator Rupture - led to recall 22V945
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the...
PE14016
opened Jun 2014
closed Mar 2015Air BagsAir Bag Inflator Rupture - led to recall 15V226000
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the...
AQ10001
opened Nov 2010
closed Dec 2015Unknown Or OtherFleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely...
PE08060
opened Oct 2008
closed Apr 2009TiresTIRE VALVE CRACKING
ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE...

Recall campaigns

Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN. Each campaign number links to the federal record.

CampaignComponentSummaryRemedy
17V024000DO NOT DRIVEAir BagsFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana,...Normally free
16V384000DO NOT DRIVEAir BagsFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford...Normally free
15V319000DO NOT DRIVEAir BagsFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2014 Mustang vehicles manufactured April 6, 2004, to June 21, 2014, and 2005-2006 GT vehicles manufactured February 20, 2004, to September 22, 2006.Normally free
21V081000Air BagsFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles.Normally free
08V082000Air BagsFORD IS RECALLING 434,593 MY 2008 MUSTANG VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH ONE OF THE NECK INJURY REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.Normally free

Transport Canada recalls

Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.

RecallSystemUnits (CA)Summary
2021077
2021-02-19
Airbag8,811Issue: This recall is for certain vehicles that had the driver-front and/or passenger-front airbag inflator replaced after a collision or theft. An obsolete airbag may have been installed.
2019005
2019-01-08
Airbag300,898Issue: On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, may eventually degrade the propellant contained in the passenger-front airbag.
2017024
2017-01-12
Airbag155,793On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, could eventually degrade the propellant contained in the passenger frontal airbag.
2016347
2016-07-06
Airbag5,867Ford Canada is conducting a voluntary Safety Improvement Program involving passenger airbag inflators in certain vehicles that were originally sold or ever registered in certain high humidity areas of the United States equipped with Takata...
2015232
2015-05-28
Airbag63,700On certain vehicles, the driver frontal airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment.
Show 1 more Canadian recalls
RecallSystemUnits (CA)Summary
2015052
2015-02-05
Airbag27,516Ford of Canada is conducting a voluntary Safety Improvement Program concerning the driver's airbag inflator on certain vehicles equipped with Takata airbags. Ford will replace the driver's inflator on affected vehicles.

Service bulletins and warranty extensions

Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.

BulletinTypeComponentSummary
22B05 S1
Jul 2023
Air BagsCertain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion and MKZ/Zephyr, 2006-2011 Milan, and 2007-2010 Edge & MKX Vehicles Driver & Passenger Airbag Module Quality Control Inspection REASON FOR THIS SUPPLEMENT • Updated Ranger Technical Information to...
SSM 51536
Apr 2023
StructureFor 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. It is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle identification number (VIN) from a different vehicle.
22B05
Mar 2022
Air BagsCertain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion & MKZ/Zephyr, 2006-2011 Milan, and 2007-2010 Edge & MKX Vehicles Driver & Passenger Airbag Module Quality Control Inspection: Ford Motor Company has determined that some vehicles claimed by dealers as...
TSB 20-2233
Jul 2020
StructureThis article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. Some 2000 and newer Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust.
TSB 19-2026
Feb 2019
StructureSome 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended.
Show 18 more bulletins
BulletinTypeComponentSummary
SSM 47331
Jun 2018
EquipmentVarious vehicles equipped with a 4.6L, 5.4L, 6.8L modular 3 valve engine built on or before 8-Jan-2016 may exhibit symptoms that may include upper end engine noise, rough running, misfire and/or engine damage.
SSM 47201
Mar 2018
EquipmentReplacing the original equipment SYNC/Navigation system with either an aftermarket SYNC/Navigation kit or modifying original SYNC/Navigation parts to provide additional features is not recommended nor supported on any Ford, Mercury or Lincoln vehicle.
SSM 46332
Jan 2017
EquipmentREPLACING THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SYNC/NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITH EITHER AN AFTERMARKET SYNC/NAVIGATION KIT OR MODIFYING ORIGINAL SYNC/NAVIGATION PARTS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FEATURES IS NOT RECOMMENDED NOR SUPPORTED ON ANY FORD, MERCURY OR LINCOLN VEHICLE.
SSM 46085
Sep 2016
Engine And Engine CoolingThe Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB concerns.
14B09
Dec 2014
Air BagsFORD: SOME 2005-2006 FORD GT AND 2005-2008 MUSTANG VEHICLES WILL BE RECEIVING DRIVER AIRBAG INFLATOR REPLACEMENTS. *TA
14B04
Oct 2014
Air BagsFORD: 2005-2006 FORD GT, 2005-2008 MUSTANG, AND 2004-2005 RANGER VEHICLES OPERATED IN FLORIDA, HAWAII, PUERTO RICO, OR THE U.S VIRGIN ISLANDS ARE IN NEED OF AN AIRBAG INFLATOR REPLACEMENT. 06/11/15 *TA.
ASI-44352
Jan 2014
Power TrainFORD: DUE TO VEHICLES, WITH CARBON FIBER CLUTCHES, A CHATTER OR MOAN/GROAN NOISE IS HEARD WHILE MAKING SHARP TURNS, AT LOW SPEED AND IS CHARACTERISTIC OF HEAVY DUTY/RACING TYPE LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL. MODEL 2007-2014 MUSTANG GT500, GT, BULLITT. *PE
TSB-12-7-4
Jul 2012
EngineFORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY: IF BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED OR DEAD, VEHICLES/TRUCKS MAY EXPERIENCE HARD STARTS AND ENGINE IDLE RPM FLUCTUATION AND EXHIBIT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0505, P0506, P2111 AND P2112. *PE
AS-21769
Mar 2011
Electrical SystemFORD: IF THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT LACK OF POWER, SURGE, OR HESITATION WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES WILL OVERRIDE ACCELERATION. *RM
TSB-10-23-8
Nov 2010
Air BagsFORD: 2007-2009 MUSTANG. A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTION MAY BE CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE IN VEHICLES WITH SIDE AIR BAGS. *RM
TSB-09-19-11
Apr 2010
Power TrainFORD: SOME VEHICLES (SHELBY GT 500) MAY EXHIBIT THE FOLLOWING CLUTCH/TRANSMISSION SYMPTOMS: HARD TO DISENGAGE OR ENGAGE 1ST AND REVERSE, HARD TO SHIFT ANY GEAR, VEHICLE CREEPS WITH TRANSMISSION IN GEAR AND CLUTCH PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED WITHOUT BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION. *PE
TSB-08-26-7
May 2009
StructureFORD: VEHICLE MAY EXHIBIT A DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE WATER LEAK IN THE FRONT FLOOR AREA. MAY BE CAUSED BY LOOSE GROMMETS AND/OR SEALER SKIPS AROUND THE COWL AREA, LOOSE A-PILLAR WINDOW WEATHERSTRIP RETAINER. *PE
ASI-08-26-07
Dec 2008
StructureFORD; SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE WATER LEAK IN FRONT FLOOR AREA. THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY LOOSE GROMMETS AND/OR SEALER SKIPS AROUND COWL AREA, LOOSE A PILLAR WINDOW WEATHERSTRIP RETAINER. *PE
20523
Nov 2008
Seat BeltsFORD: AIRBAG LIGHT-PRETENSIONER PIGTAIL KIT AVAILABLE. VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AIRBAG LIGHT WITH B2292 HARD FAULT CODE POINTING TOWARD SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER. REPLACE BODY WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR. *PE
TSB-08-9-2
Oct 2008
Exterior LightingFORD: UN-COMMANDED PERIMETER LIGHTING. VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT UN-COMMANDED PERIMETER LIGHTING FEATURE (HEAD, PARK AND SIDE MARKER LAMPS) DUE TO WATER INDUCED SHORT TO GROUND IN THE DOOR DISARM SWITCH. *PE
TSB-08-9-6
Oct 2008
Power TrainFORD: 4.6L WITH TR3650 MANUAL TRANSMISSION; CLASH OR RASPY FEEL; SHIFTING INTO 2ND AND/OR 3RD GEAR. CONDITION MAY BE MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS COLDER THAN 40 DEGREES F (5 DEGREES C). *PE
19997
Oct 2007
Exterior LightingMUSTANG VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) HEADLAMPS CAN NOT BE RETROFITTED NOR DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS (DRL) ENABLED. *NJ
TSB-07-14-6
Jun 2007
StructureFORD: IN SOME VEHICLES THERE MAY EXHIBIT A DIFFICULT DIAGNOSE OF A WATER LEAK IN THE FRONT FLOOR AREA. *PE

Before you buy this vehicle

A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.

  1. Watch the airbag warning light through a full key cycle.It should light on start and go out within seconds. A light that stays on, or never lights at all, means the system needs attention. Run the VIN for inflator recalls specifically.
  2. Drive it from a dead stop, twice, on a hill if you can.Shudder, hesitation, or a lurch under light throttle is how this vehicle's largest complaint cluster shows itself. Then ask for the transmission service history in writing; repeat repairs are a pattern, not a fluke.
  3. Test the throttle response and the cruise control on an open road.A surge, a hang in engine speed after lifting off, or cruise that will not set or cancel cleanly are the speed-control complaints on this vehicle.
  4. Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 5 recall campaigns on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
  5. Do not drive it home until the do-not-drive recall is confirmed repaired.At least one campaign on this vehicle carries a federal do-not-drive advisory. Confirm the repair with the dealer, by VIN, before taking delivery.
  6. Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.

Parts search directory

The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.

Open the parts directory for this Ford Mustang →