THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WILL GRIND WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST IN SECOND GEAR UNTIL THE CAR IS FULLY WARMED UP. SOMETIMES IT LOCKS YOU OUT OF SECOND GEAR WHEN YOU WANT TO SHIFT INTO IT. A FORD DEALERSHIP HAS SAID THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION BUT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. FIRST AND SECOND GEAR DO NOT WORK THE SAME WHEN COLD AND WARM. FIRST AND SECOND GEAR BECOME ALMOST…
2012 ford Mustang powertrain problems
critical 171 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
171
Recalls
0
Crashes
8
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
WAS DRIVING AROUND 50MPH ON CITY STREETS WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN CAR LOST POWER AND WENT LIMP. WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WAS MAKING A WEIRD NOISE UNDER THE HOOD LIKE IT WAS STRUGGLING. COULDN'T ACCELERATE AND I HAD TO COAST TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND EVERYTHING WAS OKAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE WITHIN A 8 MONTH TIME PERIOD DRIVING AT VARIOUS…
AFTER DRIVING FOR A TOTAL OF 6 HOURS WITH 1 STOP AT A REST AREA AFTER THE FIRST 3 HOURS OF DRIVING, I MADE ANOTHER STOP TO REFUEL. AS I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY AND MADE THE FIRST TURN AT 5-10 MPH, MY VEHICLE MADE A LOUD METALLIC CRANKING NOISE FOLLOWED WITH STRONG VIBRATIONS THROUGHOUT MY CAR. AFTER REFUELING, I RETURNED TO THE FREEWAY. IT SEEMED THAT THE NOISE AND VIBRATION ONLY APPEARS WHEN MAKI…
TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF GEAR AT 1ST AND 4TH GEAR. TRANSMISSION GEARS GRIND AT RANDOM TIMES WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEARS. REQUIRES CLUTCH TO BE PRESSED AT LEAST 1 SECOND TO BE PRESSED AND ADDITIONAL EFFORT IN ORDER TO SHIFT INTO GEAR AFTER GRINDING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GEARS ARE INTO PLACE. MAKES DRIVING UNCOMFORTABLE AND RAISES SAFETY CONCERNS WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO VERIFY THE ISSU…
THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE STARTED WHEN I TRIED TO START IT. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY THE VEHICLE TOOK A FEW SECONDS LONGER THAN USUAL TO START UP. AS I BEGAN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY VEHICLE WOULDN'T SHIFT GEARS OUT OF 40MPH AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO HAVE HIGH RPM. WHEN I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AT A GAS STATION AND TRIED TO START IT BACK UP. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND I HAD TO GET IT JUMPED. VEH…
THE TRANSMISSION DOWNGEARS CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER WHILE IN MOTION. IT OCCURS AT LOW SPEED AND AT HIGH SPEED. ALARMING WHEN TRAVELING ON AN EXPRESSWAY AT 55 MPH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT WAS \DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN HE REALIZED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,700.
PROBLEM: ABNORMAL VIBRATION/NOISE IN STICK SHIFT/DRIVER SEAT DURING DECELERATION: 2012 MUSTANG V6 BASE MODEL (NO ADD ON'S) MANUAL 6 SPEED. PURCHASED NEW. HAD CONTROL ARMS REPLACE WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP DUE TO CREAKING FRONT END (392 MILES ON THE CAR).APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AFTER CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED I NOTICED VIBRATIONS IN SHIFTER AND DRIVER SEAT AS WELL AS RUMBLING NOISES WHEN ON HIGHW…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2012 ford Mustang?
It's a serious issue. 171 complaints have been filed, including 8 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
Some links on this page are affiliate links.