Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Ford mustang. While driving 10 MPH, the vehicle went into limp mode without warning. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home and later took it to capitol Ford Lincoln of wilmington (4222 oleander, wilmington, nc 28403 910-378-3858) where it was diagnosed that the throttle failed. The manufacturer was not aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 72,000.
2013 Ford Mustang cruise control problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Ford Mustang have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 66,500 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Mustang | 12 |
| 2010 Mustang | 9 |
| 2011 Mustang | 34 |
| 2012 Mustang | 26 |
| 2013 Mustang (this page) | 12 |
| 2014 Mustang | 5 |
| 2015 Mustang | 8 |
| 2016 Mustang | 3 |
| 2017 Mustang | 3 |
When does it fail?
Of the 12 cruise control complaints filed for the 2013 Ford Mustang, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe electronic throttle body failures causing the accelerator pedal to stop responding while driving at various speeds—from city streets to highway. The engine either idles helplessly or the vehicle enters limp mode, capping speed to 5 mph. The wrench warning icon typically illuminates. Failures occur between 34,000 and 84,000 miles, sometimes recurring within days. Some owners get stuck at traffic lights or in the middle of intersections, unable to accelerate.
One owner reported a stuck-throttle incident where the vehicle suddenly raced at full throttle without pedal input, then normalized after a few seconds. Another experienced complete speedometer and gauge dropout on the highway, with the transmission downshifting hard and RPM spiking into the red zone—causing the car to swerve.
Dealers have diagnosed throttle body or lead frame failure as the root cause. Repair costs cited range from $850 to $1,250. One owner reported the dealer noted similar throttle failures had triggered recalls and warranty extensions on other Ford models, but the 2013 Mustang was not included. Ford stated repair would be refunded only if the issue triggered a recall—which has not happened for this model year.
Same Ford Mustang cruise control reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Electronic Throttle Body Failure
Throttle body stops responding to accelerator pedal input, trapping engine at idle or causing loss of acceleration. Occurs across a range of speeds and driving conditions, sometimes triggered at stops or traffic lights. Engine may enter limp mode (5 mph speed limit) without warning.
When: 34,000–84,000 miles; some recurring within days or months
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal depressed but no acceleration response; Vehicle stuck at idle speed; Wrench warning icon illuminates; Engine enters limp mode (limited to 5 mph); Orange wrench warning indicator illuminates; Vehicle may be stranded at intersection or in traffic
Codes mentioned: P0720
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replacement; one owner reported $1,250 repair cost at dealer; lead frame replacement cited as $850 by one owner
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated repair cost would be refunded if failure resulted in recall, but no recall issued for this model year. Manufacturer advised one contact to file NHTSA complaint. Similar recalls and warranty extensions issued for other Ford vehicles with throttle body issues, but 2013 Mustang not covered.
Stuck Throttle (Full-Throttle Condition)
Throttle becomes stuck at full throttle even when accelerator pedal is not depressed. Condition self-resolves after a few seconds but creates sudden acceleration hazard.
When: 75,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle at full throttle without pedal input; Throttle stuck at full throttle; Sudden unwanted acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to duplicate failure; no repair performed
Transmission Downshift with Loss of Speedometer (Gauge Dropout)
Speedometer and related gauges shut off while driving highway speeds. Transmission downshifts abruptly and engine RPM spikes into red zone, causing vehicle to swerve. Gauges return after vehicle shutdown and restart.
When: Under 80,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Speedometer shuts off while driving; Transmission downshifts unexpectedly; Engine RPM spikes into red zone; Vehicle swerves due to abrupt power loss; All gauges temporarily go offline
Transmission Stuck in Gear with Speedometer Dropout
Speedometer reads 0 mph while vehicle is moving 40–60 mph; vehicle feels as if it drops into first gear at highway speed, causing RPM surge and loss of control. Airbag light illuminates and vehicle remains stuck in fifth gear until ignition cycle.
When: Mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Speedometer reads 0 mph while driving 40–60 mph; Vehicle feels as if it drops into first gear at highway speed; RPM surge without speed increase; Airbag light illuminates; Vehicle stuck in fifth gear until key cycle; Feels like vehicle brakes on its own
Codes mentioned: P0720
Repairs/costs cited: Lead frame repair cited as $850
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: VIN falls outside of recall coverage
Engine Sputtering and Hesitation with Service Engine Light
Vehicle sputters and hesitates at various speeds with service engine light displayed. Diagnosed as faulty throttle body requiring replacement.
When: 34,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle sputters and hesitates; Service vehicle sensor warning displayed
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replacement recommended; not performed by owner
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer did not assist with repair cost
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2013 Ford Mustang?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2013 Ford Mustang?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 41,185 and 75,000 miles, with the median around 66,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 41,185; a quarter make it past 75,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Ford/Mustang.
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.