I was driving down I-35 in the arbuckle mountains in oklahoma going 70mph when my car suddenly disengaged the cruise control and downshifted to first gear. It felt like the brakes were being applied forcefully and then the car returned to driving normally. This happened two more times until I was able to pull off on the shoulder as I had almost gotten into an accident the first time it did it.…
2013 Ford Mustang powertrain problems
severe 46 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
46
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
2crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 46 powertrain complaints filed for the 2013 Ford Mustang, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Owners have filed 46 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 19 model years of Ford Mustang in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
12-9-13 transmission issue brought to Ford deale email to Ford: subject: repair order 43617 I would appreciate Ford to have a consideration of the following: 1. I would like to see a new transmission put into this 2013 boss 302 laguna saga with under 6000 miles. 2. Resurface fly wheel. 3. Replacing the clutch and pressure plate. I paid over $66,000k for this vehicle . And for Ford…
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2013 Ford Mustang?
It's a meaningful issue. 46 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 30 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 31,000 and 90,000 miles, with the median around 65,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 31,000; a quarter make it past 90,000. 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 $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.
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.