Vehicle was on the highway going 70+ MPH, passenger door suddenly came loose and started getting passenger door ajar lights and you could hear wind passing into the car. Thankfully the passenger was holding the door at the time so it did not fully open. Vehicle has been repaired.*dt*jb
2016 Ford Mustang body problems
moderate 27 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
27
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
When does it fail?
Of the 27 body complaints filed for the 2016 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 27 body 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.
No new NHTSA body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The overwhelming complaint pattern is door latches unlatching or opening during motion. Owners report both driver and passenger doors releasing—sometimes both during the same trip—at highway speeds ranging 40–70+ mph on interstates, city streets, and during long drives. The door ajar warning light illuminates each time. Dealers consistently tell owners they cannot replicate the issue during short test drives and refuse to repair or honor warranty claims. Several owners found Ford recalls 15S16 and 16S30 exist for 2015 Mustangs but exclude 2016 model years, even though vehicles built in late 2015 report identical failures. Ford's Customer Satisfaction Program 21N10 theoretically covers some 2016 Mustangs by assembly plant and build date, but dealership OASIS systems do not list owners' VINs, so coverage is denied. Recall deadlines have also expired, blocking late-arriving owners from coverage. One owner had both latches replaced after Ford corporate backed the dealer refusal. A handful of secondary complaints emerged: rear deck lid emblem breaking and replacement lid not sealing properly (water enters trunk), hood corrosion and blistering at 3,400 miles with no manufacturer assistance, and one trunk latch electrical failure at 92,000 miles causing trunk to not open.
Same Ford Mustang body reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Door latch unlatching during motion
Door latch releases while vehicle is in motion, causing door to unlock or partially open. Occurs on both driver and passenger sides. Passengers report doors opening unexpectedly at various speeds (40-70+ mph) on highways, interstates, and city streets. Some owners report repeated incidents during single trips.
When: Various speeds ranging 40-70+ mph; some owners note instances several hours into trips or at highway speeds on flat terrain
Symptoms owners cite: Door unlatches or opens while driving; Dashboard 'door ajar' or 'door open' warning light illuminates; Interior lights turn on; Daylight visible around door frame; Wind noise from open door
Codes mentioned: 16S30, 15S16, 21N10, 20S15, 20V177000
Repairs/costs cited: Ford dealers report inability to replicate issue on test drives. Some owners report both driver and passenger door latches replaced. One owner was charged for replacement despite potential recall applicability. Dealers cite inability to duplicate as reason for warranty denial or repair refusal.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls 15S16 and 16S30 exist for 2015 Mustangs built Feb 14, 2014–April 30, 2015 at Flat Rock Assembly Plant; some 2016 model year vehicles (built Sept 2015 and later) report same issue but fall outside official recall window. Customer Satisfaction Program 21N10 (dated 12-15-2021) covers certain 2016 Mustangs by assembly plant and build date, but dealerships report VINs not appearing in OASIS system. Recall deadlines have expired for some vehicles, preventing owners from obtaining warranty coverage.
Rear deck lid sealing defect and emblem failure
Rear deck lid emblem breaks and falls off. Replacement requires full deck lid replacement (includes integrated reverse camera). Replacement deck lid fails to seal properly, allowing water intrusion into trunk. Dealership references factory service manual update requiring addition of 'bumper pad' to achieve proper seal, but manual update not recognized by other dealerships.
When: Early in vehicle ownership (new car under warranty)
Symptoms owners cite: Rear deck 'GT' emblem breaks and falls off; Replacement deck lid does not seal properly; Water can enter trunk
Repairs/costs cited: Rear deck lid and reverse camera replaced as integrated unit. Dealership added 'bumper pad' under deck lid per service manual update. Replacement deck lid warped when forced to close. Local dealership unable to service due to warranty restriction from original dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Original dealership claimed factory service manual update required bumper pad addition and stated repair was correct per new manual. Remote dealership (different location) found no such manual update in their system and refused service due to original warranty repair. Vehicle owner directed to return to original dealership 490 miles away for warranty service.
Hood corrosion and blister
Hood develops visible blister caused by corrosion. Hood fails shortly after purchase at very low mileage.
When: Approximately 3,400 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Blister visible on hood; Hood corrosion detected
Repairs/costs cited: Hood replacement required. Vehicle not repaired by either collision shop or two separate Ford dealerships consulted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure but did not provide repair or replacement.
Trunk latch electrical failure and wiring harness defect
Trunk fails to open due to inoperative electrical sensors. Concurrent with this failure, vehicle experiences unresponsiveness to accelerator pedal input and TPMS warning light illumination.
When: Approximately 92,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Trunk will not open; Electrical sensors inoperative; Accelerator pedal does not respond to input; TPMS warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed wiring harness as requiring replacement but did not perform repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but provided no assistance.
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The rear deck "gt" emblem broke on my new car and fell off. I returned it to the dealership to have it replaced because it is a new vehicle and still under warranty. The emblem was replaced as well as the back deck lid and the reverse camera because it is all one piece. As I left I noticed that the new deck lid did not seal properly and water could get in my trunk so I returned to the service…
I purchased my dream car from autonation of fremont/ Honda. I drove 90 minutes from my house purchase the shelby. Upon arrival, I met with [xxx], supervisor in sales. Before signing documents, the purchase price of the car was advertised at 45,900. [xxx] indicated the price was advertised wrong and was at 47,500. [xxx] stated to make up the price difference, he was going to tint the windows and…
Had body trouble with your 2016 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 body problem on the 2016 Ford Mustang?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 27 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 32,500 and 72,000 miles, with the median around 50,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 32,500; a quarter make it past 72,000. 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 $1,500 for body 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 body?
No active recalls currently cover body 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/2016/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.