Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool or from the label printed on the body control module (BCM). The Factory Keyless Entry Code application within the diagnostic scan tool will not provide an applicable master code for the accessory wireless keypad. If the wallet card for an accessory keypad is not available, the "Wireless RF Keypad Diagnosis Guide" can be referenced and provides direction on how
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Ford Mustang body problems
severe Owners of the 2017 Ford Mustang have filed 36 NHTSA complaints about the body, typically surfacing around 42,000 miles at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
36
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Mustang | 6 |
| 2014 Mustang | 14 |
| 2015 Mustang | 38 |
| 2016 Mustang | 27 |
| 2017 Mustang (this page) | 36 |
| 2018 Mustang | 14 |
| 2019 Mustang | 5 |
1crash
1injury
What stands out
Owners have filed 36 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.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Certain 2015 â 2021 Model Year Mustang Convertible Vehicles - Door Opens to Secondary Latch Position
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗For 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. Most modules on these affected vehicles are VIN/vehicle specific and hardware variations between modules do exist. Swapping a module from a vehicle or ordering a module using a different vehicle/VIN can cause ineffective repairs and additional vehicle down time. Make sure all appropriate Workshop Manual (WSM) procedures are followed when diagnosing the condition prior to all module replacements and only order modules using
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2015-2022 Mustang vehicles may exhibit a water leak onto the front carpet that originates from the either the left or right A-pillar. This may be due to a detached A-pillar body seal. Follow the service procedure to repair the vehicle.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This 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. Panel replacement is recommended.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Door unlatching dominates this cluster. Owners report passenger doors, driver doors, or both spontaneously unlatching while driving—at speeds from 30 mph to 75 mph, on highways and city streets alike. The door disengages from the latch even though owners swear it was closed. A dashboard alert and chime sound after failure. One owner counted 48 unlatches since June 2020 across both doors. Another had it happen 10 times in one month.
The problem spans varying conditions: highway cruising, rough pavement, smooth roads, turns, even parking at 2 mph. Most concerning: owners report this happens suddenly with zero warning beforehand. A few say bumps or rough road surfaces correlate with failures.
One crash scenario involved a fractured door hinge during a hydroplaning incident, nearly ejecting a pregnant woman. Another owner had a hood latch fail at highway speed, with the hood striking the windshield and wrapping around the driver door.
Secondary issues include headliner detachment (at 23,000 miles), paint chipping at rear windows, bumper paint bubbling, broken front-bumper tabs, and seat-stitching failure. Dealers report inability to recreate or fix door problems; one told an owner Ford had no solution. Owners cite recall history for 2015 models but note 2017 exclusion from recalls.
Same Ford Mustang body reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Door unlatching while driving
Passenger door, driver door, or both randomly unlatch and open while vehicle is in motion. Door disengages from latch mechanism despite being closed before departure. Occurs without warning and across a range of speeds from 30 mph to 75 mph, often during highway driving. Dashboard door-ajar alert and chime activate after failure.
When: Various speeds (30–75 mph); occurs during highway driving, city streets, turns, rough pavement; owners report recurring events over months to years
Symptoms owners cite: Door unlatches or becomes ajar unexpectedly; Door ajar warning message on dashboard; Door ajar chime sounds; Wind noise from door gap; Door may open 2 inches or more; Happens on highways, city roads, rough surfaces, and smooth pavement
Repairs/costs cited: Owner #8 notes NHTSA recall CAMPAIGN 17V168000 existed for driver-side door on some models; owner #27 had door replaced and kept faulty part; owners #2, #14 report dealer visits but no resolution; owner #18 states dealer unable to recreate issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner #2 mentions Ford quoted hundreds of dollars for inspection; owner #7 states dealer consulted Ford and said nothing could be done; owner #9 references 2015 model recall at Flat Rock plant but 2017 not included; owner #8 references NHTSA CAMPAIGN 17V168000
Door hinge fracture
Passenger-side door hinge fractured during crash/hydroplaning event, allowing door to open violently. Owner was nearly ejected and sustained minor injuries. Vehicle was destroyed; repair not attempted.
When: At approximately 96,000 miles during hydroplaning incident at 30 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Door hinge fractured; Door opened violently during crash; Risk of occupant ejection
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was towed to independent mechanic; not repaired; vehicle was destroyed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was contacted and notified of failure
Hood latch failure
Hood latch released while vehicle was traveling at highway speed, causing hood to fly up, impact windshield, and wrap around driver door, trapping occupant temporarily.
When: At approximately 60 mph on highway
Symptoms owners cite: Hood came unlocked and flew up; Hood struck driver-side windshield; Right side of hood broke loose; Hood wrapped around driver door; Driver-side door became impossible to exit through
Headliner detachment
Headliner loosened and began detaching while vehicle was stationary. Dealer diagnosed need for door glass and headliner retainer replacement.
When: At approximately 23,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Headliner became loosened; Headliner detaching from mounting
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer determined door glass and headliner retainer needed replacement; vehicle was not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer informed owner to take vehicle to dealer for diagnosis; manufacturer opened a case
Paint chipping at rear windshield
Paint started chipping around rear windshield area. Owner reports this is a common issue on 2017 Grabber Blue Mustangs.
When: Started at 36,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Paint chipping around rear windshield
Repairs/costs cited: Owner took vehicle to service; was told it was out of bumper-to-bumper warranty with no remedial action possible
Front bumper tab breakage
Tabs on sides of front bumper have broken off, reducing bumper restraint in event of accident. Owner reports this is common across multiple owners of same year and model.
Symptoms owners cite: Tabs on front bumper sides broken off; Bumper not secured properly
Rear bumper paint failure
Back bumper paint bubbling up and appearing to melt after regular car washing.
When: At approximately 35,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Back bumper paint bubbling; Paint appearing melted; Occurs after car washing
Driver seat stitching failure
Driver seat stitching began coming unstitched.
When: At approximately 35,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Driver seat stitching unstitching
Synthesized from 36 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had body trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Ford Mustang?
It's a meaningful issue. 36 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 32,783 and 62,900 miles, with the median around 42,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 32,783; a quarter make it past 62,900. 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/2017/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.