2017 Chevrolet Camaro vs 2017 Ford Mustang
Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.
2017 Chevrolet Camaro
2017 Ford Mustang
Stories from the shop
If I'm picking between these two head-to-head, I'm taking the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro. Reliability score's a solid 3.8 versus 3.0 on the 2017 Ford Mustang, and the complaint counts back it up — 183 versus 255. That's not noise, that's a real gap between rivals built for the same buyer.
If you lean 2017 Chevrolet Camaro, know what you're getting into on powertrain and steering. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than the 2017 Ford Mustang sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.
Going with the 2017 Ford Mustang? Watch the electrical and body. The 2017 Chevrolet Camaro has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.
Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.
Side-by-side by problem area
Common questions
Which is more reliable, the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro or the 2017 Ford Mustang?
Based on the NHTSA data we track, the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro comes out ahead with a reliability score of 3.8 versus 3.0. The margin is clear, so the verdict could shift if you weight specific categories differently or factor in your own use case.
What goes wrong more often on the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro?
Compared to the 2017 Ford Mustang, the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro sees more reported issues in powertrain and steering. That doesn't mean it's a bad truck — it means those are the categories worth budgeting for if you go that direction.
What goes wrong more often on the 2017 Ford Mustang?
Compared to the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro, the 2017 Ford Mustang has more complaints in electrical and body. Whether that's a deal-breaker depends on the cost and severity — see the comparison table above for repair cost ranges.
Which has more recalls?
The 2017 Ford Mustang has more active recalls (5 vs 0). Total count is less important than severity, though — a vehicle with one critical recall and zero moderate ones is generally riskier than one with five moderate recalls.
Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?
Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $11,700 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.