Ford MUSTANG BUYERS GUIDE | Are they Really Reliable Enough?

A review of ALL the common problems that can occur with the Ford Mustang to make sure YOU get the very best car possible.

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[scottbrown]

The big maintenance trick with either engine in the Mustang is frequent oil and filter changes! Don't scrimp on the oil and filtration quality.
Use a high quality fully synthetic oil that has a low volatility rating.
Change the coolant out annually as well. It doesn't age like wine. And can become acidic if allowed to linger too long.
I also flush and bleed the brake system annually because clean, fresh fluid is easier on the and distribution block and other brake bits that are in contact with the fluid.
If you notice a pattern developing in my maintenance routine you also have realized that I go for longevity of the entire car.

[scottnewellguitar]

The Gen 3 Coyote 5.0L is Direct Port Injection and doesn't suffer carbon buildup like a direct injected engine, so 2018+ = no worries there.

[PTRK]

It's my dream to own a Mustang one day. I'm in my last year of uni so hopefully I can get a job and get one some day.

[ZEROFUX.]

My 93 LX 5.0 feature mustang is the best car ever. Ive owned tons of Mustangs. Never found one that wasn't reliable. I'm not your normal person though. I know every in and out of every Mustang made. IMO they are the best cars ever made. I am not nice to them. Snow driven here in the rust belt of America. I race them, track them, then drive home and get an easy 300k miles out of them. I was too poor to afford another car so I drove them on snow daily. I love them. I also love my BMW E30S. Every v8 mustang ever built has been great. Cant say that about the V6 versions.😔 The 289, 302, 351, 363, 408. etc are all amazing. I will say the 5.2 VOODOO is by far my favorite. These are great cars built with pride. Im also a Ford tech. These cars easily get 250k all day if maintained.

[Prodavion]

I've got a 2017 EcoBoost wich I bought new, got about 34000 km now, not a single issue with it, happy Mustang driver ! :) (From what I've read so far, the gasket issue with the EcoBoost is mainly with the Focus RS, not with the Mustang)

[analogguy]

2018 GT Premium with Performance Pack + Magna Ride and Active Valve Exhaust. 50, 000+ hard miles. New battery at 5 years. Water Pump and front strut assemblies replaced at 50, 000 miles under Ford PremiumCARE extended warranty. 6 speed Getrag no problems. A/C works great and here in Texas we have two seasons - hot & HOTTER 🥵Love this car - would buy it again in a heartbeat. Struggling with myself, hang onto my 2018 or order a next Gen 2025🤔

[jrhamilton]

Love my 2021 GT. Bought it used with roughly 4k miles on it so practically brand new. It now has 14, 200k and is running strong as ever! I did install catch cans to help eliminate that carbon buildup from it's direct injection engine. Additionally my friend who's a Ford master technician has told me the typewriter tac tac noises you're describing could possibly be the phasers which at base idle are designed to lock into position but if one or more is failing that could result it a metallic ticking noise that you described. It's one reason you shouldn't put a ghost cam tune in your car because it's hard on the phasers. My car has had the tic noise at idle since the day I picked it up with only 4k on it and like I said it's still running just fine at 14k and the Ford dealership I take it to said this is a normal engine sound present in most coyote motors and is nothing harmful.

[evodave]

FYI starting in 2018 the 5.0 V8 comes with sixteen fuel injectors, both direct and indirect so no more worries about potential valve carbon build up.

[unblessedcoffee]

Bought mine in 2016, 6 speed auto with 5 litre, I've driven 78, 000 miles in it, mostly on UK motorways, some short journeys.

Fantastic car, everything else feels like its about to fall to bits after driving this, so comfortable. Has the bubbling on the bonnet but it's hardly noticeable, and the rear bumper starts to drop off after a while at the edges around the brake lights, along with the rubber glued to the bottom of the rear window (you hear it slapping at motorway speed so you need to glue it back on). The Gen 2 Coyote is the more reliable engine. The 2018 version has the gen 3, that's the difference. Make sure to buy a Mustang built after 2017, when the tax brackets changed. Pre-mid-2017 Stangs pay top band tax of 6/700 pounds, post they pay less than 200. As a V8, it is worth checking the oil yourself every now and then.

Major issues after 78k, probably just the brakes. Calipers, discs, pads, all pretty expensive at about 50k miles. Also the handbrake cable, can suffer from corrosion, mine needed a new one and the exhaust system can suffer from rust. My reversing camera is faulty as you say, it's intermitent, works maybe 80% of the time, sometimes flickers. The factory alloys will also begin to suffer leakage from wear and tear, Ford does sell alloy refurb, but honestly it's better to just buy after-market ones once your start to go. Also I bought a full size spare from the US for mine, the boot has space for a spare, but you need a wheel that will fit over the brembo brakes if you have them. Odd that a reversing camera is standard, but reversing beepers are an option. (Beepers, Satnav and Heated Seats are the only 3 options available for a UK car). A "Custom Pack" car is just one that has all three of those options, plus silver alloys and silver trim around the windows.

The 6-speed auto is the same as the F150, quite reliable in my experience. The manual has had a lot more problems with the forks failing iirc, but people buy and trash these cars, mine is basically a rep-mobile at this point. In the USA there is a Performance Pack option that upgrades some components, but every UK Mustang gets those upgrades. Anyway good video.

[ShadowboltChoco]

Yall's accents are badass. Enjoy the car! I spy a GTR!!!!

[seantallbloke]

One to add the the list, paint bubbling to the leading edge of the bonnet and/or front wings. It is a 'known' issue with Ford, and has been around since the S197, but depending upon the dealer you take it to, whether the paint service stamps are in your book and whether the Ford warranty gods are shining down on you will depend upon whether and how easily a repair/replacement will happen.

[teddydavid]

A Brit with a V8 is more American than an American with an ecoboost

[widowmakergarage]

Got I love the Scottish accent, I’m getting a 2015-17 gt in a few months conv 6 speed❤️🤤

[Lord.Crawford]

Ive had 2 of these Mustangs in the automatic and a 1000bhp manual with meth injection. While the 2nd us an absolute animal the 1st in the automatic was my favourite NA daily car. The sport mode in the auto changes gear so nicely.

I regret selling it and am looking to get another

[subterfusion]

Owned a 2015 PP Ecoboost and it was a great car; very agile and torquey. I was experiencing some boost leak issues at 112k. Car would get 32 mpg. Now have a 2018 pp1 GT 10spd. So far it's just a legend but it only has 9k miles. Both the cars are great cars and the 4 cyl is just a second behind the GT in most scenarios. I would suggest getting the performance pack in either car just for the heavier springs. Rough roads aren't a worry anymore.

[eyecontrol]

great review! should also add, engine knock. Ford do say that you can put the lowest fuel in it (87octane, 91RON), but really you should only be putting 93octane/98RON. No point trying to save a bit of money at the fuel station when you could be damaging your engine.

[NigelsModellingBench]

I'm writing this as you speak.. The typewriter tick on my Gen2 V8 only becomes apparent when hot and is only heard from the right side if you get your head near the ground. The Gen 3 engine with plated bores is not as reliable in this area as the Gen 2 with iron liners. The 2.3 Ecoboost in the Mustang is made in America and is much better than the crap they put in the Focus RS, which I think was made in Spain. My RS needed a new head at 1000 miles. Great eh!! One issue I have had with mine, which apparently is also an issue on modern Land Rovers, is that the car plays up after it's MOT with the OBD tool inserted to do the emissions test. My Aircon went into "limp" mode, my radio display was in dark mode, the car "lost" the key and the display in the middle of the dash froze. Once it was turned off and the doors were closed and opened again it reset itself. The facelift, 2018 on had the revised MT82 with alloy shift forks, the earlier '15 to '17 cars had the same 'box, but with steel forks. remember, the 2007-2015 Defenders and RWD Transits also had the MT82, and they are fine? That 10AT 'box has had more recalls than a deaf Puppy that just found a baby rabbit!! i would also recommend any new buyer checks for corrosion on the front wings, the front edge of the bonnet and the inner flange around the boot lid. Also check for any body repair work that has been done.. some dealers bodyshops are useless at best.. owners will know what I mean.

[nickkostakis]

Great video brilliant and very informative. I have a Mustang with TEN R 80 and 1900 km on Never had any problems 😊 I love your show thank you very much for the update. From Sydney Australia

[seanym]

I have a 2014 GT convertible and it's been amazingly reliable. No rattles either. Sadly I still have the live rear axle version, it's pretty hairy in bumpy corners!

[nielskjr]

Nice car👍
If you can live without the V8 sound, I think the 2.3 Ecoboost is the better choice.
It's around 100 kg less weight on the front wheels. Lower center of gravity.
Also the V8 comes from a pickup truck. Not a sporty engine.