Model year guide

2012 Ford Mustang

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2012 Ford Mustang is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 470 on record.

2012 Ford Mustang — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2012 Ford Mustang at a glance

Safety recalls7
Owner complaints469
Combined21 mpg
Typical price$15,042

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2012 Ford Mustang recalls 7

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #19V001000 · 07/01/2019

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 20…

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's nu…

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #17V024000 · 10/01/2017

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford …

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing March 1, …

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #15V319000 · 28/05/2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2014 Mustang vehicles manufactured April 6, 2004, to June 21, 2014, and 2005-2006 GT vehicles manufactured February 20, 2004, to September 22, 2006. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2016. Even if interim repairs were performed under safety recall 14V-802, own…

Power Train:automatic Transmission NHTSA Campaign #16V248000 · 27/04/2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford F-150 trucks, 2012 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Mustang vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with an automatic transmission that may unexpectedly downshift to first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S19.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm) NHTSA Campaign #12V190000 · 03/05/2012

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 FORD F-150, 2012 EXPEDITION AND LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, AND 2012-2013 MUSTANG VEHICLES, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NOS. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT" AND 108 “LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.” THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A TRANSMISSION RANG…

Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE TRS AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Air Bags:frontal NHTSA Campaign #21V081000 · 16/02/2021

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high …

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21…

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #21E013000 · 16/02/2021

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain air bag inflator and/or module replacement service parts that may have been used as part of a collision repair. The parts include certain driver-side air bag inflators and/or modules, designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford Mustang and Mustang GT500. It also includes certain passenger-side air bag inflators and/or modules designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford Mustang, 2010-2012 Linco…

Fix: Ford will notify dealers that purchased the affected parts, and dealers will provide replacement parts to purchasers, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2012 Ford Mustang common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 469 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Visibility
Test wipers, washers, defrosters and all mirrors. Check the windshield for cracks and any camera/sensor for fogging or faults.
Visibility/wiper
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

2012 Ford Mustang safety ratings

Rollover★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2012 Ford Mustang C RWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2012 Ford Mustang MPG & running costs

Combined21 mpg
City18 mpg
Highway26 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,170

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2012 Ford Mustang worth?

Low
$10,700
Typical price
$15,042
High
$21,600

From 466 comparable 2012 Ford Mustang listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 Ford Mustang costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$15,850
Depreciation (5 yrs)$7,700
Total$23,550
Per mile$0.31

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($15,042) with the same model 5 model-years older ($7,350), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2012 Ford Mustang trims & engines on record

Trims
V6 · GT Premium · GT · V6 Coupe · GT Coupe · Boss 302 · V6 Convertible · GT Convertible · Shelby Coupe
Engines
3.7L 6-cyl 305 hp · 5.0L 8-cyl 412 hp · 5.0L 8-cyl 444 hp · 5.4L 8-cyl 550 hp

2012 Ford Mustang vehicles on record

Other Ford Mustang model years

2012 Ford Mustang — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Ford Mustang have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls for the 2012 Ford Mustang. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford Mustang?

Based on 469 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are power train, air bags, electrical system.

What is the 2012 Ford Mustang safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2012 Ford Mustang crash-test ratings of rollover 5★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2012 Ford Mustang get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Ford Mustang at about 21 mpg combined (18 city / 26 highway).

How much is a 2012 Ford Mustang worth?

Comparable 2012 Ford Mustang listings run roughly $10,700–$21,600, typically around $15,042 (from 466 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.