2017 Ford Mustang: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
265 NHTSA owner complaints · 6 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The Mustang's record is moderate and steady through the fifth generation (2005–2014). The sixth generation launched for 2015 with the 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine and independent rear suspension, and the 2015 year carries the highest count of the modern car — the EcoBoost's head-gasket and coolant complaints, and the six-speed automatic. Read the full note on the model page. 2017 specifically: a year the record favours — 265 complaints, score 74/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Ford Mustang: the years to avoid and the years to buy, including 2017 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 265 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 29.44
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while reversing, the third brake light failed to function as intended. In addition, the rear-view camera flashed on and off. The contact replaced the third brake light housing, but the failure reoccurred. The contact purchased and replaced the third brake light three times; however, the failure reoccurred. The dealer was made aware of the failure, and the …
Was driving, all the sudden I heard a pop and a little bit of smoke and the smell of burning plastic came from under passenger seat. Pulled over, noticed it was coming from electrical harness under seat that controls the heated and cooled seats. Disconnected plug and saw that it had burnt out & caught fire. Have left it unplugged with no incident since.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed smoke on the interior of the vehicle. The contact stated that the smoke became heavy on the interior of the vehicle. The contact stopped the vehicle and became aware that the heavy smoke was coming from the trunk of the vehicle. The Fire Department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. No…
Recalls: 6 campaigns (2 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 25V572000 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse. |
| 25V614000 | Seat Belts:Pretensioner | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles. Water and road salt may corrode the front seat belt anchor pretensioner cables. |
| 17V168000 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford Mustang vehicles. The return spring for the driver side interior door handle may come loose, allowing the driver's door to unlatch in a side impact crash. |
| 22V082000 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera wiring may be loose or damaged, which can result in a blank or distorted image. |
| 16V779000 | Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles manufactured February 24, 2015, to August 30, 2016. A hose may separate from the engine oil cooler tube assembly causing an oil leak. |
| 17V529000 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 F-150 and Mustang vehicles. The air bag inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may rupture in the event of a crash. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a sports car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 24 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,800
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Back Over Prevention64 complaints · typical job: Reversing camera or park-sensor replacement (2.0 h labour + parts)$420–$940
- Structure39 complaints · typical job: Body, subframe or corrosion repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,070–$2,920
- Unknown Or Other36 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Electrical System34 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Latches/Locks/Linkages29 complaints · typical job: Door latch or lock actuator replacement (2.0 h labour + parts)$380–$760
- Engine26 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
Other Ford Mustang years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Ford Mustang?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Back Over Prevention (64 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2017 Ford Mustang a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 74/100, computed from 265 NHTSA complaints and 6 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2017 Ford Mustang's most common problem?
64 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2017 Ford Mustang sit in the Back Over Prevention group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is reversing camera or park-sensor replacement: about 2.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $420–$940 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2017 Ford Mustang cost to run per year?
About $5,289 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $26,445 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2017 Ford Mustang have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for the 2017 Ford Mustang, 2 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 04/09/2025. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other sportss of about the same age.
What will a 2017 Ford Mustang really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 265 complaints, 6 recalls on record
- 265 NHTSA complaints on record (29.4/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (29.4/yr)
- 6 recall campaigns, 2 touching safety-critical systems