Model research hub
Ford Mustang
MotorTrend says for 2026 the Mustang comes in eight trims: EcoBoost, EcoBoost Premium, GT, GT Premium, Dark Horse, Dark Horse Premium, Dark Horse SC, and GTD, with the new Dark Horse SC raising the pony car's performance credentials yet again, even while Ford moves on from the Shelby name, calling it a Shelby GT500 in all but name. Ford Authority says the Dark Horse SC joins the lineup slotting in above the 'regular' Dark Horse and Dark Horse Premium, and that compared to 2025, the 2026 Mustang otherwise receives a variety of minor changes consistent with a model-year changeover, including making carpeted floor mats optional on lower trims after they were standard for 2025. Ford of Pottstown says the 2026 Mustang GT starts at $46,560 while the Dark Horse commands $64,080, a $17,520 gap, and that the Dark Horse targets serious track enthusiasts with its dual-throttle intake, track cooling, Brembo brakes and driving aids, having posted a 2:51.2 lap at Virginia International Raceway in its 2024 form.
A new Dark Horse SC tops the lineup
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says for 2026 the Mustang comes in eight trims: EcoBoost, EcoBoost Premium, GT, GT Premium, Dark Horse, Dark Horse Premium, Dark Horse SC, and GTD, with the new Dark Horse SC raising the pony car's performance credentials yet again even as Ford moves on from the Shelby name, calling it a Shelby GT500 in all but name.
Where it slots in, and minor 2026 changes
Ford Authority (opens in a new tab) says the Dark Horse SC joins the lineup slotting in above the 'regular' Dark Horse and Dark Horse Premium, and that compared to the 2025 model, the 2026 Ford Mustang otherwise receives a variety of minor changes and updates consistent with a model-year changeover, including making carpeted floor mats optional on the EcoBoost, EcoBoost Premium, GT and GT Premium trims after they were standard for 2025.
Price gap and track credentials
Ford of Pottstown (opens in a new tab) says the 2026 Mustang GT's price starts at $46,560, while the Dark Horse commands $64,080, a $17,520 gap, and that the Dark Horse targets serious track enthusiasts with its dual-throttle intake, track cooling, Brembo brakes and driving aids, having posted a lap time of 2 minutes, 51.2 seconds at Virginia International Raceway in its 2024 form.
Questions buyers ask
What is the Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC?
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) calls it a Shelby GT500 in all but name, slotting above the regular Dark Horse trims.
How much more does the Mustang Dark Horse cost than the GT?
Ford of Pottstown (opens in a new tab) says $17,520 more, $64,080 against $46,560.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2025 Ford Mustang is built around 2.3L turbo four-cylinder, 5.0L V8 or supercharged V8 (GTD), rated at 315–800+ horsepower across its sports car body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2025 U.S. lineup has 6 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2025 Mustang seats 4 and is a Sports car.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns and 17 owner complaints for the 2025 Mustang.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2025 Ford Mustang
The 2025 Mustang spans a 315-horsepower turbo four in EcoBoost trims to an 800+ horsepower supercharged V8 in the new GTD. Manual transmission availability is engine-dependent, not offered on EcoBoost.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
2 indexed Ford Mustang model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ford Mustang | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Ford Mustang | 1 | 2025 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Ford Mustang.
The Ford Mustang is an American automobile manufactured and marketed by Ford since 1964, as Ford's longest nameplate in continuous production. Currently in its seventh generation, it is the fifth-best selling Ford car nameplate. The namesake of the "pony car" automobile segment, the Mustang was developed as a highly styled line of sporty coupes and convertibles derived from existing model lines, initially distinguished by its pronounced "long hood, short deck" proportions.
Source: Ford Mustang (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Ford Mustang at a glance
- Production
- March 1964 – present
- Model years
- 1965–present
- Class
- Pony car, muscle car (America), S-segment, Roadster sport (Europe), Sports car (international)
- Body style
- 2-door coupe, 3-door hatchback, 2-door fastback, 2-door convertible
- Layout
- Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout
- Also called
- Ford T5 (Germany)
Ford Mustang generations
The Ford Mustang has been redesigned in 1974, 1979, 1994, 2005, 2015, 2024, gaps of 9, 5, 15, 11, 10, 9 years, an average of 9.8 years between generations. The current generation (seventh generation, S650) began in 2024.
| Generation | Code | Began | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | n/a | 1965–1974 | Lee Iacocca's assistant general manager and chief engineer, Donald N. |
| Second generation | n/a | 1974–1979 | Iacocca, who had been one of the forces behind the original Mustang, became president of Ford Motor Company in 1970, and ordered a smaller, more fuel-efficient Mustang for 1974. |
| Third generation | n/a | 1979–1994 | The 1979 Mustang was based on the larger Fox platform, initially developed for the 1978 Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr. |
| Fourth generation | SN95 | 1994–2005 | In November 1993, the Mustang debuted its first major redesign in fifteen years. |
| Fifth generation | S197 | 2005–2015 | Ford introduced a re-designed 2005 model year Mustang at the 2004 North American International Auto Show, codenamed "S197", that was based on the new D2C platform. |
| Sixth generation | S550 | 2015–2024 | The sixth generation Mustang was unveiled on December 5, 2013, in Dearborn, Michigan; New York, New York; Los Angeles, California; Barcelona, Spain; Shanghai, China; and Sydney, Australia. |
| Seventh generation | S650 | 2024–present | Ford previewed the seventh-generation Mustang at the 2022 Detroit Auto Show on September 14, in a special event called "The Stampede". |
Recent recalls (18 campaigns across the latest model years)
- August 2026, Electrical System:Wiring. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Mustang vehicles. The engine compartment wiring harness ground connections may fracture and result in a loss of drive power, or a loss of function in the windshield washing system, headlights, air conditioning, or engine… Consequence: A loss of driver power increases the risk of a crash. In addition, a loss of headlight function or windshield washing system function can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of…
- August 2026, Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer, Bronco, Bronco Sport, Mustang, and Ranger vehicles. The engine piston domes may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in piston dome failure and lead to a loss of drive power. Consequence: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- June 2026, Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Mustang and 2025-2026 Mustang GTD vehicles. During certain cold temperature conditions, the windshield wipers may function only at their high-speed setting and the washing system may fail to function properly. Consequence: Windshield wipers or a washing system that fails to function as intended can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Owners filed 17 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Ford Mustang, most often about exterior lighting (5), unknown or other (4), electrical system (3).
Year by year
The Ford Mustang across 12 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ford Mustang | 12–26 | $2,500–$6,650 | 6 | 5 | 5 stars | |
| 2025 Ford Mustang | 12–26 | $2,400–$5,200 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 5 stars |
| 2024 Ford Mustang | 17–26 | $2,400–$3,650 | 8 | 12 | 73 | 5 stars |
| 2023 Ford Mustang | 17–25 | $2,500–$3,650 | 15 | 6 | 5 stars | |
| 2022 Ford Mustang | 14–25 | $2,500–$5,550 | 16 | 9 | 49 | 5 stars |
| 2021 Ford Mustang | 14–25 | $2,500–$5,550 | 16 | 6 | 55 | 5 stars |
| 2020 Ford Mustang | 14–25 | $2,500–$5,550 | 14 | 8 | 118 | 5 stars |
| 2019 Ford Mustang | 16–25 | $2,500–$4,850 | 11 | 6 | 147 | 5 stars |
| 2018 Ford Mustang | 16–25 | $2,500–$4,850 | 10 | 4 | 187 | 5 stars |
| 2017 Ford Mustang | 16–24 | $2,600–$4,850 | 14 | 6 | 265 | 5 stars |
| 2016 Ford Mustang | 16–25 | $2,500–$4,850 | 9 | 5 | 373 | 5 stars |
| 2015 Ford Mustang | 18–25 | $2,500–$3,450 | 8 | 11 | 436 | 5 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Ford Mustang, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 to 2026 | Fuels: Premium | |||
| 2024 to 2025 | 8 to 6 | 21.5 to 19.0 | Labels: Mustang GTD; Engines: 5.2L 8-cyl; Transmissions: Automatic (AM-S8) | Labels: Mustang Performance Package; Engines: 5L 8-cyl with Stop-Start |
| 2023 to 2024 | 15 to 8 | 21.0 to 21.5 | Labels: Mustang Dark Horse, Mustang Performance Package; Engines: 2.3L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI, 5L 8-cyl with Stop-Start | Labels: Mustang Convertible, Mustang HO Convertible, Mustang HO Coupe, Mustang Mach 1; Engines: 2.3L 4-cyl SIDI |
| 2022 to 2023 | 16 to 15 | 19.5 to 21.0 | Labels: Shelby GT500 Mustang; Engines: 5.2L 8-cyl; Transmissions: Automatic (AM-S7); Fuels: Premium | |
| 2021 to 2022 | Transmissions: Automatic (AM-S7) | Transmissions: Automatic (AM7) | ||
| 2020 to 2021 | 14 to 16 | Labels: Mustang Mach 1; Transmissions: Automatic 10-spd | Labels: Mustang Bullitt, Shelby GT350 Mustang | |
| 2019 to 2020 | 11 to 14 | 20.5 to 19.5 | Labels: Mustang HO Convertible, Mustang HO Coupe, Shelby GT500 Mustang; Transmissions: Automatic (AM7) | Labels: Mustang Performance Package |
| 2018 to 2019 | 10 to 11 | Labels: Mustang Bullitt | ||
| 2017 to 2018 | 14 to 10 | 20.0 to 20.5 | Transmissions: Automatic (S10) | Engines: 3.7L 6-cyl; Transmissions: Automatic (S6) |
| 2016 to 2017 | 9 to 14 | 20.5 to 20.0 | Labels: Mustang Performance Package | |
| 2015 to 2016 | 8 to 9 | 21.5 to 20.5 | Labels: Shelby GT350 Mustang; Engines: 5.2L 8-cyl; Fuels: Premium | Transmissions: Automatic 6-spd |
Buying used
What the Ford Mustang recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | engine; engine and engine cooling; visibility (windshield wiper/washer); 1 more | None |
| 2025 | 6 | power train (automatic transmission); exterior lighting (lighting control module); exterior lighting; 3 more | None |
| 2024 | 12 | service brakes, hydraulic (pedals and linkages); fuel system, gasoline (delivery); power train (clutch assembly); 8 more | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2023 | 6 | power train (automatic transmission); electrical system (body control module/bcm); steering (electric power assist system); 1 more | None |
| 2022 | 9 | air bags (knee bolster); forward collision avoidance (sensing system); power train (automatic transmission); 4 more | None |
| 2021 | 6 | air bags (side/window); air bags (knee bolster); electrical system (body control module/bcm); 2 more | None |
| 2020 | 8 | power train (automatic transmission); forward collision avoidance (sensing system); service brakes, hydraulic (pedals and linkages); 3 more | None |
| 2019 | 6 | electrical system (instrument cluster/panel); power train (automatic transmission); back over prevention (software); 1 more | None |
| 2018 | 4 | electrical system (software); power train (automatic transmission); engine and engine cooling; 1 more | None |
| 2017 | 6 | engine and engine cooling (cooling system); latches/locks/linkages (doors); air bags (frontal); 2 more | None |
| 2016 | 5 | seat belts; engine and engine cooling (cooling system); back over prevention (sensing system); 1 more | None |
| 2015 | 11 | seat belts; fuel system, gasoline; fuel system, gasoline (storage); 6 more | None |
Recalls that told owners to stop driving or park outside
- 2024, campaign 23V-800 (Nov 2023): service brakes, hydraulic (pedals and linkages). A loose brake pedal can result in a loss of braking function, increasing the risk of a crash.
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| electrical system | 309 | 18% | 2016 (72) |
| engine | 308 | 18% | 2016 (75) |
| unknown or other | 276 | 16% | 2015 (75) |
| power train | 209 | 12% | 2018 (45) |
| back over prevention | 180 | 10% | 2017 (64) |
| structure | 141 | 8% | 2015 (45) |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Ford Mustang trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EcoBoost | RWD | 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, EcoBoost) | 315 | 350 | 3,588 | 1,000 | 26 | $34,635 |
| EcoBoost Premium | RWD | 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, EcoBoost) | 315 | 350 | 3,588 | 1,000 | 26 | $38,340 |
| GT | RWD | 5.0-liter V8 | 480 | 415 | 3,827 | 1,000 | 18 | $48,555 |
| GT Premium | RWD | 5.0-liter V8 | 480 | 415 | 3,827 | 1,000 | 18 | $53,075 |
| Dark Horse | RWD | 5.0-liter V8 | 500 | 418 | 3,949 | 1,000 | 17 | $66,375 |
| Dark Horse SC | RWD | 5.2-liter V8 (Supercharged) | 795 | 660 | – | – | – | $108,485 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Ford Mustang model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, EcoBoost) / 5.0-liter V8 / 5.2-liter V8 (Supercharged) | 315–795 | 3,588–3,949 | 1,000 | 16 |
| 2025 | 5 | 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, EcoBoost) / 5.0-liter V8 | 315–500 | 3,588–3,949 | – | 16 |
| 2024 | 5 | 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, EcoBoost) / 5.0-liter V8 | 315–500 | – | – | 16 |
| 2023 | 3 | 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, EcoBoost) / 5.0-liter V8 | 310–450 | 3,636–3,916 | – | 15.5–16 |
| 2022 | 3 | 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, EcoBoost) / 5.0-liter V8 | 310–450 | 3,676–3,943 | 1,000 | 15.5–16 |
| 2021 | 3 | 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, EcoBoost) / 5.0-liter V8 | 310–460 | 3,676–3,943 | 1,000 | 15.5–16 |
| 2020 | 3 | 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, EcoBoost) / 5.0-liter V8 | 310–460 | 3,676–3,943 | 1,000 | 15.5–16 |
| 2019 | 7 | 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, EcoBoost) / 5.0-liter V8 / 5.2-liter V8 | 310–526 | 3,532–3,791 | 1,000 | 15.5–16 |
| 2018 | 3 | 4-Cyl, EcoBoost, 2.3T / 5.0-liter V8 | 310–460 | 3,706 | 1,000 | 15.5–16 |
| 2017 | 7 | 4-Cyl, EcoBoost, 2.3T / 3.7-liter V6 / 5.0-liter V8 +1 | 300–526 | 3,533–3,760 | 1,000 | 15.5–16 |
| 2016 | 7 | 4-Cyl, EcoBoost, 2.3T / 3.7-liter V6 / 5.0-liter V8 +1 | 300–435 | 3,526–3,705 | 1,000 | 15.5–16 |
| 2015 | 6 | 4-Cyl, EcoBoost, 2.3T / 3.7-liter V6 / 5.0-liter V8 | 300–435 | – | 1,000 | 15.5–16 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Ford Mustang.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0W-30 | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
| 2022 | – | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
| 2021 | – | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
| 2020 | – | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
| 2018 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2016 | – | – | – | R-134a | – |
| 2015 | – | – | – | R-134a | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Ford Mustang: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2024 Ford Mustang : 12 recalls on file, most commonly affecting electrical system and brakes.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | not available | engine cooling, engine, visibility/wipers, electrical system |
| 2025 | 6 | 14 | exterior lighting, powertrain, engine cooling, visibility/wipers |
| 2024 | 12 | 73 | electrical system, brakes, fuel system, powertrain |
| 2023 | 6 | not available | electrical system, steering, powertrain, backup camera |
| 2022 | 9 | 49 | electrical system, steering, airbags, forward collision system |
| 2021 | 6 | 55 | airbags, electrical system, backup camera, fuel system |
| 2020 | 8 | 118 | backup camera, powertrain, forward collision system, brakes |
| 2019 | 6 | 147 | powertrain, electrical system, backup camera |
| 2018 | 4 | 187 | engine cooling, electrical system, powertrain, backup camera |
| 2017 | 6 | 265 | backup camera, engine cooling, airbags, door latches |
| 2016 | 5 | 373 | seat belts, backup camera, engine cooling |
| 2015 | 11 | 436 | door latches, fuel system, seat belts, brakes |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Ford Mustang model years 2023, 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Ford Mustang?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2024 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Ford Mustang model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2024 Ford Mustang has 12 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting electrical system, brakes, fuel system. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03What are common recall-related problems on the Ford Mustang by model year?
2026: engine cooling, engine, visibility/wipers, electrical system. 2025: exterior lighting, powertrain, engine cooling, visibility/wipers. 2024: electrical system, brakes, fuel system, powertrain. 2023: electrical system, steering, powertrain, backup camera. 2022: electrical system, steering, airbags, forward collision system. 2021: airbags, electrical system, backup camera, fuel system.
Q04Why do some Ford Mustang model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Ford Mustang model years 2023, 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Buying, records and recalls, Engine and cooling, Brakes, tires and steering, Climate and electrical, Transmission and drivetrain.
2024 Ford Mustang owners specifically: see Climate and electrical and Brakes, tires and steering and Engine and cooling and Transmission and drivetrain.
Trim ladder
1 Ford Mustang trim, each with its own page.
Compared with
Models this Ford Mustang is most often compared with.
Nearest Ford models
Other Ford models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2025 Mustang come in?
The 2025 Ford Mustang (sports car) comes in 6 trims: EcoBoost, EcoBoost Premium, GT, GT Premium, Dark Horse, GTD.
Q02What are the 2025 Mustang trims?
The 2025 Ford Mustang trims are EcoBoost, EcoBoost Premium, GT, GT Premium, Dark Horse, GTD, listed from the entry EcoBoost up to the top GTD.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2025 Mustang use?
The 2025 Ford Mustang is built around 2.3L turbo four-cylinder, 5.0L V8 or supercharged V8 (GTD), rated at 315–800+ horsepower across its sports car body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2025 Mustang have?
The 2025 Ford Mustang is rated at 315–800+ horsepower (2.3L turbo four-cylinder, 5.0L V8 or supercharged V8 (GTD)).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2025 Mustang?
The 2025 Ford Mustang is offered with RWD.