Diagsheet

2018 Ford Mustang · symptom sheet

Check engine light or misfire

  • 33owner reports
  • 50,000median miles
  • $5,000median quote
  • 0involved a crash

Newest report Aug 17, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

90 of the 188 complaints on this car are about the engine. 33 of those describe misfire, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2018 Mustang.

Tick what matches of 33 reports

8
4
1
3
3

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the spark plugs (3 reports).

Recalls and investigations

2 recalls on the engine cover the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

18E-035May 24, 2018
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger

Roush Performance Products, Inc. (Roush) is recalling certain aftermarket supercharger kits, part number R1318-6006P1-AA, sold for installation on 2018 Ford Mustangs. The hose barb fittings on the supercharger kits may be manufactured incorrectly, possibly causing damage to the fuel lines and resulting in a fuel leak.

Risk and remedy
Risk: A fuel leak can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Roush will notify the known owners and replace the defective fuel rail subassemblies, free of charge. The recall began on May 31, 2018. Owners may contact Roush customer service at 1-800-597-6874. Roush's number for this recall is REMay2018.
17V-814Dec 18, 2017
Electrical System:Software

Ford Motor Company is recalling certain 2018 Ford Mustang vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission and a 12.4" digital instrument cluster. If the ignition is turned off when the transmission is not in PARK, the instrument cluster may not illuminate the PRNDL gear position display and the operator may not receive the "Key in Ignition" chime when the driver's door is opened. As such, these vehicles fails to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence/Starter Interlock/Transmission Braking Effect," and number 114, "Theft Protection."

Risk and remedy
Risk: Without a visual or audible warning to the driver that the vehicle is in PARK, the vehicle may roll away after it has been exited if the parking brake has not been applied, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 5, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C21.

NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Mustang

DP05-005opened Sep 22, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling · model years 1997 to 2004

Spark plug ejection from cylinder head. Closed jan 4, 2006.

NHTSA summary
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VER
PE99-029opened May 3, 1999
Electrical · model years 1998

Fires in the center console. Closed jul 27, 1999.

NHTSA summary
There is no summary currently available
PE87-028opened May 1, 1987
Electrical · model years 1984 to 1986

Stalling. Closed jan 21, 1988.

NHTSA summary
NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN DETECTED.===

None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.

What owners paid

5 of the 33 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $5,000 to $8,200.

$5,000$5,000$8,200
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 23,000 and 70,915 miles, from the 22 reports that gave a mileage.

118
319
623
524
1225
626

What owners wrote

“2018 WITH 118,000 MILES. Had to get a full block engine replacement due to coolant intrusion into the cylinders. This was diagnosed and replaced at a Ford dealership.”

Filed Aug 17, 2026 · 118,000 miles

“Random/multiple misfires and cyl 3 misfire (P0300 and P0303). Mechanic used a borescope and found coolant on the walls; visible coolant intrusion in cylinder 3. Coolant has gotten to low levels. Very rough cold start. Mechanic highly recommends to get the engine replaced.”

Filed Jan 10, 2026

“Check engine light came on. Took car to dealership where I learned that the car needs a new engine due to coolant leaking into the cylinders. I later learned this is a "known issue" with this engine, yet Ford has refused to fix or do a recall. The engine could fail or catch on fire if not replaced.”

Filed Jun 9, 2025

“Head gasket failure from research online there seems to be a flaw in the engine block that leads to coolant leaking in between cylinder walls causing premature head gasket failure.”

Filed Apr 10, 2025

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 33 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.

Other problems on this car