Ford Mustang 2020–2026 reliability: ratings, recalls and the best model year
Consumer Reports and J.D. Power paint different pictures of Ford Mustang reliability. The 2025 model looks strongest among recent S650 cars, while recalls complicate the 2026 outlook.
The Ford Mustang does not have a simple reputation as either a “reliable” or “unreliable” car — the model year can nearly halve the score. In a recent comparison, Consumer Reports ratings were 77/100 for 2020, 45 for 2021, 42 for 2022, 60 for 2023, 40 for 2024 and 63 for 2025. The forecast for the 2026 Mustang is 50 points.
The latest Mustang is especially revealing. Consumer Reports currently says the 2024 model is less reliable than other cars from the same model year, while the 2025 Mustang scores above average. The 2026 forecast is roughly average and is based on data from 2024–2025 cars. For an S650 buyer, that makes the 2025 model year the most convincing choice so far based on CR’s accumulated data.
J.D. Power paints a noticeably more optimistic picture: the Mustang scored 87/100 for 2020, 84 for 2023, 79 for 2024 and 85 for both 2025 and 2026. But these figures cannot be placed directly beside Consumer Reports as if they used the same scale. J.D. Power uses its own Quality & Reliability metric and warns that for the current model year it may carry over the previous year’s score until fresh consumer data are available. So the Mustang 2026 score of 85/100 does not by itself prove that 2026 cars have already demonstrated that level of durability.
There is also an important update on recalls. Autoblog and the current Consumer Reports page list three campaigns for the 2026 Mustang, but the latest data now show five. Two more campaigns were added in late August. The first, 26V547, covers 148,663 Mustang vehicles from the 2024–2026 model years: engine-harness ground connections can corrode, potentially causing loss of propulsion, lighting, washer operation, air conditioning or the cooling fan. The second, 26V548, affects some 2026 Mustangs: improperly manufactured pistons can fail and also cause a loss of propulsion.
Separately, some 2025 Mustangs with the 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine were recalled over a defective EGR valve that can cause a sudden loss of power. The Mustang portion of that campaign covers 1,213 vehicles. That is another reason not to apply a broad reliability score to a specific car without checking the engine, model year and VIN.
The practical takeaway from seven years of data is simpler than the ratings themselves: when buying a Mustang, the model year matters more than the generation as a whole. In the S550 lineup, the strong 2020 model sits next to the weaker 2021–2022 cars, while within the S650 generation the current data clearly favor 2025 over the debut 2024 model. Anyone buying a U.S.-market example should check its VIN in the NHTSA database, especially for 2024–2026 cars.
For NHTSA campaign 26V547, Ford’s internal number is 26C40. Dealers are expected to replace the engine-harness ground terminals free of charge. Initial risk notices were scheduled to begin on August 31, 2026, while follow-up letters after the final remedy becomes available are expected around March 2027. For campaign 26V548, Ford’s internal number is 26S61: dealers will inspect the pistons and, if necessary, replace the engine long block free of charge; the final remedy is expected in December 2026.
The EGR-valve recall carries NHTSA number 26V122 and Ford number 26S10. Affected vehicles are eligible for a free EGR-valve replacement, and owner letters were mailed on July 31, 2026.