2012 Ford Mustang: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Feb 20, 2024 · Acceleration, Transmission · CA

Recently started having erratic shifting issues. Will downshift randomly out of nowhere while driving. Sometimes will just be stuck in 1st gear and won’t go anywhere until I pull over and shut off/start up again. Dangerous because I never know when it will do it. Might seem like everything is fine and then all of a sudden, it downshifts and loses power. Rpm’s rise but car has no power. Have to figure out how to get out of the way. As stated in ford’s “ Customer Satisfaction Program 16N02,” my 2012 has all the symptoms and I have DTC code P0731 but dealer refused to service my vehicle because it doesn’t show up with my VIN, even though it’s a 2012 and I clearly need my Molded Leadframe replaced.

Filed Sep 13, 2022 · Transmission · TX

The transmission is leaking between where engine and transmission meet and it will not go into gears correctly

Filed Jun 19, 2019 · Airbags, Suspension · 35,000 miles · SD

Fyi I can not include the top/roof due to it wont allow me to input the check mark) I baught this mustang in june 2012,used from ford here in sioux falls sd, since that time I have asked about the top about the clunking and if they would notify me if any recalls. They only sent one for the passenger air bag , until this week when I received a second notice for the takata air bags from the day I took her off the lot. I wanted to know why my front end suspension is making a clunking sound in front and it's been there since the first day, I even had her looked at to make sure she wasn't damaged, within minutes they came back and said she's fine no problems and why my transmission does not want to shift to higher gears from 1st thru overdrive, she bogs down like there isnt any fuel getting to her engine and she doesn't shift through the gears properly, if I had recieved the recalls it would of been in immediately. My top leaks water when washed so it can cause damage on the inside especially the door electrical systems, yet ford refused to have the top redone since they feel it's just normal wear yet its happened since the first time I had to wash her. I'm starting to think think ford has taken advantage of me in this case as I still can not get any updated information on my car and if I can either get the work done or the vehicle replaced, mind you I still owe on her and to be honest I do not want a trade in , I'd rather ford fix these issues and write off the remaining debt due to negligence for not advising me of these recalls in a timely manner and for bit fixing the issues when the recalls came out . It's quite frustrating to know I've paid over 20000 for a car that they are willfully neglecting to fix and yet I'm to be liable for the debt no matter the possiblity that they are negligent and dismissive of my claims.

Filed May 5, 2017 · Body, Transmission · NJ

Front hood has paint peeling issue within 2 years of purchase. Auto trans doesn't shift properly in at least 1 of the first 3 gears. It bucks when cold in winter weather until car warms for at least 30 minutes.. Ford has had the car on 3 occasions without fixing the issue. They replaced the first 3 solenoids in trans without success. Purchased new. These 2 issues remain a big problem. On another note, interior cabin flooded due to rain entering the cowl from a design flaw. Dealership detached a hose.

Filed Jun 7, 2016 · Transmission · 21,450 miles · LA · 1 injury

I was driving down the street and when I shifted from 1st to 2nd the gear shifter got hung up and would not shift causing the car to downshift throwing me foward and hitting my head on the steering wheel.

Filed May 9, 2016 · Engine, Transmission · 69,000 miles · NC

While driving car suddenly loses power and shows wrench light and goes into limp mode. Trouble codes shown p2111 and p2112. This can happen any time during driving and has happened in heavy traffic potentially dangerous consequences.

Filed Mar 28, 2016 · Transmission · 77,000 miles · CA

While accelerating to get on the freeway, the transmission began to slip and the car began to jerk, then the transmission locked into 3rd gear, and would not shift out of 3rd gear until the vehicle was completely stopped, and the engine turned completely off. This is an intermittent problem, but an extremely dangerous one when it occurs. The ford dealership says I need a recall notice before they can fix it. I'm out of work and don't have the funds to replace or repair the vehicle. Right now, we are driving it as little as possible.

Filed Sep 20, 2015 · Fuel system · 52,954 miles · TX

While driving expressway speeds in the center lane of a busy expressway the vehicle abruptly went into limp mode and loss of all acceleration. Had to coast to get to right hand lane/shoulder. Took car to dealership and they said the throttle body had to be replaced. As a side note, I had the fuel injectors and throttle body cleaned just over a year ago. I don't understand why the mustang is not covered under ford's "customer satisfaction program" that is being offered for faulty throttle bodies in other models as the unsafe symptoms and results were identical, I.e. Car driving highway speeds abruptly goes into limp mode and loss of all acceleration.

Filed Sep 1, 2015 · Fuel system · 50,000 miles · FL

The vehicle has gone into limp mode several times. The wrench symbol on the dash comes on and the vehicle must be shut off and restarted. I am told the throttle body must be replaced. Why is there a customer satisfaction program for the escape and other models but not the 2012 mustang. I own a 2012 ford escape also and have not experienced the problem with that vehicle. Only experience it with a same year vehicle that is not included in the program. The vehicle is not safe to drive when it shuts down at 45+ MPH.

Filed Jul 21, 2015 · Acceleration, Engine · 60,000 miles · TX

While entering the freeway in rush hour traffic, my car went into "limp mode", the wrench light came on as did the check engine light. I had to pull over on the shoulder of the freeway, turn the engine off and restart it. This has happened a couple of times in the past couple of days- mostly while driving on the freeway. It is very scary to be driving on a houston freeway, have this happen and need to safely maneuver a vehicle to the shoulder of the freeway, often crossing several lanes of traffic when vehicles are moving at 40-55 MPH and I have no ability to accelerate. I have also had to stop in the middle of the freeway to restart my car because I was not able to safely change lanes. It was a terrifying experience and I was afraid I would be re-ended by motorist driving at posted speeds. When researching this issue, along with the mariner's, escapes, focus etc, I have found that many ford mustangs have this same problem. Given that this is a very dangerous condition, the cost involved in replacing the throttle body, and most importantly, ford's long history of vehicles with defective throttle bodies, I do not understand why the 2012 mustang or any other ford product with this issue are not automatically eligible for the "customer satisfaction program" which fixes the problem. I do not trust this car and no longer feel safe in it.

Filed Jul 16, 2015 · Fuel system · 61,000 miles · NC

Driving down the road and the electronic throttle wrench light come on and car went into limp mode. It has happened 3 times since. Once going down a 4 lane highway in rush hour traffic and car just stalls. I had to get over in far lane and get off road as cars were flying up on me and around me.

Filed May 16, 2015 · Engine, Fuel system · 75,000 miles · TX

While merging on a local highway at 15 MPH the wrench warning light came and the car went into limp mode. I was lucky the right hand lane had break in traffic and I was able to get off the road. The limp turned in no acceleration and was unresponsive to the gas pedal. I turned the car off and waited 1 minute and restarted the car - everything was back to normal. I drove directly to my mechanic and had him scan for codes. No codes were found. He ran numerous other checks and drove the car for 60 miles with no problems. This is the second time the wrench warning light has come on in the last 3 weeks. The first time nothing happened as the car did not go into limp mode. The car was scanned then also with no codes showing. I was fortunate not to have been hit.