2016 Ford Mustang: sudden loss of power

Filed Sep 6, 2025 · Engine · OH

Component/system: Engine (Coolant intrusion into cylinder 1); Inspection available: Yes; Safety risk: Sudden power loss on road; Reproducibility/Confirmation: Dealer verified coolant in cylinder 1 after engine inspection; Manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others inspections: No; Warnings/symptoms: Check Engine light turned on, error code P0301, higher than normal engine temperature, low coolant in reservoir, white smoke, rough idle at turning of engine; First appeared: Around 100,000 miles.

Filed Aug 4, 2025 · Engine · FM

The coolant over temperature warning light of my 2016 ford mustang ecoboost came on and the engine immediately went on limp mode and I stopped the vehicle and switched off the engine. The vehicle quickly lost power and this created safety concern for other drivers who would have bumped me. I towed the vehicle to the nearest ford dealership for inspection and they found that coolant went into the engine and the coolant bottle was empty. As a result the dealership has said that the engine engine needs to be replaced…. a big shock for me as I have never had any prior issue with this car which is only 59k illegal on the clock. After further research of my own, this seems to be a common issue with ford ecoboost engine before year 2020. What surprises me is that there was no other indication or warning before this incident which could have obstructed me to take precautionary action.

Filed Oct 30, 2024 · Engine · 127,249 miles · AL

Engine Failure. In the right situation, complete loss of power of vehicle could cause several safety problems including Injury and/or Death. The problem was determined by the dealer and Extended Warranty Inspector. There were no warning lamps or any other indications of a complete engine failure. No smoke exiting the exhaust, no contaminated oil, plenty of coolant in radiator, and was not making any noise. Reason for taking the car in for service was, on Oct 1, 2024 the gauge was acting erratic. The car never ran hot. The car was taken to the dealership on Oct 2, 2024. 2 days after, received a call with results stating that I need a complete engine replacement due to overheating and coolant found in cylinder #3.

Filed Oct 19, 2023 · Engine · CA

My car is a single owner car, that has documentation of regular oil changes, engine upkeep, and general maintenance since its purchase in 2016. No major issues had been experienced until August, 2023. While driving the car home from work, I felt an immediate loss of power from the engine, my a/c went out, and an error flashed saying the temperature sensor for the cylinder heads showed the engine was overheating. So, in 100+ °F weather, I pulled the car over and turned it off. I let it sit for just over 15 minutes before turning it back on, only to find the car was still in failsafe mode. With less than five miles to return home, I drove, a car that refused to get up to 25 mph in the blazing heat (and no a/c), back home. I immediately called my local Ford dealership and set up an appointment to bring it in the next week, their soonest available appointment. In the meantime, I had to find people to carpool to work with. The next Monday, the car is brought in, and that day I’m informed the cylinder head cracked and I’d need a new engine. I couldn’t believe it. I’d always taken care of my car, never put it under any type of undue stress, how could the cylinder head have cracked? The dealership explained the damage was due to a well-known defect in the design of the engine. I was still flabbergasted. The engine fails, not through fault of the user, but from bad design on the part of the manufacturer, and I’m still the one responsible to pay $8,000 for a new engine? I am disappointed Ford put out a car with engines that WILL eventually fail, and then chooses to force their customers to be financially responsible for their error. My engine losing power with absolutely no notice could have resulted in a life threatening car accident had I chosen to drive the freeway that day, or could have forced me into unsafe situations had I been traveling. I will never buy a Ford again based on this experience and the business practices displayed.

Filed Jul 27, 2023 · Engine, Steering · GA

2016 Ford Mustang V6 This is EXTREMELY concerning as it's a SAFETY issue losing power features while the vehicle is in motion. While driving the car provides an error message with a wrench sign/icon stating the transmission is not in Park, then it proceeds to shut down the car leaving us without power steering. The car need stopped, move the transmission to Park, and start the engine. Doing this clears the warning and you are able to drive the car without any problem. The two incidents occurrences were about 1 or 2 months apart. Below link shows other people having the same issue [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 10, 2021 · Engine · TN

Engine threw a rod and damaged several pistons. Car has only 86,000 miles on it. Routine maintenance was done on schedule. No warning lights or symptoms were present before the incident. This will now require a full engine replacement. The incident happened while driving causing a major loss of power and eventually the inability to safely get my vehicle out of traffic. My car is still sitting at my mechanic and is available for inspection. It was only diagnosed and no repairs have been performed. The current COVID situation has made it impossible to even secure a replacement engine. Ford should be held accountable based on the number of related issues reported. I’m now paying on a car I can’t drive or repair l.

Filed May 1, 2018 · Engine · 2,500 miles · FL

On 4/28, 2018 while driving on florida's turnpike at 65 MPH without warning the car decelerated and lost power, going into limp mode. Luckily no accident happened, but clearly a serious safety issue.

Filed Jul 18, 2017 · Acceleration, Electrical · 4,572 miles · SC

Purchase date 4-16. Eight documented visits to dealer/repair. Other visits where service adviser said to return when system failures were happening, as problem would resolve before I arrived at service. Re water inside, driver door issues, sync, camera/stereo electrical issues include doors will not unlock at times, takes multiple attempts to be granted access into car, thus causing safety concern. Sync goes out fairly regularly including phone function, back up camera, stereo. Currently in shop again since 7-3-17 @ 9 am.(16 consecutive days this trip). Safety concern of most importance to me is the fact that car has lost power multiple times on highway and thankfully has not yet been in a major accident. Quick reflexes of drivers behind me are only reasons that accidents have been avoided thus far. I am told by dealer that this is a throttle body malfunction. Throttle body has been reprogrammed after a near rear end accident ( highway/ intersection/turn). Throttle body went out with no warning car instantly decelerated with no acceleration capability. One week later throttle body fails again causing a near accident that would have been fatal in nature due to the speed of traffic on highway. My 7 yea old was in rear seat. My children are no longer for any reason allowed in the vehicle since october 2016. Throttle body has yet again been replaced june 2017. Third attempt to repair this car with no indication that this is a repair, it seems to be merely a repair attempt as this process of attempted repairs has caused 3 near rear accidents. This car has proven itself to be a danger on the road and a major safety hazard for anyone inside or outside of this vehicle while it is in motion. Low mileage is indicator of how untrustworthy vehicle is to me. It is only driven by me, no passengers allowed. Only driven if another car can not be borrowed. Unresolved issues.

Filed Mar 30, 2017 · Transmission · 700 miles · TX

Electronic throttle body broke, was fixed by dealership and was informed that the original that is being put on 4 models from ford have faulty ones, but since only 5,000-8,000 have broken, there was no need for a full scale recall. I pulled out in traffic and lost all power, only 1.5 months after I drove off the lot with a brand new car.... Yes it is major

Filed Feb 28, 2017 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 3,100 miles · CA

While driving in forward and backing up vehicle complete loss of electric power steering. Including warning cel for service advanctrac, hill assist n/a and traction control. This has occurred on multiple occasions and has been take to dealership multiple times. The loss of power steering is extremely dangerous and almost impossible to control vehicle. 3 times on city streets while turning and 4 times on driveway.

Filed Sep 6, 2016 · Transmission · 1,590 miles · CT

Transmission overheats resulting in loss of power and reduced RPM. The loss of power is computer controlled. When the transmission hits a certain temperature the computer reduces the engine power and RPM. This is documented by my ford dealer by finding transmission overheat codes when the cars computer is scanned. Loss of power is a dangerous situation.

Filed Aug 28, 2016 · Engine, Transmission · 8,300 miles · AZ

The car suddenly lost power and no acceleration was possible. The trouble light came on. Car would only roll at 10mph with engine power. The gas pedal would not control the motor speed. Car would not shift. This happened when I just pulled in to a parking lot. I was able to use the emergency flashers to get the car home using side streets at 10mph. Last year a guy in his 2015 mustang asked me if I had this problem as he explained the same situation when I also owned a 2015 mustang. I didn't have that with the 2015, but I just bought it when we talked. I know what he means now. As my 2016 did what his 2015 did with a loss of power.