2020 Ford Mustang: engine failure

Filed Sep 10, 2026 · Engine · MI

Vehicle has 396 miles on the odometer. While preparing to back up, with the engine idling , the engine shut off without warning and I had no control of the steering and would not restart when I attempted to do so. This could have put anyone behind me at sever risk or maybe caused an accident should I have been on the highway. The car was towed to my Ford Dealer (Varsity Ford, Ann Arbor, MI) and after inspection they informed the engine had a failure and needed to be replaced and gave me a price of $19,900. No other warning lights or messages prior to complete engine failure.

Filed Aug 20, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · AZ

2020 Ford Mustang with the 2.3L EcoBoost engine. The vehicle has a documented history of coolant loss with no visible external leak, consistent with the known coolant-intrusion defect in Ford's 2.3L EcoBoost engines where coolant leaks internally into the cylinders. The vehicle previously threw a cylinder misfire code (P0301) and now shows a crankshaft/camshaft timing correlation fault (P0017). A scan tool confirmed the exhaust camshaft is approximately 18–19 degrees out of correlation. A new variable valve timing oil control solenoid was installed and did NOT resolve the fault, confirming the problem is mechanical — a worn/stretched timing chain. This wear is consistent with the oil dilution and contamination caused by internal coolant intrusion. The problem has been confirmed by an independent service center via scan data. The vehicle is available for inspection. Warning symptoms included the check engine light, a loud rattle on cold startup, and occasional hard/no-start conditions. This is a safety concern because internal coolant loss can cause overheating, cylinder head cracking, and potential engine failure or fire while driving. Repair cost quoted at approximately $2,000. Mileage approximately 54,400.

Filed Mar 17, 2026 · Engine · OK

FAILURE TO NOTIFY/ADDRESS A KNOWN ISSUE DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD Vehicle has been serviced in accordance with Ford’s recommended maintenance schedule by Joe Cooper Ford of Edmond, Oklahoma, since purchase. At service appointment in September 2025, with 59,968 miles – just prior to the 60k mile powertrain warranty expiration – specifically requested a thorough inspection of any conditions that could potentially be addressed under warranty coverage. During that visit, Joe Cooper Ford documented that the “coolant was low (at minimum mark) and dirty” and recommended a coolant system fluid exchange. This finding occurred in the context of the well-documented coolant intrusion defect affecting 2017–2020 Ford Mustangs and other Ford models. When an authorized dealer observes conditions consistent with a known defect during the warranty period, reasonable warranty administration requires disclosure and further diagnostic evaluation, so the customer has a meaningful opportunity to pursue timely repair. By January 2026, at only 61,640 miles, were informed our engine had failed. No such disclosure or evaluation was provided. As a result, we were deprived of a reasonable opportunity to address the condition under warranty prior to expiration. The subsequent engine failure occurred after the warranty period but was directly preceded by these unresolved indicators. Under these circumstances, denial of warranty consideration is inconsistent with the purpose of the warranty and reasonable consumer expectations.

Filed May 1, 2025 · Engine · 73,300 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there were several unknown warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the contact noticed smoke inside the vehicle and there was smoke coming from under the hood. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with failed pistons and a blown engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,300.

Filed Mar 31, 2025 · Engine · TX

On 03.29.25 (Saturday) the car started rough and the check engine light came on. I took it to the mechanic 03.31.25 (Sunday) and they inspected the car and told me that it is either the head gasket or the engine block is cracked because there is coolant intrusion into the cylinders. They asked me to call FORD customer service and ask if there was any way to cover it under warranty as the car only has 64K miles. I was told no, the warranty was 5yrs or 60K whichever came first and the 5 years was October of 2024. They suggested I file a report with the federal safety agency. The vehicle right now is at the mechanic as I try to decide what I would like to do with it. If the engine failed when driving, I don't know what would have happened. There were no other symptoms to the problem prior to the failure. In fact, weeks earlier I had it inspected to see if any maintenance was needed and it got a clean bill of health.

Filed Nov 7, 2024 · Engine · 86,000 miles · DE

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the engine overheated while driving. The contact was able to pull over and the vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was coolant in the combustion chamber, engine block, and cylinder head, and the low-pressure fuel pump had failed. The dealer recommended an engine replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the head gasket, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

Filed May 7, 2023 · Body, Engine · FL · fire

The gas tank was only getting 10 gallons of gas and not 16 gallons like it was suppose to. We ended up running out of gas on a road trip with our two young daughters in the middle of the night on I-75. The gas tank said you had 100 miles to go before empty and then 3 miles later it would drop to 0 and you were running out of gas. This car was used in street racing which was late devulged to us after we found out that at 20,000 miles a whole new engine was put in without our knowledge when we purchased the vehicle . We took it to the dealer and they put a new fuel assembly unit in it. It fixed the problem a little but never fully. Now, 2 days ago my husband with my youngest daughter ran out of gas again on US-19 and I had to leave work to go get them and gas. Next on the 57 things wrong with this car… 5 days after purchase it had 22 engine warning. Took it back and they replaced the 4th coil and the 4th injector and spark plug. About 3 days later my husband came flying into his work, ran by me grabbing a fire extinguisher and ran to the car and started shooting it at the car, the car had caught on fire and the 4th injector was spewing gas. They had pinched an oring while installing the injector and never put the clips back on the injector rail to keep them in place. My husband could have been killed easily. The dealership never took ownership for it and blamed it on the dealership that sold us this the car. Every time we turn around it’s something else. The month of December we only had the car 6 days. It was in the shop 3 different. Times and everytime we got it back it wasn’t fixed. We bought this car in September and it had had 52 engine lights, over 10,000 in parts and labor to fix. Four rentals cars a new battery list goes on. We have tried numerous times to ask the dealership to make this right and their answer is for us to sell them the car back less our 20,000 deposit and buy a whole new car from them. That’s the solution we were given