Some Ford Mustang owners are noticing that their 10-speed transmissions make their cars stall, jerk, jump, lurch, hesitate, shift roughly and experience transmission failure.
The complaints of these Ford Mustang car owners mirror those made in a class action lawsuit filed against Ford. Though 2018—2022 Ford Mustang cars are not included in the lawsuit, consumer complaints reveal that the vehicles experience similar issues.
Complaints submitted to federal regulators reveal the extent of the Ford Mustang transmissions problems, which may include slipping, shaking, shuddering, stalling, jerking violently into gear and losing power. The 10R80 automatic transmissions are also installed in certain Ford F-150, Ford Expedition, Ford Ranger and Lincoln Navigator vehicles.
To provide a glimpse into the issues plaguing some Ford Mustang cars, we have compiled a sample of complaints submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Please note that the complaints on the Ford Mustang have been edited for grammar and clarity.
2018 Ford Mustang
10-speed transmission did not engage then failed less than a second later while pulling into an intersection. This caused the car to enter the intersection but fail to go forward more than a few feet. The problem resolved after three attempts to go forward by pumping the gas pedal. The transmission also was jerking or jumping from 1st through 3rd gear as if the car could not find the correct gear to be in while going forward. The problem resolved after the first mile of driving. This is a recurrent but sporadic issue. The issue has caused near miss collision by another driver thinking my car was going to accelerate when the forward motion stopped but there were no brake lights in indicate the car was not going forward. The jerking and jumping has made it hard to control the car during turns and on slippery road. I have an appointment scheduled for service at a Ford dealer for them to see if the issue is able to be addressed.
2018 Ford Mustang
The transmission failed while driving on a busy street making a left turn. My safety and my passenger’s safety was at risk because there was oncoming traffic when I made a left turn and a car was trailing me. Just like another complaint, “10 speed transmission did not engage then failed less than a second later while pulling into an intersection. This caused the car to enter the intersection but fail to go forward more than a few feet. The problem resolved after three attempts to go forward by pumping the gas pedal. The transmission also was jerking or jumping from 1st through 3rd gear as if the car could not find the correct gear to be in while going forward. The problem resolved after the first mile of driving.” However, for me the problem returned again once I turned the car off and restarted it. After less than a mile of driving, the transmission began malfunctioning again, jumping and jerking until the transmission just stopped working altogether. Someone has posted experiencing the same malfunction on the same model and year vehicle and I wonder if there are others that have had the same scary, horrible experience? Due to my transmission malfunctioning during my turn, I was lucky that the oncoming car just stopped and blew at me, and the car behind me just went around me instead of crashing into my rear. The car was towed to the dealer and is in the process of being evaluated. There were no warning lights or messages prior to the incident and the automobile is now at the dealership because the vehicle totally stopped driving.
2019 Ford Mustang
The 10 speed automatic transmission is not shifting properly. The car lurches and it feels/sounds like the transmission is going to fall out of the car when putting the car in drive or reverse from park. There is hesitation while shifting during acceleration. The car should downshift to a lower gear when extra power is needed. Also, the transmission shifts hard when coming to a stop and feels like undue wear and tear is being placed on the transmission. The issues I am having are the same I see other Ford Mustang and Ford F-150 owners are having with the transmission. I want this issue fixed and the car is available for inspection. Also, this issue has been ongoing since Jan 2021 when I purchased the car used.
2019 Ford Mustang
2019 Ford Mustang GT 5.0L with 10-speed automatic transmission mileage: 14,000.
-Engine stalls when car comes to a stop (happened more than 10 times).
-Harsh transmission shifting from 4th to 5th.
-Dipping and irritating RPM when idle.
-Exhaust sound valve squeaking noise (like the sound when the metal has corrosion squeaking sound) while the valve changes from quite to normal or from normal to track.
-Wheel whining noise shows on or above 40mph (like wheel hub bearing humming sound).
-Dash and rear driver side rattling noises.
-Front end bushings squeaking noises (especially can be heard while passing on car parking bumps).
2020 Ford Mustang
Caught in stop-and-go traffic at night for 45 minutes. Car started moving forward even though my foot was only on the brake pedal. My first thought was I’d accidentally pressed both the brake and gas pedals, but I could see my foot on the brake pedal since the under-dash area is lit in the Premium model. It happened for about one minute the first time, then happened again a couple minutes later. I hit the bumper of a tour bus during the second instance at about two mph. The tour bus driver apparently didn’t notice the hit and changed lanes a few minutes later. I didn’t see any damage to the tour bus, but my license plate bracket and license plate were bent, and the middle part of my bumper didn’t snap back together correctly. The Ford dealer was unable to duplicate the problem, and the brakes and vacuum pressure module didn’t show any leaks. The service advisor said it was impossible for the transmission to engage without pressing the gas pedal, but I suspect the 10-speed transmission since the engine RPM didn’t appear to change. There were no warning lights before or after the incident and the service advisor said no codes had been set. In retrospect I should have tried putting the transmission in neutral, used the emergency brake, or turned off the ignition (but a tractor trailer was about ten feet behind me).
If you have recurring Ford Mustang transmission problems, your vehicle may be a lemon. Read more about your California Lemon Law rights. If you would like more information, complete the consultation form below to request a free consultation.
Lemon Law Help by Knight Law Group is an automotive lemon law firm that exclusively practices in California. If you are a California resident who purchased or leased a defective vehicle from a licensed dealership in California, we may be able to help you get rid of your potential lemon and recover significant cash compensation. Model year restrictions apply: 2020–Present vehicle models only.
However, we cannot help those who reside outside of California or purchased their vehicle outside of California unless they are active duty members of the Armed Forces, nor will we be able to refer those to a lemon law firm in their states.
To learn more about the California Lemon Law and your legal rights, visit our guide on the California Lemon Law for more information.
