NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of June 2026, the NHTSA has not yet received complaints specific to the 2023 Ford Mustang. However, this does not mean the vehicle is free from defects. Complaint data often lags behind real-world issues, and many vehicle owners experience problems before they are widely reported. If you are experiencing recurring issues with your 2023 Ford Mustang, you may still have a valid lemon law claim. You can file your own complaint at SaferCar.gov and check for updates on the NHTSA database.
The 2023 Ford Mustang has generated 242 NHTSA complaints and has 6 active recalls. If your 2023 Ford Mustang has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. Ford pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2023 Ford Mustang include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 28 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “Description of Incident: On August 3, 2025, while driving my 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, smoke began rising from the front of the vehicle. Within momen…”
Brake defects affecting safety may qualify for California’s two-repair threshold under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, which applies to defects likely to cause death or serious bodily injury. The 2023 Ford Mustang has generated 20 NHTSA complaints related to braking, including ABS failures, grinding, reduced stopping power, and warning lights. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2023 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH and making a left turn the collision avoidance system…”
The 2023 Ford Mustang has generated 18 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “Ongoing issues with rough idle. Threw a couple generic lean codes (p0171 and p0174) that did not stay. Stored code p061a:00-28. On my third dealer.…”
Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2023 Ford Mustang include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 16 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “Car constantly shuts down at electric vehicle charging stations and has even loss power will driving on highway and bought up powertrain fault…”
Steering defects can create unpredictable vehicle behavior and qualify as safety-related under California lemon law. Reported issues on the 2023 Ford Mustang include pulling, vibration, loss of power steering, and electronic steering warnings. 8 NHTSA complaints have been filed in this category. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2023 Ford Mustang. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V493000 (Steering); however, the part to do the re…”
The following 6 recalls have been issued for the 2023 Ford Mustang by the NHTSA or Ford. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: The inability to secure the vehicle in the park position can result in a rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transmissions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 23S06.
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: Without a low brake fluid warning light, the vehicle may be driven with low brake fluid, reducing braking performance and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 23C35.
Component: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: A steering wheel that turns unintentionally can cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the power steering control module (PSCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 24S44.
Component: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: A steering wheel that turns unintentionally can cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the power steering control module (PSCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 25S11.
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 25S72.
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: Without a low brake fluid warning light, the vehicle may be driven with low brake fluid, reducing braking performance and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 25C55. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be se
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2023 Ford Mustang:
Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Ford to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Ford must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your 2023 Ford Mustang qualifies as a lemon under California law, Ford may be legally required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Ford a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Ford dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.
Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Ford pays your fees if you win.
Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Ford a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.
Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Ford is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.
Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.
California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
If your 2023 Ford Mustang has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
Get a free case evaluation. Ford pays our fees if you win — you pay nothing upfront.
Check My Refund Amount →