⌘K
Your vehicleHome›Ford›Mustang› 2020
Ford · Coupe

2020 Ford Mustang

Gas
Subcompact Cars
14 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
69 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 8
Complaints13 crash · 5 fire · 8 injured reported 120
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 25 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2020 Ford Mustang is sold in the U.S. as a gas coupe with 14 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Mustang, is EPA-rated at 25 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 120 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

2020 Ford Mustang

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
MustangGasRWD2.3L 4-cyl turbo213225$2,700
MustangGasRWD2.3L 4-cyl turbo213024$2,800
Mustang ConvertibleGasRWD2.3L 4-cyl turbo202823$2,900
Mustang ConvertibleGasRWD2.3L 4-cyl turbo202823$2,900
Mustang HO ConvertibleGasRWD2.3L 4-cyl turbo202723$2,900
Mustang HO CoupeGasRWD2.3L 4-cyl turbo202823$2,900
Mustang HO CoupeGasRWD2.3L 4-cyl turbo202723$2,900
Mustang HO ConvertibleGasRWD2.3L 4-cyl turbo192622$3,050
MustangGasRWD5.0L 8-cyl162519$3,550
MustangGasRWD5.0L 8-cyl152418$3,700
Mustang ConvertibleGasRWD5.0L 8-cyl152418$3,700
Mustang BullittGasRWD5.0L 8-cyl142317$3,950
Shelby GT350 MustangGasRWD5.2L 8-cyl142116$5,150
Shelby GT500 MustangGasRWD5.2L 8-cyl121814$5,850

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 41952, 41951, 41954, 41955, 41959, 41958, 41960, 41961, 41956, 41953.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Mustang, Mustang Convertible, Mustang HO Convertible, Mustang HO Coupe5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Mustang, Mustang Bullitt, Mustang Convertible, Shelby GT350 Mustang, Shelby GT500 Mustang3 / 10California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Gas-guzzler tax applies to Mustang Bullitt, Shelby GT350 Mustang, Shelby GT500 Mustang — a federal excise the manufacturer pays and prices in.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleCoupe
Doors2
GVWR classClass 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders8
Displacement5 L
Engine configurationV-Shaped

Engine Output

Horsepower435 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: GT Convertible, GT Coupe, I4 Convertible, I4 Coupe). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length188.2–189.8 in
Width (body, without mirrors)75.6–76.0 in
Height54.3–54.7 in
Wheelbase107.1 in
Track, front62.2–63.4 in
Track, rear63.8–65.0 in
Curb weight3,543–3,891 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear52/48 to 54/46

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 5 configurations: Ecoboost 2-door Convertible, Ecoboost 2-door Coupe, GT 2-door Convertible, GT 2-door Coupe, GT350/350R 2-door Coupe. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Advertisement

Factory warranty running out?

The 2020 Ford Mustang is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (8)

Source: NHTSA recall database
●moderate

Back Over Prevention

25SA9
1,448,655 vehicles 1% reported repaired built Feb 28, 2019 – Dec 16, 2020
Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse. Risk A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford'
NHTSA campaign 25V695000 reported Oct 13, 2025 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Back Over Prevention

25S72
200,237 vehicles 59% reported repaired
Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended. 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. Fix 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.
NHTSA campaign 25V442000 reported Jun 27, 2025 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Electrical System

23C35
187,922 vehicles 73% reported repaired
Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Mustang vehicles. The brake fluid level sensor may not activate the visual warning indicator when the brake fluid is low. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems." 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. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V727000 reported Oct 27, 2023 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Power Train

22S37
25,032 vehicles 68% reported repaired
Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Mustang vehicles equipped with 5.0L engines and manual transmissions. The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) may broadcast an unintended faulted signal to the modules controlling the reverse camera, reverse light, and driver assist features, which may disable all of these functions. Risk A rearview camera or reverse light that is disabled reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash. Disabled driver assist features (traction control, forward collision warning, blind spot warning, cross traffic indicator) may increase the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will update the PCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 15, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S37.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V382000 reported May 27, 2022 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Back Over Prevention

20C19
620,246 vehicles 82% reported repaired
Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility." Risk Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash. Fix Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Remedy became available on February 1, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C19.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V575000 reported Sep 23, 2020 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

20S52
38,005 vehicles 98% reported repaired built Mar 4, 2019 – Aug 13, 2020
Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Mustang vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The brake pedal bracket may fracture during sudden stopping. Risk A broken brake pedal could affect braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal bracket assembly, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S52.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V573000 reported Sep 23, 2020 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Electrical System

20S26
24 vehicles 96% reported repaired built Feb 10, 2020 – Feb 11, 2020
Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Mustang vehicles equipped a forward-looking camera. The camera may be misaligned to the vehicle and features that are dependent on the camera such as Pre-Collision Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping System, Driver Alert, and Auto High Beam Control may not function as intended. Risk If the driver is unaware that the Pre-Collision Assist feature is not operating effectively, they may rely on a system that is not functional, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Fix Ford will notify owners, and dealers will perform the Lane Departure Warning System camera alignment procedure, free of charge. This recall began June 17, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S26.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V306000 reported May 27, 2020 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Power Train

20S21
10,460 vehicles 87% reported repaired built Apr 26, 2019 – Oct 19, 2019
Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Expedition and 2019-2020 Mustang vehicles. The "Transmission Not In Park" warning message and associated chime duration are shorter than intended. Risk If the driver exits the vehicle without the transmission being shifted into park, unintended vehicle movement may result, increasing the risk of injury or crash. Fix Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S21.
NHTSA campaign 20V263000 reported May 8, 2020 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera — Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance open

On September 23, 2020, Ford Motor Company (Ford) filed a noncompliance recall report under 49 CFR Part 573 (NHTSA Recall No. 20V-575), recalling 620,246 Model Year (MY) 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles for a noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 111, Rear Visibility. Ford's recall described the noncompliance as insufficient electrical conductivity within the printed circuit board (PCB) internal to the camera leading to intermittent rearview camera operation. The supplier of the cameras was Magna Electronics. According to Ford's chronology in the Pa

Opened Aug 3, 2021 · action RQ21002 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Mustang

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2020 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Ford publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2020 Ford Mustang, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Advertisement

Parts & accessories for the 2020 Ford Mustang

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Mustang →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
120complaints filed

13 involved a crash · 5 a fire · 8 injuries · 0 deaths reported

16 per 10,000 built · Ford reported 73,623 Mustang built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2020: 11 · 2021: 10 · 2022: 8 · 2023: 17 · 2024: 20 · 2025: 33 · 2026: 21

Most-cited components

Engine 28
Power Train 25
Electrical System 25
Unspecified 22
Service Brakes 20
Back Over Prevention 12

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that the passenger's side rear window failed to roll up completely. The contact also stated that the front passenger's side window would continuously roll up and down upon starting the vehicle and while driving.
Electrical System at 68,000 miles Sep 2, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11482620
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.
Service Brakes Aug 10, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11478710
I was in an accident hitting my entire front end, which has a lot of damage. With the impact the car had obtained, I feel as though the airbags should have deployed
Air Bags Jun 22, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11470383
Driving at posted speed, went to pass a vehicle and the accelerator stuck in full open (down) position. Car lurched forward and luckly I was able to put it on neutral, pull over and manually un-stick the accelerator pedal
Fuel/Propulsion System Mar 28, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11458676
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle was jerking and shaking uncontrollably. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to continue to drive the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure recurred increasingly while driving on the interstate.
Power Train at 23,600 miles Jan 11, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11447129
This vehicle has been in an accident with damage exceeded $5000.00 (I have a Ford Dealerships estimate to prove damage on the vehicle has not been eepaired nor reported) Again, substantial, front drivers side, hood, wheel, breakline, door and underbody damage occurred to this vehicle.
Wheels Dec 14, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11443811

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Ford itself: 15 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 14 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 20 per 100,000 built. Every Mustang model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 24k

miles, typically

Half the 37 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 8,000 and 60,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 10
10k–20k 4
20k–30k 6
30k–40k 2
40k–50k 1
50k–60k 4
60k–70k 4
70k–80k 3
80k–90k 2
90k–100k 1
100k–150k 0
150k + 0

Across 2018–2020 model years the Ford Mustang ranks 46 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 1.18× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 27,000 miles against a fleet 23,512).

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
2 DR RWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★9%
2 DR RWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★9%
C RWDnot ratednot ratednot rated★★★★★8%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 184
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-04-29
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 176 service bulletins, 8 others

Most often about: Electrical System, Power Train, Equipment, Unknown Or Other, Engine.

  • 25H05 S1 Other
    2026-04-29 · Electrical System
  • Harvest Program 25H05 – Supplement #1 Certain 2011-2021 Model Year Vehicles Software Verification Harvest Program
  • SSM 54720 Service bulletin
    2026-04-02 · Lane Departure — Blind Spot Detection
  • Various 2020-2026 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with blind spot information system (BLIS) may experience an inoperative blind spot monitoring with a "Blind Spot System Fault" message displayed in the instrument panel cluster (IPC). This may also be accompanied by diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) B118C:11 and/or B118C:15 stored in the driver door module (DDM), and/or B118D:11 and/or B118D:15 st
  • TSB 26-2112 Service bulletin
    2026-03-18 · Fuel/Propulsion System
  • This bulletin supersedes TSB 26-2059. Reason For Update: To add missing labor operations. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: - No upshift past second gear - Unable to achieve third gear ratio - Illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with DTCs P0757 and P2701 This may be due to a damaged one-way clutch (OWC).
  • SSM 54601 Service bulletin
    2026-02-24 · Electrical System
  • Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool or from the label printed on the body control module (BCM). Th
  • SSM 54589 Other
    2026-02-17 · Electrical System
  • Some 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC3 may experience various connectivity concerns with The Ford App Lincoln App including but not limited to: missing activation prompt pop-upon the vehicle's center display screen when attempting to activate vehicle through The Ford App Lincoln App, incorrect location global positioning system GPS reported through The Ford App Lincoln App,
  • 25N16 Other
    2026-01-06 · Visibility/Wiper
  • Rear View Camera Inspection For One-Time Replacement
  • 25N16 Other
    2025-12-22 · Visibility/Wiper
  • Certain 2015-2020 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Inspection For One-Time Replacement
  • 25L02 Other
    2025-12-02 · Unknown Or Other
  • Special Field Action 25L02 Certain 2017-2024 Model Year California Emissions-Certified Vehicles Transmission Control Assembly Reimbursement

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0757
P0757 on Ford →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train13 bulletins
P2701
P2701 on Ford →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train13 bulletins
P0729
P0729 on Ford →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train12 bulletins
P0731
P0731 on Ford →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train12 bulletins
P0732
P0732 on Ford →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train12 bulletins
P0733
P0733 on Ford →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train12 bulletins
P0734
P0734 on Ford →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train12 bulletins
P0735
P0735 on Ford →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train12 bulletins
P0736
P0736 on Ford →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train12 bulletins
P0751
P0751 on Ford →
Shift solenoid A is not responding — stuck off.Power Train12 bulletins
P0752
P0752 on Ford →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train12 bulletins
P0756
P0756 on Ford →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train12 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Ford Mustang failed the emissions check on 3.9% of first inspections — higher than the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.5% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%).

New York inspections 3.9%

failed emissions

1,131 initial inspections of 1,103 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2020 MustangEvery 2020 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check3.9%2.2%1,125
Failed the safety inspection1.5%1.6%1,131
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0%0.19%1,131
Miles driven a year5,5909,980odometer at inspection
Average odometer35,47562,630odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2020 vehicle” is every 2020 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Common questions about the 2020 Mustang

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2020 Ford Mustang have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 8 recall campaigns for the 2020 Ford Mustang. The most serious on file is 20V573000, covering Service Brakes, Hydraulic. 1 of them was filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. 1 campaign is phased, so the repair reached some model years before others. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2020 Ford Mustang?

NHTSA gave the 2020 Ford Mustang 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (69/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Ford Mustang?

Across the 14 EPA-rated configurations of the 2020 Ford Mustang, the best EPA combined figure is 25 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2020 Ford Mustang?

Transport Canada measured it at 188.2–189.8 in long, 75.6–76.0 in wide (body, without mirrors), 54.3–54.7 in tall, on a 107.1 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,543–3,891 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2020 Ford Mustang?

Owners have filed 120 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford Mustang, most often about engine, power train, electrical system. Of those, 13 involved a crash, 5 a fire, 8 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2020 Ford Mustang?

The EPA smog rating for the 2020 Ford Mustang runs 3 to 5 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV125, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2020 Ford Mustang?

The manufacturer has filed 184 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2020 Ford Mustang, most often covering electrical system, power train, equipment. The most recent is dated 2026-04-29. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2020 Ford Mustang do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Ford Mustang failed the emissions check on 3.9% of first inspections — higher than the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.5% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations14 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates14 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls8NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints120NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings3 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins184NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations1NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA8 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

JSON for this page · API