Used car safety, rank #158 of 181
Ford Mustang coupe Safety Rating (2017-20)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2017-20 Ford Mustang coupe, a midsize sports car, compared with its class and with the current model.
The 2017-20 Ford Mustang coupe has an IIHS driver death rate of 59 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize sports cars average of 77.7, which is 24% below the class average. That places it #158 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 17.3/100.
What the Ford Mustang coupe death rate means
At 59 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Ford Mustang coupe beats the midsize sports cars average of 77.7 by 24%. The 95% confidence interval is 31 to 86, so the upper end of the range overlaps the class average and the advantage is not certain.
The other-driver death rate of 66 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Ford Mustang coupe. It is higher than the Ford Mustang coupe's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used sports cars
The safest midsize sports cars in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Ford Mustang coupe highlighted. It ranks 1 of the 3 shown.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Mustang coupe (this page) | 2017-20 | 59 (31 to 86) | 17.3 | n/a | n/a |
| Ford Mustang GT coupe | 2017-20 | 77 (45 to 109) | 12.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Ford Mustang convertible | 2017-20 | 97 (41 to 153) | 9.5 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize sports cars: 77.7 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Ford Mustang coupe
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Ford Mustang coupe we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Ford Mustang Mach E | TSP | 95.6 |
| 2026 | Ford Mustang | No award | 41.7 (provisional) |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 17.3 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Ford Mustang coupe
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
8 recall campaigns on the 2020 model year, covering back over prevention, electrical system, power train, service brakes, hydraulic, forward collision avoidance.
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Back over prevention: sensing system, camera
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.
Remedy: 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
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Back over prevention: software
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.
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Electrical system: body control module/bcm
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.
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Power train: automatic transmission, control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will update the PCM software, free of charge.
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Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages
Risk: A broken brake pedal could affect braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal bracket assembly, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2021.
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Back over prevention: sensing system, camera
Risk: Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
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Forward collision avoidance: sensing system, camera
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.
Remedy: 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.
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Power train: automatic transmission, gear position indication (prndl)
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.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began May 26, 2020.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-04. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2020. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Ford Mustang coupe: Common Questions
Is the Ford Mustang coupe a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 59 per million registered vehicle years for the 2017-20 Ford Mustang coupe, 24% below the class average (77.7 for midsize sports cars). That earns a used-car safety score of 17.3 out of 100 and rank #158 of 181 used vehicles.
What is the Ford Mustang coupe driver death rate?
59 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 31 to 86. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Ford Mustang coupe died at a rate of 66 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2017-20 models.
How does the Ford Mustang coupe compare with other midsize sports cars?
The midsize sports cars class averages 77.7 driver deaths per million; the Ford Mustang coupe sits at 59. Among the 3 midsize sports cars compared above it ranks 1 by safety score.