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A man looks at the new black 2010 Mustang on display at the Orange County Auto Show

Never Buy the 2010 Ford Mustang

When you want something fun, fast, and relatively affordable, the Ford Mustang is always been a great option. However, there have been some model years that were not such a great choice. For example, there is the 2006 Ford Mustang, which had the most complaints from owners at one point. However, it seems that the …

When you want something fun, fast, and relatively affordable, the Ford Mustang is always been a great option. However, there have been some model years that were not such a great choice. For example, there is the 2006 Ford Mustang, which had the most complaints from owners at one point. However, it seems that the 2010 Ford Mustang has superseded the 2006 model according to Car Complaints.

Corrosion on the Ford Mustang’s hood

The No. 1 issue owners of the 2010 Ford Mustang has been with the paint on the hood fading or corroding. Owners reported this occurring at around 47,000 miles (75,639.17 km) and generally cost them approximately $1,700.

In one particular complaint to Car Complaints, the paint issue went far beyond the hood. The complaint involved a 2010 Mustang GT 4.6-liter V8 with about 50,000 miles (80,467.2 km). The owner had to have the hood, roof, and both rear quarter panels repainted and the windshield replaced.

Since this was considered “extensive chip damage,” the owner’s insurance partially paid for the repairs. Among other problems plaguing the 2010 Mustang body, the paint peeled, water leaked onto the floorboards, and rainwater pooled inside the doors. Of course, when rainwater pools inside things like the doors, this can lead to rusting and malfunctioning power windows.

One other complaint concerning the body included a frayed convertible top elastic lever strap. And even though there is only one complaint listed about this, it’s rated 10 on the severity rating: “Really Awful.”

Accessories and interior problems

One of the most dangerous problems owners complained about was the gas pedal sticking. One person expressed driving along the German autobahn and having the accelerator stick. The person writes: “The car just started accelerating and there was nothing I could do except ride the brake. I tried to clutch and the engine whined so much I thought it would blow.

“So I swung into the right lane and just pressed on the brake, hoping to stop the vehicle. It seemed like hours but was probably about thirty seconds in reality when it finally responded. It happened two or three more times in the next ten minutes before I could get the car off the highway.”

It goes without saying that this problem was rated 10 on the severity scale: “Really Awful.”

Other complaints include an inoperable phone button (19,000 miles) and won’t go into gear intermittently (20,000 miles).

Air conditioning and heating problems

At about 20,000 miles (32,186.88 km), 2010 Ford Mustang owners began complaining about the air conditioning not working. One owner said that “it’s hit or miss” but usually chooses not to work when it’s needed the most. The severity rating is a six: “Fairly Significant.”

At 26,000 miles (41,842.94 km), the actuator starts making tapping sounds. One owner complained that they had to have this repaired by the dealer only one month after purchase. When the same problem arose again several years later, Ford no longer covered it under its extended warranty.

Other complaints about the 2010 Ford Mustang

Another issue that people reported was a faulty anti-lock braking system (ABS) sensor. One person wrote: “People warned me about buying a Ford. I guess I should have listened.” This is because they purchased a V6 2010 Ford Mustang at 60,000 miles (96,560.64 km) and had to replace the ABS sensor and gasket only three weeks later.

ABS systems are designed to stop wheels from locking up during severe braking conditions. This is meant to prevent vehicles from skidding or hydroplaning on slick surfaces. ABS systems are comprised of a module and sensors at each wheel. The ABS sensors sense the speed of the wheel and send a message to the module. The module will then rapidly pump the brakes when the vehicle is skidding or has lost its traction. Thus, a faulty ABS sensor can cause a driver to have a severe accident if they’re expecting it to work properly.

If you were looking to buy a used Ford Mustang in the near future, don’t let this article get you down. There are plenty of other great model years available out there.

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