Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

2002 Ford Mustang: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns for the 2002 Ford Mustang. Owners have filed 166 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
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Recalls (0)

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns for the 2002 Ford Mustang. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Owner complaints (166)

166 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine and engine cooling is mentioned most often.

24involved a crash
7involved a fire
15injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Ford Mustang, by component (top 10). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 166.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 2002 compares with other Mustang years

Best and worst Mustang years →
1998199920002001200220032004200520062007
This year (2002)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Fuel economy: up to 21 mpg combined

21
mpg combined
17
city
27
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$3,200
CO₂ tailpipe
423 g/mi
EPA class
Subcompact Cars

What it costs you to run

$3,110per year
$259per month
714gallons a year

Miles ÷ 21 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.

EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.

Specs by configuration

2002 Ford Mustang configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
3.8 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manualRear-Wheel Drive17 / 27 / 21$3,200423
3.8 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automaticRear-Wheel Drive17 / 25 / 20$3,350444
4.6 L 8-cyl · 5-speed manualRear-Wheel Drive16 / 23 / 19$3,550468
4.6 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automaticRear-Wheel Drive16 / 22 / 18$3,700494

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 2002 Mustang for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All Mustang years

Where to next

2002 Ford Mustang FAQ

How many recalls does the 2002 Ford Mustang have?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2002 Ford Mustang. Check a specific car with NHTSA's VIN lookup, which also covers newly announced recalls.

What are the most common 2002 Ford Mustang problems?

Owners filed 166 complaints with NHTSA. Engine and engine cooling (38), Air bags (21), Seat belts (21) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 2002 Ford Mustang get?

EPA rates the 3.8 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 17 city, 27 highway and 21 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

How does the 2002 Mustang compare with other years?

Among the 1998–2007 Ford Mustang model years at least five years old, the 2004 drew the fewest complaints (130) and the 2005 the most (868). The 2002 drew 166. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

Processing

  • Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
  • Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.

Limitations

  • Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
  • Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
  • Recent model years are still collecting reports.

Review

Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.

Changelog

  • 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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