How Long Do Ford Mustangs Last?

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The Ford Mustang is an innovative and excellent vehicle. This automobile was a series of American vehicles introduced by ford.

The name Mustang for the vehicle came after World War II; a fighter plane was used called the P-51 Mustang.

The Mustang was first introduced in 1964 17th of April, and ever since, the vehicle has proven to be the best of its time.

You might be thinking, how long do ford mustangs last?

The Mustang has a lifespan rate of 200,000 miles minimum and 300,000 miles maximum if proper maintenance and care is given to the vehicle.

So you must adequately maintain the vehicle to its top priority to increase its lifespan rate.

Now that the maximum life of the car is already shared with you, let’s touch on some of the topics that will benefit you with purchasing the Ford Mustang.

What Is The Average Life Expectancy Of A Ford Mustang?

Are Ford Mustangs reliable long-term? Read my guide to find out

As I mentioned above, the average life expectancy of the Ford Mustang is 200,000 miles to 300,000 miles, and the 300,000 miles lifespan rate is not guaranteed because if the vehicle is not properly maintained, you won’t even be getting a single ounce of the average rate.

The longevity and lifespan rate of the Mustang depends solely on the driver and its car parts.

The better the quality is, the better the vehicle will perform.

Does Ford Mustang Last Longer Than Other Similar Vehicles?

If you’ve already shortlisted the Ford Mustang in your long list of vehicles to purchase, this portion of the article will find you with good news below.

I will be comparing some of the top competitors of the Mustang in this way.

You can easily judge if the Ford is superior to other vehicles in its category and if the ford mustang comparatively last longer than other vehicles.

1. Ford Mustangs Vs. Dodge Challenger

First up, I have a comparison between the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger.

The Challenger is also a sports car with its popular fast, responsive engine and 700 HP but let’s compare the two to find out which one is more superior to the other.

  • The Dodge Challenger has a lifespan rate of 200,000 miles, around 13 years, with a yearly usage of 13,500 miles. A good average for a sports car, I would say.
  • Whereas the Ford Mustang, as we know, has a lifespan rate of 200,000 miles which is also 13-15 years in the long run, both the vehicle has similar lifespan rate; hence I would say this category has no superior party.
  • The mileage rate of the Ford Mustang is 21 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway. For a sports car, that is an average mileage.
  • The Dodge Challenger has a mileage rate of 15 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway. Comparing the two, the Ford Mustang has a higher mileage rate, hence winning the Mustang over the Challenger.
  • Lastly, the overall rating of the Ford Mustang in the market is 9.3 out of 10 for both safety and performance. Surpassing the milestone of 8 is considered very mighty for a sports car; hence the Mustang has an excellent overall rating.
  • The Dodge Challenger has an overall rating of 8 out of 10 for performance and 7.9 out of 10 for safety, and when it comes to reliability, the car has a rating of 88 out of 100. Although the Dodge also has an amazing rating, the Ford Mustang does surpass it by a little hence another point for the Mustang.

Both the vehicles are amazing in the sports car category, but by this comparison, I would say the Ford Mustang does overlook the Dodge Challenger hence a win for the Mustang.

Related: How Long Does A Dodge Challenger Last?

2. Ford Mustangs Vs. Nissan GT-R

Next up, I have a comparison between the Nissan GT-R and Ford Mustang.

Nissan vehicles have been in the market for a long time but are they a better choice to invest in over a Ford?

Let’s find out:

  • The mileage rate of the Ford Mustang is 21 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway, and as I mentioned before, this mileage rate is considered pretty standard for a sports car.
  • The Nissan GT-R has a mileage rate of 6 MPG in the city and 8 MPG on the high. The huge difference in the mileage rate is very evident; hence the Ford Mustang wins this category.
  • The lifespan rate of the Nissan GT-R is 200,000 miles and 300,000 miles if the vehicle is driven with caution and has been looked after properly.
  • The Ford Mustang, as we know, has a lifespan rate of 200,000 miles which is also 13-15 years with a 15,000 miles yearly usage rate. Both sports cars have a similar lifespan rate hence a point for both.
  • Lastly, the overall rating of the Ford Mustang is 9.3 out of 10 for both safety and performance, and that is close to a perfect rating; hence the ford takes the market by a storm with such a high rating.
  • The Nissan GT-R has an overall rating of 9 out of 10 for performance which is also an excellent rate for a sports car to have in the market. But if we compare the two, the Ford Mustang has a .3 advantage over the Nissan GT-R; hence the Mustang takes the point in this last category.

I would recommend the Ford Mustang over the Nissan GT-R. There is a major lack of mileage rate in the Nissan, and the mustang proves to be a worthy choice if you read the above factors.

3. Ford Mustangs Vs. Chevrolet Camaro

Lastly, I have a comparison between the Chevy Camaro and Ford Mustang. The Camaro is an amazing sports car as well.

It offers a wide range of aggressive powertrains with two high-performance V8 engines but let’s find out if it is a worthy opponent against the Ford Mustang.

  • The Ford Mustang has a lifespan rate of 200,000 miles minimum and 300,000 miles as reported by a few customers, and only the clutch has a minor error even after 300,000 miles of usage.
  • The Chevy Camaro has a lifespan rate of 15 years which is 150,000 miles, and if taken properly care of, it can go up to 200,000 miles with a yearly usage of 13,500 miles. The Ford Mustang has a higher lifespan rate, so in this first category, the Mustang wins.
  • The mileage rate of the Ford Mustang is 21 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway. Whereas,
  • The Chevy Camaro has a mileage rate of 20 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway. Both the vehicles have an average mileage rate and are pretty similar, but the Mustang has an advantage over the Chevy hence another win for the Ford Mustang.
  • The overall rating of the Ford Mustang is 9.3 out of 10 for both performance and safety. Excellent rating in the market, as I discussed.
  • The Chevy Camaro has an overall rating of 8.8 out of 10 for safety and 8.9 out of 10 for performance, again an excellent rating, but the Ford Mustang again has a bit of an advantage over the Chevy; hence even this last category is a win for the Mustang.

If we closely look at the comparison, the vehicles aren’t all that different, but the Ford Mustang has a higher percentage than the Chevy Camaro; hence I would recommend the Mustang.

Related: How Many Miles Will A Chevy Camaro Last?

Life Expectancy Of Ford Mustang Car Parts

The Ford Mustang has excellent and good-quality vehicle parts. The same quality parts are used so that the performance rate of the vehicle does not drop.

Hence you need to make sure during replacing car parts. Plus, you need to know the below-mentioned facts before investing in a Ford Mustang.

If you’re interested in The Ford Mustang, then keep on reading below to know everything you need to know about the car parts of this luxury sports car.

Average Lifespan Of Ford Mustang Brake Pads

The brake pads of the Ford Mustang have a lifespan of 30,000 miles to 70,000 miles. This mileage depends on the driver’s habits of driving the sports car and usage of the vehicle.

If you are more engaged in traffic, especially daily, you will need to change the brake pads more often.

It also suggested changing the brake pads right away if an issue occurs as they are a very important part of a sports car.

Average Lifespan Of Ford Mustang Battery

The average lifespan rate of the Ford Mustang battery is 300,000 miles to 500,000 miles, surpassing the car’s actual lifespan.

Hence, the battery will last you enough time before you need to repair the Ford Mustang.

The Ford Mustang has a miles range of 200 to 300, so we can assume that the batteries will last you more than the 200,000 miles lifespan that the car owns.

Other than that, you can adopt a few measures, by not parking the sports car out in the open to prevent it from decreasing its lifespan.

Average Lifespan Of Ford Mustang Tires

The Ford Mustang tires have an average life span of 15,000 miles minimum and 25,000 miles maximum you can engage this even further by rotating them every time you get an oil change.

This will add to the life of the tires. Secondly, try avoiding rough patches and roads; usually, the tires of the sports cars are designed so that dribbling and drifting can be done.

But if you avoid such fraction-creating factors, the Mustang tires can last you a good amount of time.

Average Lifespan Of Ford Mustang Transmission

The average lifespan of the Ford Mustang transmission is 120,000 miles, but this isn’t fixed as it depends on the type of sports car you have, either a manual or automatic.

As the mustangs can easily go up to 200,000 miles without a major issue, the transmission rate of the vehicle, according to that, is pretty standard.

Look after the vehicle properly, and you might just end up with more time on the car than you expected.

Related: Ford Mustang Transmission Problems

Average Lifespan Of Ford Mustang Spark Plugs

The average lifespan of the ford mustang spark plugs is 30-40k miles if the vehicle has a gasoline engine installed; otherwise, the spark plug life expectancy can vary.

You can use platinum spark plugs for the engine as they ignite more sparks and have a long history of lasting longer than other spark plugs.

Do not compromise their quality, as these spark plugs play an important role in the proper functioning of the Ford Mustang engine system.

Average Lifespan Of Ford Mustang Key Fob

You can easily use the key fob of the Ford Mustang for a good 3 to 4 years before you need to change or replace the key fob, and by that, I mean to charge its batteries.

The factory-made batteries guarantee a 4-year lifespan rate for the key fobs of the mustang, but it honestly depends on how often you use your sports car.

Key fobs are not that expensive to repair. Hence you don’t need to worry about their lifespan rate.

What Is Good Mileage For A Used Ford Mustang?

As the average lifespan of a brand new Ford Mustang is 200,000 miles, a used one should have a mileage of 40,000-50,000 miles or less for the sports car to give the best performance for a pre-loved vehicle.

The brand new Ford Mustang can even last up to 300,000 miles with proper maintenance.

Judging by these factors, I would suggest buying a used car with lesser mileage as it offers the original contents of the car over a higher mileage used car.

How To Increase How Long Your Ford Mustang Last

There are some steps you need to adopt in your daily life to increase the lifespan rate of the Ford Mustang.

Whether you are opting for a used vehicle or a brand new one, here are some measures to be taken:

  • To get the most HP out of the ford mustang, make sure to tune it with a professional’s help, so you don’t accidentally harm the interior system of the car.
  • Look for a Ford Mustang with the least amount of mileage. This only applies if you’re buying a used Mustang. Of course, the brand new one will start from the beginning anyway.
  • Don’t go over the speed limit. Overusing your vehicle can also result in a decrease in the lifespan of the Ford Mustang.
  • During the maintenance of your vehicle, use good quality car parts. This will play a vital role in increasing the longevity of the Ford Mustang.
  • If any repair issue occurs sooner than expected, then get it fixed as soon as possible or it will affect the life span rate of the Mustang.
  • Make sure to change the oil regularly.
  • Check the engine and transmission for any repairs on a regular basis.

Before purchasing a vehicle, always look at the customer reviews. This will give you an idea of how you can increase and better your vehicle when you’re opting for a used Ford Mustang.

Problems That Limit The Life Of Your Ford Mustang

The Ford Mustang is undoubtedly a great sports car, and the market rating also proves it, but some problems do arise with this luxury sports car that you need to be aware of, such as:

  • Interior accessory problem is one of the most common problems reported with the Ford Mustang 2017 model. The system fails to show any useful information other than the time and temperature.
  • Vibrating and vibration while driving is also a common problem in the Ford Mustang. At approximately 60 km, the mustang starts to vibrate, which is very annoying.
  • Hood corrosion and rusting are usually very common problems any car owner faces. The Ford Mustang also has a major hood rusting problem that affects its market rate.
  • Camshaft position sensor issues and loud and cramped noises are common problems reported by Ford Mustang users.
  • Valve Cover Gasket Oil Leaks, due to a cracked engine block or a blown head gasket, the valve cover overflows, and the oil leaks, another very common problem faced by the Mustang users.
  • Peeling body paint is more than a problem with used cars, but some have even reported this on brand new Ford Mustang.

These are some of the most common problems with the Ford Mustang that you need to know while purchasing the Mustang.

Related: Ford Mustang Starting Problems

What To Look For When Buying A Ford Mustang

If you’ve decided to purchase the Ford Mustang, then let me enlighten you on what to look for in this luxury and high-quality sports car, whether you’re buying this one:

  • The vehicle’s mileage should be less if you’re opting for a used Ford Mustang.
  • History of the Ford Mustang, accidents, or illegal history of the car.
  • Check each model of the Ford Mustang to see which one meets your requirement the best, both interior and exterior-wise.
  • Make sure you check the engine condition thoroughly.
  • Also, look into the maintenance history of the Ford Mustang in case the vehicle has any major repairmen that will cause a decrease in its lifespan.

There are just a few factors to look into properly before purchasing the Ford Mustang and know exactly what your requirements are in a sports car.

Related: Best And Worst Years For Ford Mustang

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is The Ford Mustang A Reliable Car?

Yes, the Ford Mustang is a very reliable car. It has a reliability rate of 3.5 out of 5.0, and for a sports car, that is amazing.

The Ford Mustangs also have a 9.3/10 performance and reliability rate as reviewed by the market.

You don’t have to worry about the Ford Mustang not being reliable enough for your use. The vehicle has an excellent rate of long-term usage.

Q2. Does Ford Mustang Have A Lot Of Problems?

No, the Ford Mustang does not have any major problems and as I previously mentioned the vehicle is very reliable it has a few problems such as:

  • Valve Cover Gasket Oil Leaks due to cracked engine pipes.
  • Vibration caused by 60 KM is a common problem reported for every mustang model.
  • The body paint of the Ford Mustang is very tacky and starts to peel.
  • Clutch problems after 200,000 miles mark.
  • Camshaft position sensor issues are another common problem with the ford.

Although these are solvable problems, they are very common in the Ford Mustang.

Q3. Is It A Good Idea To Buy A Used Ford Mustang

Yes, it’s a good idea to buy a used ford mustang, more so than other vehicles. The used Ford Mustang rate is also higher than most brand new vehicles.

Just make sure the used Mustang’s mileage rate is less than 40,000-50,000, to say the maximum.

This will give you excellent results on the road. The used mustang is also cheaper than the brand new one, another great factor.

Q4. Does Ford Mustang Rust Easily?

Yes, but also, it’s all about maintenance of the Ford Mustang. Ford doesn’t apply an undercoat before selling it on the market, which is one of the major reasons ford cars are prone to rust.

If you get an undercoat after purchasing the vehicle, this will cost you a bit of money but ensure your vehicle doesn’t get rusty.

Q5. Is Ford Mustang Expensive To Maintain?

No, the Ford Mustangs are not pricy for maintenance rates. During the first ten years, you will require $7,093 for repairing or replacing parts.

The annual maintenance rate is $709, and for an average car, the rate is $651. Even though the Ford has a higher rate, it’s much cheaper to maintain than other sports cars.

Conclusion

I hope I was able to answer to every question you might have about the Mustang, such as how long do Ford Mustangs last, how many problems the sports car has, and the mileage rate of the sports car.

Overall the Ford Mustang is an excellent sports car to invest in. With its longevity in the sports car business, it has a huge name in the market.

The vehicle is also not that expensive to buy or maintain. If your goal is to buy a sports car, I’d highly suggest the Ford Mustang.