How Reliable Is the Ford Mustang GT?
The Ford Mustang GT is the final holdout of the modern muscle car segment. As a result, the Ford faithful of the tenured pony car can rejoice and enjoy another generation of Mustang. However, new adopters of the V8-powered GT might have questions about the model’s reliability. So, just how reliable is a late-model Mustang GT?
The Ford Mustang GT is reliable– for the segment
The Ford Mustang enters its seventh generation (S650) in 2024. With it, the model gets revisions and a styling redesign. However, much of the architecture from the sixth-gen model (S550) carries over, including the EcoBoost’s 3.2L four-cylinder and the GT’s 5.0L “Coyote” V8.
| Make and model | Reliability score | Average annual maintenance |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Mustang | 3.5/5.0 | $709 |
| Chevrolet Camaro | 3.5/5.0 | $650 |
| Dodge Challenger | 3.5/5.0 | $585 |
RepairPal gives the late-model Mustang a 3.5 out of 5.0 for overall reliability. The Mustang’s closest rivals, the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger received the same 3.5 score.
However, evaluators gave the Mustang the 20th spot out of 24 in its class, one behind the Dodge Challenger and one ahead of the Camaro. In comparison, the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry scored the No. 1 and No. 3 spots, respectively. That said, Mustang hunters aren’t typically considering a sensible sedan, let alone Mustang GT fans.
Still, the Mustang’s $709 average annual maintenance cost puts it on the pricier side in the muscle car trio. However, that figure represents the entire Mustang lineup over the last few years, not the GT specifically.
Instead, the GT produces its substantial horsepower courtesy of a naturally aspirated (N/A) 5.0L DOHC Coyote V8. Believe it or not, the Coyote V8 is itself in its fourth generation after residing in every 5.0L GT since 2011.
As expected, an engine with a factory rating of 480 horsepower is subject to high heat and stress. However, the most frequent complaints about the mill center around ticking noises with few reports of costly fixes or catastrophic failures.
Despite the Mustang’s overall reliability, the pony car’s manual transmission could be problematic
However, the manual Ford Mustang GTs of recent years have an Achilles Heel. All sixth-gen and new seventh-gen manual GTs pack the Getrag MT-82 six-speed manual transmission. Unfortunately, that gearbox has a reputation for premature wear, and, in some cases, failure.
Instead, fans can always opt for Ford’s 10-speed automatic box. Still, fans who want the best driving experience in the Mustang lineup would be better off with the historically more dependable TREMEC TR-3160 in the Dark Horse.
Source: RepairPal
