HI Scotty, my wife has a 2024 Mustang GT base model with the 301A package, Night Pony package, and upgraded brakes (bought Dec 2023 for $46,500 plus tax and registeration), currently at 7,500 miles and fully paid off. I’m planning to keep the car long-term,but I’ve had a few concerns and wanted to get opinions from people who’ve been in similar situations.
This is an early-build 2024 (first year of the refresh), and early on (around 800 miles) the car completely stopped — all the dash lights came on and it wouldn’t start. The dealer kept it for about 30–35 days and said they were close to tearing the dash apart, but were ultimately able to fix it by rewiring something in the junction box.
More recently, I’ve had ongoing problems with the tail lights, the middle light on the driver side randomly stops working. It’s been reprogrammed, then the tailgate was replaced, and now the issue seems to be coming back again.
I am worried if more issues will arise in the future because this vehicle was under Ford Recall 25C43 (NHTSA 25V546 for cars built between 2024 to July 2025), where they resealed seams in the body/engine area under the windshield, as there is a risk that water may enter and corrode the body control module (BCM), which might be the reason for these issues. Not sure, just guessing. So now I’m trying to decide what makes the most sense:
1. Buy an extended warranty (10 years / 100k miles) for $2,800
2. Keep the car without extended warranty and just deal with things as they come
3. Trade it in for a newer 2026 model (I’ve been offered $44,600 for mine, replacement would be around $52k)
Main concerns:
- First-year model reliability (especially electrical)
- Repeat issues that don’t seem fully resolved
- Planning to keep the car long-term
Would really appreciate hearing:
- Anyone with similar issues on the 2024s
- Whether the extended warranty paid off for you
- If you’d keep it or move on in my situation
- I called Ford last Friday and requested a buyback from Ford last Friday and received a case number. They said they’ll determine if my vehicle is eligible. If approved, will they reimburse the original sticker price or my actual purchase price? I paid $46,500 plus tax and registration ($47,500 total) after a dealer discount. CarMax is currently offering $44,600, which is close to what I paid. However, the same build now costs $54,790 plus shipping, tax, and registration.
Thanks in advance!
Do you
If you’d keep it or move on in my situation
Do you have to have it? Is getting something more reliable an acceptable option for you?
If approved, will they reimburse the original sticker price or my actual purchase price?
Probably the whatever you paid for the car originally. "Sticker price" is the vehicle's MSRP, if you paid less than MSRP for it, you'll get it back. Auto manufacturers don't like to give money away without a fight. Hopefully I'm wrong but given Ford's relatively recent track record with Ford Fiestas having transmission problems and selling those cars anyways, I don't have high hopes for your situation.
My wife and I both have 2017 Mustangs, and they constantly have their check engine lights illuminating because of Ford's cheaply designed and built EVAP system. It used to be with cars like Mustangs, that was Ford's pride and joy and Ford concentrated on them because it was a moneymaker. Not anymore. That Ford Mach-E is doing better with sales than actual Mustangs. The Big Three never figured out small, front-wheel-drive cars, it never made money for them, and they all eventually exited the market. My wife had the extended warranty offered, and her speakers went out during the extended warranty period. Ford put new speakers in free of charge. I didn't purchase the extended warranty. I drive my Mustang sparingly vs my truck.
- First-year model reliability (especially electrical)
- Repeat issues that don’t seem fully resolved
- Planning to keep the car long-term
Ford is currently limping through recall after recall because of constantly skimping on costs. The company manufactured pretty much all of their cars and trucks lousily at least for the past 10 years. Ford did too much cost-cutting when they were initially producing said cars and trucks are now royally biting Ford hard in the rear end. Pre-2015 vehicles were relatively recall free, other than the notable exception of the Fiesta. Over 72% of the recalls that have been issued this year are Ford-made cars and trucks.
