Federal regulators have announced a major safety recall covering nearly 150,000 Ford Mustang vehicles due to a critical defect that could cause a sudden loss of engine power while driving.

The recall, initiated by Ford and dated Aug. 25, affects 148,663 vehicles manufactured between 2024 and 2026, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Officials said the defect can cause the vehicles to suddenly stall and lose their ability to accelerate or maintain speed, sharply increasing the risk of a crash. "The engine compartment wiring harness ground connections may fracture and result in a loss of drive power," the recall notice said.

The problem can also render other essential vehicle components inoperable, including the headlights, windshield washing system, washer fluid pump, air conditioning system and engine cooling fan.

"An inoperable headlamp may reduce the driver's visibility and/or make the vehicle less visible to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash. An inoperable windshield washing system increases the risk of a crash," the notice said.

Drivers may receive warning signs shortly before a sudden loss of power, including a Check Engine light, other dashboard warning messages or an audible warning chime.

According to NHTSA, adhesive from the engine wiring, which was wrapped in adhesive-lined heat-shrink tubing, may have spilled over and contacted wiring terminals, or metal eyelets, that anchor the wires to the vehicle's frame. The hardened adhesive may have prevented the metal eyelets from sitting flush against the engine surface. The eyelets could then bend around the hardened adhesive when bolted down during manufacturing, creating stress points that make them more susceptible to breaking from engine vibrations.

Once an eyelet fractures, the electrical connection can be lost, causing several critical vehicle systems to shut down suddenly.

The recall notice estimates that approximately 1% of the recalled vehicles contain the defect. The affected vehicles were manufactured between Sept. 7, 2022, and June 9, 2026.

As of Aug. 18, 2026, Ford was aware of eight warranty claims related to the issue, four of which occurred within three months of service. The company reported no accidents, injuries or vehicle owner questionnaires (VOQs) connected to the defect.

Sudden power loss at speed is treated by regulators as among the more serious vehicle defects because it can leave drivers unable to maintain speed in traffic, and recalls of this scale are typically addressed at no cost to owners under federal motor vehicle safety rules. Affected owners who notice a Check Engine light or dashboard warnings before a repair is available may wish to contact a dealer promptly, since the remedy timeline extends into 2027.

To address the safety issue, authorized Ford dealers will replace the faulty terminals with redesigned, stronger metal parts at no cost to vehicle owners. Dealers were notified on Aug. 28, 2026, and official notifications are scheduled to be sent to affected consumers between Aug. 31 and Sept. 4. The full repair remedy is expected to become available by March 2027, once the redesigned parts are in supply.

Owners can check whether their vehicle is affected by calling Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332, contacting a local Ford or Lincoln dealer, or entering a vehicle's 17-character VIN on the NHTSA website.