Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1972 Mustang.
The 1972 Ford Mustang occupies a specific place within a nameplate whose owner-reported complaint record, tracked from 1990 through 2026, runs from a peak of 868 filings in 2005 down to a low of just 4 in 2026. Because that documented complaint window begins nearly two decades after this car was built, the 1972 model year itself falls outside the period of direct consumer reporting captured in the available data, and any assessment of its standing in the model's reliability history must be drawn from the broader lineage context rather than from filings tied to that specific year. Researchers should therefore treat this generation as a historical anchor point within the Mustang's long arc rather than as a subject with directly traceable complaint data.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 190.2 in |
| Overall width | 0 in |
| Overall height | 0 in |
| Wheelbase | 109.1 in |
| Curb weight | 0 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Mustang of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Boss 351 Coupe 5.8L V8 | 5.80 sec | 14.10 sec | 330 hp | RWD |
| 1971 | Boss 351 Coupe 5.8L V8 | 5.80 sec | 13.80 sec | 330 hp | RWD |
| 1970 | Boss 429 Coupe 7.0L V8 | 5.30 sec | 12.30 sec | 375 hp | RWD |
| 1970 | Boss 302 Coupe 4.9L V8 | 5.80 sec | 14.40 sec | 290 hp | RWD |
| 1970 | Boss 302 Coupe 4.9L V8 | 6.50 sec | 14.93 sec | 290 hp | RWD |
| 1970 | Boss 302 Coupe 4.9L V8 | 8.10 sec | 15.80 sec | 290 hp | RWD |
| 1974 | II Mach I Hatchback Coupe 2.8L V6 | 12.20 sec | 18.20 sec | 105 hp | RWD |
| 1969 | Mach I Fastback 7.0L V8 | 5.70 sec | 14.30 sec | 335 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ERROR, CERTAIN FLEXIBLE-BLADE ENGINE COOLING FANS MAY BE SUBJECT TO FATIGUE CRACKING AND BLADE SEPARATION DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. Remedy: DEFECTIVE FAN WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN WITHOUT CHARGE.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.