Problems › Ford › 2021 Mustang
2021 Ford Mustang Problems & Owner Complaints
Age-normalised, this year draws ~9.2 complaints per year on the road — ranking 13 of 13 Ford Mustang years we track (1 = most complaints per year).
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What owners report
Fuel System is the most-reported problem area on the 2021 Ford Mustang, cited in 10 of 55 filed complaints (18%).
Power Train is next (9 complaints, 16%), followed by Engine (8), Electrical System (6), Fuel/Propulsion System (5).
Across all complaints, 4 report a crash, 2 report injuries.
The most safety-critical cluster is Power Train: 1 crash, 1 injury report(s).
Complaints by vehicle system
Owner complaints filed with the U.S. NHTSA for the 2021 Ford Mustang, grouped by the vehicle system each cites. A single complaint can name more than one system, so the group totals can add up to more than 55.
Fuel System 10
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle started losing automotive power. The vehicle had stalled several times. The vehicle was able to restart, and the loss of automotive power was intermittent. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part was not yet available. The contact called a local dealer and the manufacturer several times and was informed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of t…”
NHTSA complaint #11726929, 2026
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that in May 2025, there was a misfire in the engine after refueling with warm fuel. The check engine warning light was flashing on the instrument cluster. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); and associated the misfire with the recall. The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. T…”
NHTSA complaint #11720636, 2025
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle hesitated and the engine misfired, and the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact called a local dealer and was advised that there was a recall associated with the VIN under NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact was advised by the dealer that the remedy was not yet available. The contact stated that the failure was a recurring failure. The…”
NHTSA complaint #11709318, 2025
Power Train 9 1 crash 1 injury
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang GT500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering as the instrument cluster went blank and the charging system error warning message was illuminated. The contact also stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Battery Save Mode, Pull Over, and Turn Car Off and On" message was illuminated. The contact had pulled over to turn off the vehicle and was able to restart. The failure reoccurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where the failures could not be du…”
NHTSA complaint #11522730, 2022 · crash · 1 injury(ies)
“A steady Check Engine Light came on after starting the car; brought it to Ford Dealer of Montebello and they stated coolant leak and got into one of the cylinders that caused misfires.”
NHTSA complaint #11722624, 2026
“Vehicle stalled while pulling into traffic from apartment driveway.”
NHTSA complaint #11672643, 2025
Engine 8
“A steady Check Engine Light came on after starting the car; brought it to Ford Dealer of Montebello and they stated coolant leak and got into one of the cylinders that caused misfires.”
NHTSA complaint #11722624, 2026
“While entering an on-ramp and just before merging onto the freeway the vehicle failed to accelerate and I lost complete power from the engine. The vehicle was still powered on, but produced no combustion from the engine. The check engine light illuminated and a message appeared on the dash stating to shift the vehicle into neutral. I pulled off on the shoulder and shifted the vehicle into park. I shut the vehicle off and started it back up. After doing so I had full power once again. This is the sixth time this has happened.”
NHTSA complaint #11682840, 2025
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number:25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that after storing the vehicle in storage for the winter and connecting a battery retainer, the check engine warning light temporarily illuminated for one day. The dealer was contacted and was unsure when parts would be available. The contact called another dealer, Evansville Fo…”
NHTSA complaint #11675387, 2025
Electrical System 6 1 crash 1 injury
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang GT500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering as the instrument cluster went blank and the charging system error warning message was illuminated. The contact also stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Battery Save Mode, Pull Over, and Turn Car Off and On" message was illuminated. The contact had pulled over to turn off the vehicle and was able to restart. The failure reoccurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where the failures could not be du…”
NHTSA complaint #11522730, 2022 · crash · 1 injury(ies)
“I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS CAR. THE REAR BACK-UP CAMERA WAS IN A FLIP FLOPPED STATE. MEANING, WHAT WAS DISPLAYED ON THE CABIN SCREEN ON THE LEFT, WAS ACTUALLY ON THE RIGHT PLUS THE GUIDING LINES ON THE SCREEN WERE MISSING. I PURCHASED AND INSTALLED A NEW CAMERA FROM FORD. THIS FIXED THE FLIP FLOPPED IMMAGE , BUT, NOT THE MISSING LINES ON THE SCREEN. SECURING THE WIRES I NOTICED THE WIRING HARNESS AT THE BEND AT THE DECK AND LID WAS FULLY EXPOSED TO BEING FRAYED BY THE METAL DECK LID. I DID NOT SEE ANY COPPER WIRE SHOWING. BUT, I WONDER HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO FRAY TO RAW WIRE? I ALSO OWN…”
NHTSA complaint #11698817, 2025
“Rear camara is inconsistent but lately works 25% of the time.”
NHTSA complaint #11689567, 2025
Fuel/Propulsion System 5
“My vehicle, VIN [XXX], is subject to NHTSA Recall 25V455 (Ford Recall 25S75) involving a defective low-pressure fuel pump that may cause engine hesitation, loss of power, or engine stalling. This recall was announced in July 2025 and remains open on the NHTSA VIN lookup as of June 2026. More than eleven months have passed since the recall was announced, and Ford has not provided a repair remedy for my vehicle. I believe this is an unreasonable delay for a safety-related defect. In addition, the recall previously appeared in the FordPass application associated with my vehicle but no longer app…”
NHTSA complaint #11745538, 2026
“At highway speed (60-65mph), in 6th gear, cruise control activated, the car began to surge and stall and loose power. Applying more throttle to maintain speed did not help. Pulled to roadside and engine stalled. No check engine light at that time. Re-started with rough idle, check engine light illuminated, attempted to drive again but there was no power, vehicle stalled again. Tried to crank again with crank-no start, check engine light on. Car had approx. 1/4 tank fuel and range of 80 miles to empty. Had to tow. After towing home about 2 hours post-incident, car is still crank-no start. Scann…”
NHTSA complaint #11715437, 2026
“While entering an on-ramp and just before merging onto the freeway the vehicle failed to accelerate and I lost complete power from the engine. The vehicle was still powered on, but produced no combustion from the engine. The check engine light illuminated and a message appeared on the dash stating to shift the vehicle into neutral. I pulled off on the shoulder and shifted the vehicle into park. I shut the vehicle off and started it back up. After doing so I had full power once again. This is the sixth time this has happened.”
NHTSA complaint #11682840, 2025
Service Brakes 5 1 crash
“The contact leased a 2021 Ford Mustang from an Enterprise rental company. The contact stated while driving approximately 3-5 MPH and coming to a complete stop, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond, lunged forward, and hit the rear of the vehicle before him. The contact stated that it was a fender-bender; however, the front of the vehicle sustained damage. The air bags did not deploy. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact did not sustain injuries. The occupants of the other vehicle did not sustain injuries. There was no police report filed. The contact w…”
NHTSA complaint #11497775, 2022 · crash
“Failure to repair NHTSA Recall Number 23V727 Summary ON YOUR VEHICLE, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR MAY NOT ILLUMINATE IF THE BRAKE FLUID IS DEPLETED FROM THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. Safety Risk THIS MAY RESULT IN NO BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR WHEN THE BRAKE FLUID IS BELOW THE RECOMMENDED LEVEL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR, WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.”
NHTSA complaint #11558589, 2023
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact received a notification through a ride sharing app that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: Awaiting# (Service Brakes, Hydraulics) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”
NHTSA complaint #11553004, 2023
Unknown Or Other 5 1 crash
“Lane departure lane assist failed along with the blind spot and viper visibllity caused me to crash my vehicle. Insurance refusing to fix. This need to be investigated. I don’t remember the impact my insurnace is accusing me of lying and won’t fix the car but I just got it.”
NHTSA complaint #11479487, 2021 · crash
“Check engine light keeps coming on even after dealer says it is fixed. Keeps throwing codes evaporative emission system problem.”
NHTSA complaint #11561274, 2023
“Rear view camera is not working and the infotainment display is freezes up every time after starting the vehicle. The entire infotainment system is inoperable until next ignition cycle. The key SAFTEY concerns is rear view camera doesn't work at all. This is huge issue to drive and park the car safely. Problem is happening for past one month and could not able to use the vehicle safely. Ford service is very bad and cant event schedule a service to check the issue. trying all options. This problem has been happening for 3-4 months intermittently and past 6 weeks its happening always.”
NHTSA complaint #11548399, 2023
Back Over Prevention 4
“The backup camera goes blank and says to contact Ford”
NHTSA complaint #11735290, 2026
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera display glitched and switched between a black and a blue colored screen. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact was informed that a diagnostic test was needed. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure description; however, the VIN was not associated with the VIN. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,500.”
NHTSA complaint #11713473, 2026
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera image was distorted and black intermittently. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that rearview camera needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 25V315000(Back Over Prevention); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA…”
NHTSA complaint #11672751, 2025
Suspension 3
“I had to put 3 sets of tires on my car by 50,000 miles. The Ford company told me to go to an alignment specialist because without putting some sort of aftermarket part on my car they can't properly align it and they are tired of fooling with it. I had taken my car for a regular 25,000 mile service, and my tires were so bad that the Ford company would not allow me to leave without rotating the tires. They told me that new tires are soft and not good quality really, they are for selling the car so they are soft rubber. They also told me i had to drive fast because its a muscle car and it wou…”
NHTSA complaint #11616555, 2024
“Catastrophic engine failure while driving at highway speeds in dense traffic led to seized engine and highly dangerous situation. Root cause wasn't determined due to volume of damage. Three pistons, rods, and crankshaft where shattered beyond recognition along with a cracked block. Engine was highly maintained and showed no signs of failure prior. Completely torn differential bushings around the bolt sleeve with low mileage and roughly a year and a half from build date. Personal research shows that this is a highly common issues that remains unaddressed by Ford and safety agencies.”
NHTSA complaint #11547876, 2023
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a popping sound coming from the front driver's and passenger's side wheel wells. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while making a turn or while reversing. The vehicle was taken to a second dealer where it was diagnosed with failed front strut seats. The contact was informed that the strut seats needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. In addition, the contact stated that the failure had started shortly after the vehicle was purchased. The vehicle was taken back to th…”
NHTSA complaint #11636354, 2022
Air Bags 2
“Light keeps coming up for restraint warning for airbags not working properly”
NHTSA complaint #11635052, 2024
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the onboard App diagnosed the vehicle and related the failure with the air bags knee bolster. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V083000 (Air Bags). The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11590389, 2024
Engine And Engine Cooling 2 1 crash 1 injury
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang GT500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering as the instrument cluster went blank and the charging system error warning message was illuminated. The contact also stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Battery Save Mode, Pull Over, and Turn Car Off and On" message was illuminated. The contact had pulled over to turn off the vehicle and was able to restart. The failure reoccurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where the failures could not be du…”
NHTSA complaint #11522730, 2022 · crash · 1 injury(ies)
“The exhaust pipes on this model like stainless steel knives. Please consider a repair or sleeve to prevent future mishaps. Thank you”
NHTSA complaint #11492853, 2022
Visibility 2
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked while closing the convertible top, the driver’s side rear window failed to close. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred to the rear passenger’s side window when the vehicle was first purchased and was repaired under warranty. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a defective driver’s side rear window power motor. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,…”
NHTSA complaint #11586633, 2024
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving and exceeding 50 MPH, the rear-view mirror would vibrate. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where it was diagnosed and the mirror was replaced three times. Additionally, the mechanic installed a new driveshaft; however, failure persisted. The contact notified the manufacturer and was informed that the vibration was a characteristic of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 1,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11455827, 2022
Forward Collision Avoidance 1
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the pre-collision sensor alert warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that he was concerned that the sensor had malfunctioned. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there would be a fee for the diagnostic test. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was transferred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11502691, 2023
Seat Belts 1
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the driver’s and passenger’s side seat belts would remain positioned on the occupant’s neck area instead of the shoulder region. The contacted stated that after securing the seat belts, the strap would move from the occupant’s shoulder area and rest on the occupant’s neck. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 10.”
NHTSA complaint #11457969, 2021
Steering 1 1 crash 1 injury
“The contact owned a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at highway speeds, the steering wheel independently veered in the right direction causing the contact to crash into a barrier without warning. The air bags deployed upon impact. The contact sought medical attention and was treated for lacerations and bruising to the left eye. A CT scan was also performed which ruled out any further injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene to a local dealer where it was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was inform…”
NHTSA complaint #11602670, 2024 · crash · 1 injury(ies)
Structure 1
“Driver door opened to secondary latch position while driving on the highway at 70mph on 5/16/2026. The warning system came on and driver had to navigate holding the door and stopping safely during high speed traffic to close the door. Will take to dealership when next available opening day. No accident or police were involved. Driver found older warning affecting same year,make,model for recall but unsure if problem was corrected before purchase or if this vin# was included in recall campaign. Campaign 21N10.”
NHTSA complaint #11738388, 2026
Vehicle Speed Control 1
“Failure to repair NHTSA Recall Number 23V727 Summary ON YOUR VEHICLE, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR MAY NOT ILLUMINATE IF THE BRAKE FLUID IS DEPLETED FROM THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. Safety Risk THIS MAY RESULT IN NO BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR WHEN THE BRAKE FLUID IS BELOW THE RECOMMENDED LEVEL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR, WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.”
NHTSA complaint #11558589, 2023
Wheels 1
“After owning the car for 3 years and putting a little under 50K miles on the vehicle, I have had to change my tires twice now because the inner tread would go bald after 20k miles or so. I had to alignment checked and the dealership said it was within spec. I have kept up with the tire rotations as well and the suspension and shocks are working as well. I believe the problem is that the camber/toe in and toe out specs are too wide that it allows for the tires to wear unevenly.”
NHTSA complaint #11610255, 2024
How we read this (methodology)
How to read this: raw complaint totals are not a clean reliability score — a model year with more cars sold, or simply more years on the road, accumulates more complaints regardless of how good it is. So this page leans on two signals that are not distorted by sales volume: the share of complaints falling on each vehicle system (the breakdown above) and NHTSA's own crash / fire / injury / death flags. When we compare model years of the same model, we normalise by years on the road (complaints ÷ vehicle age) rather than comparing raw totals. Age-normalised, the 2021 Ford Mustang draws about 9.2 complaints per year on the road, ranking 13 of 13 among the Ford Mustang model years we have ingested (1 = most complaints per year on road).
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Data source: U.S. NHTSA (nhtsa.gov). SaveVIN surfaces public recall data and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NHTSA.