2021 Ford Mustang Common Problems & Defect Telemetry
Authoritative defect intelligence synthesized from 55 verified NHTSA owner complaints, 6 federal safety recalls, and interquartile failure mileage telemetry.
The 2021 Ford Mustang receives a 6/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 55 verified NHTSA federal complaints and 6 safety recalls. The primary reported failure mode is Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports with a median failure point at 63,000 miles (IQR: 54,500 – 71,500 mi). Out-of-warranty repairs benchmark at $950 – $3,200 .
10 complaints / 10k sold
Verified US federal records
Crash, fire & stall audit
6 Active / Free Remedies
Top Reported Problem Clusters (7)
Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports
- Engine sudden stall / hesitation while driving
- Abnormal oil burning / consumption
- Check Engine Light (MIL) flashing
- Engine overheating / coolant loss
“My vehicle, VIN ..., 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 Ju...”
“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.”
“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:...”
Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports
- Hard gear shifts / delayed engagement into Drive/Reverse
- Transmission shudder / jerking under acceleration
- Transmission slipping between gears
“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.”
“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, c...”
“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 appeare...”
Fuel Pump Pressure Loss & Fuel Delivery Defect Reports
- Sudden loss of propulsion power at highway speeds
- Extended engine cranking / failure to restart
- Fuel odor near fuel tank / engine bay
“My vehicle, VIN ..., 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 Ju...”
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle shuddered while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that there was a banging sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated whi...”
“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 re...”
Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports
- Unexplained battery drain after sitting overnight
- Infotainment display / instrument cluster blackouts
- Accessory malfunction / alternator fault warnings
“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 awar...”
“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 ...”
“Rear camara is inconsistent but lately works 25% of the time.”
Service Brakes, ABS Actuator & Master Cylinder Reports
- Spongy or hard brake pedal travel
- ABS / Brake warning light illuminated
- Extended stopping distance / pedal vibration
“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 B...”
“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...”
“The front brakes grab suddenly during low speed braking under about 6 mph causing the car to jerk to a stop. The front brakes will lock up when coming to a stop at higher speeds at about 25 mph if the car is downshifting gears. The low speed issue happens for about 80 percent ...”
Electric Power Steering Assist & Suspension Noise Reports
- Sudden loss of electric power steering assist
- Steering wheel pull or highway wander
- Clunking / knocking noise over bumps
“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. T...”
“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 regula...”
“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...”
Airbag Occupant Detection & Inflator Defect Reports
- SRS Airbag warning lamp illuminated
- Passenger occupant classification sensor failure
- Seat belt retractor lockup
“Light keeps coming up for restraint warning for airbags not working properly”
“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 med...”
“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 re...”
Official NHTSA Safety Recalls (6)
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Mustang vehicles. The side curtain air bag inflators may have been manufactured with the incorrect amount of compressed gas, which can result in improper air bag inflation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 226, "Ejection Mitigation," and 214, "Side Impact Protection."
AIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTER
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Mustang vehicles. An insufficient weld on the front passenger knee air bag may result in an improper air bag deployment.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Mustang vehicles. The brake fluid level sensor may not activate the visual warning indicator when the brake fluid is low. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Bronco, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, 2021-2022 Lincoln Navigator, Mustang, F-150, and 2022 Expedition vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can result in an engine stall while driving.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Mustang vehicles repaired incorrectly under recall number 23V727. The brake fluid level sensor may not activate the visual warning indicator when the brake fluid is low. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist for 2021 Ford Mustang
Before purchasing a used 2021 Ford Mustang, perform the following targeted inspections based on reported federal defect patterns:
Scan the OBD-II port under the dash for pending freeze-frame codes (e.g. P0300 misfires, P0087 fuel rail pressure, P0420 catalytic efficiency).
Test vehicle at low-speed stop-and-go and highway merges. Check for delayed reverse engagement or gear shift shudder between 2nd and 3rd gears.
Verify that all 6 NHTSA safety recall campaigns have been performed by an authorized dealership using the VIN.
Ensure the instrument cluster, center screen, and auxiliary charging ports operate with stable 12.0V–14.4V alternator voltage.
Defect & Reliability Q&A: 2021 Ford Mustang
Is the 2021 Ford Mustang a reliable used car?
The 2021 Ford Mustang earns a 6/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 55 federal owner reports. Vehicles maintained under factory service schedules exhibit strong longevity past 150,000 miles.
What is the most frequent defect reported on the 2021 Ford Mustang?
The leading complaint category is Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports, with a median failure point around 63,000 miles (IQR: 54,500 – 71,500 mi).
Are there free recall repairs available for the 2021 Ford Mustang?
Yes, the NHTSA records 6 safety recall campaign(s) for this model year. All safety recalls are performed 100% free of charge by authorized franchise dealerships regardless of vehicle warranty status.