2021 FORD Mustang Problems

Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

POWER TRAIN

7 complaints

Vehicle stalled while pulling into traffic from apartment driveway.

Jul 11, 2025

While driving my 10R80 automatic transmission shifted into neutral even though the shifter was positioned in drive. I was unable to accelerate and was forced to pull over on the side of the road to prevent an accident from occurring. I placed the shifter into park and turned the car off. I then started the vehicle back up and began driving. The transmission continuously shifted rough while driving my destination.

Mar 24, 2025

Vehicle has serious transmission problem, jerking on upshifting, downshifting, banging when changing gears - any speed, skipping gears, slipping while shifting, making grinding sounds, whining sounds when shifting gears, clunking sounds while shifting from park to drive, reverse, neutral. Vehicle have no power, hardly moves.

Mar 14, 2025

At idle the engine idles roughly and rotates randomly at speeds from 300 to 900 RPM. When starting from a stop such as a traffic light or when pulling onto a roadway hesitation is often noted and on several occasions this has resulted in near accidents as the vehicle won't proceed as required to move through an intersection.

Oct 19, 2024

1st dealer visit: at low speeds car acted like it was in neutral and then surged when trying to accelerate. Dealer said they corrected the issue. they did not. 2nd dealer visit: car was still doing the same as number 1. While on the highway with cruise control set at 75 mph, I lost power and smoke started billowing from under the car. transmission was shifting erratically, went into limp mode and i made it off the highway to call a tow truck. Dealer said they repaired the issue. 3rd dealer visit: car is still doing the same as number 1. now the car is also very jerky in 3, 5, 8 gears. I almost ran into my own car while parking due to the random lunging. It hesitates and stumbles in most gears and I have no confidence when pulling out onto a street or trying to pass on the highway. It shifts extremely hard from 4th to 5th gear; feels like I ran over something or got rear ended. The dealer wants to repeat the same repair they tried in visit #2, new valve body. -Transmission failed. dealership says valve body but the new one is broken also. waiting on the 3rd one for this car. Possibly available for inspection; it is at dealership. -Random lurching at low speeds and power loss on the highway are my safety concerns. -Dealer found the issue and attempted repair. -Manufacturer, police or insurance have not inspected. I have a ticket open with Ford currently. -Warning lamps? not on the 1st visit. yes, when I lost power on the highway but the light came on well after the issue was apparent with smoke behind me. 3rd visit, no warning lamps.

Mar 02, 2023

+ 2 more complaints for this component

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

4 complaints

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 while driving in stop-and-go traffic, the vehicle hesitated. The contact pulled into a gas station where the vehicle experienced vapor lock. The vehicle failed to restart, with an abnormal cranking sound coming from the vehicle. After several attempts, the contact was able to restart the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the failure persisted. The contact called the dealer and was informed that the failure might be caused by the purge valve. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failures occurred when the vehicle had a half tank to a full tank of fuel. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.

Dec 15, 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that parts had not yet been available for six months. The contact was concerned that the vehicle could lose motive power while driving at 65 MPH. The contact stated that if the failure occurred while driving, he could be killed. The contact was informed by two dealers that the parts were not yet available, and there was no available date for the parts' availability. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Dec 10, 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated and then vibrated. The contact stated that the failure only occurred while attempting to accelerate. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). However, when the dealer was contacted, the contact was informed 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 not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.

Oct 22, 2025

The contact owns 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while her husband was attempting to make a right turn, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was turned off however, while attempting to restart the vehicle the vehicle failed to respond as needed. No warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel pump and battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 4,855.

Jul 28, 2025

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

3 complaints

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 A 2015 MUSTANG GT THAT WAS RECALLED FOR THE EXACT SAME CONDITION. THAT WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED BY MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP IN 2024.

Nov 11, 2025

Rear camara is inconsistent but lately works 25% of the time.

Sep 24, 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V727000 (Electrical System) 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Dec 05, 2023

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

3 complaints

Reverse camera stopped working.

May 24, 2025

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.

Aug 16, 2022

Crash: 1

Purchased vehicle new It took me a long time to understand what the issue was. I complained to Ford and they gave me account rep that has never driven manual transmission. When I contacted Ford the end result was they have found nothing and car is operating normally. My issue : "driver assist" on clutch. It auto revs the throttle and is extremely inconsistent. I can forward to 20 second videos it needed. Problem is with the clutch and brake pedal. Releasing brake pedal causes engine to rev anywhere from 900-1500 rpm. Problem is driving in slow traffic scanario when you have have to two-foot clutch and brake. Engine will want to take off. I have had almost two near rear end collisions. The rev is uncontrollably inconsistent. One example: I was following a car running 2 miles per hour in an ally. Not following that close. At normal idle the mustang is about 5 miles per hour so I was catching them. I pushed clutch and brake to slow down. Then released the pedals the car unexpectedly surged forward. The problem wouldn't be so bad if it were consistent or would be disabled if the car is already moving.

Nov 26, 2021

ENGINE

3 complaints

Vehicle engine is noisy with grinding sounds coming from lower side of engine, can be heard at idle speeds plus popping, ticking. Engine has no power, smells like raw fuel. Engine internal problems exist at 46,000 miles. Vehicle feels like will stall any minute. Ford engine V8 GT Fastback, Ford Mustang. Engine internal parts grinding, popping and ticking sounds from engine while running. Under warranty but dealer is not honoring warranty. Nielsen Ford, Morristown, NJ.

Mar 14, 2025

Purge valve has gone out multiple times, replaced multiple times. Very bad randomly occurring idle

Jan 21, 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that immediately after purchasing the vehicle new, the engine experienced random misfire, causing the vehicle to lose motive power and acceleration. During the failure, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who reprogrammed the engine computer and replaced the camshaft sensor however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 700.

Jun 15, 2022

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

3 complaints

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.

Nov 01, 2023

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 was able to continue driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the failure. The vehicle was returned to Enterprise rental company. There was no further information provided. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4,000. The VIN was unavailable. .

Dec 16, 2022

Crash: 1

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that the brake fluid low warning light failed to illuminate to alert him that the brake fluid level was low. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to correct the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.

Jun 22, 2022

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

2 complaints

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.

Aug 25, 2025

My 2021 Ford Mustang EcoBoost is currently experiencing an ongoing issue with the EVAP purge valve, a critical emissions component. The vehicle suffers from stuttering, rough idle, and a check engine light, especially immediately after refueling, where the engine has stalled multiple times—posing a serious safety risk during traffic re-entry and acceleration.The purge valve has not been replaced, and the issue remains unresolved. I contacted Ford Customer Relations and three separate Ford dealerships, all of which refused to service the vehicle under warranty, despite the fact that it is still covered under the federal emissions warranty (8 years/80,000 miles) and the powertrain warranty.This refusal contradicts federal warranty guidelines, as the purge valve is clearly part of the evaporative emissions control system. The failure disrupts vapor flow and fuel trim stability, leading to erratic engine behavior and emissions system malfunction.I previously owned another Ford Mustang EcoBoost while living in a different part of the state, and that vehicle experienced the exact same purge valve issue, including stalling after refueling and triggering the check engine light. This recurring failure across multiple vehicles suggests a design flaw or supplier defect that Ford has failed to address.There are hundreds of documented complaints and videos online, including on YouTube and Mustang forums, showing other owners experiencing the same purge valve failure and warranty denial. This suggests a systemic issue that Ford is aware of but continues to ignore.I believe this issue warrants investigation for warranty non-compliance, emissions system reliability, and potential recall consideration due to the safety and environmental risks involved.

Jul 11, 2025

SUSPENSION

2 complaints

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 the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,130.

Jan 16, 2025

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 would squatt upon going fast making the tires contact the road more even. After getting new, more premium tires and driving another 25,000 miles and the same thing happened at my 50,000 mile service, I started investigating and other year models have this same problem (years 15-23). I am in a situation where I have to put aftermarket parts on my car and potentially void my warranties and pay out of my own pocket. I have had an alignment 4 times and they say it is within specs but at the same time they say I do not have any camber adjustment left to prevent this problem. Ford makes an adjustable cam plate that is 410$ and another 480$ labor plus tax is almost a thousand dollars. Plus another realignment. This is not fair for a new car. I had to research myself and it was most definitely a safety concern. If I hadn't went right on time, I could have had a blow out. My tires have been properly rotated, and not driven in some bad way. It is also an environmental problem because I am throwing away perfectly good tires that are worn thru on the insides

Sep 26, 2024

AIR BAGS

2 complaints

Light keeps coming up for restraint warning for airbags not working properly

Jan 09, 2025

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.

May 23, 2024

VISIBILITY

2 complaints

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 36,800.

May 02, 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.

Mar 09, 2022

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE

1 complaint

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 Ford (428 N Union Rd, Evansville, WI 53536); who was unable to confirm when parts would be available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 21,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Jul 22, 2025

BACK OVER PREVENTION

1 complaint

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 Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 53,291.

Jul 11, 2025

WHEELS

1 complaint

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.

Aug 22, 2024

STEERING

1 complaint

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 informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 24E055000(Steering) which was linked to the failure. The failure mileage was 5,800.

Jul 16, 2024

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

Check engine light keeps coming on even after dealer says it is fixed. Keeps throwing codes evaporative emission system problem.

Dec 21, 2023

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

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.

Dec 05, 2023

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION

1 complaint

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.

Oct 05, 2023

SUSPENSION,ENGINE

1 complaint

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.

Oct 02, 2023

SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

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 of the stops and the higher speed braking issue is hit or miss. There are no warning lights indicated on the dash. I took the car into the dealership with about 3000 miles on it. The dealership said they could not duplicate, it was just how abs works and that I needed to drive more miles and it would go away. I put the pick up date for my car as the incident date but as this is a current and ongoing issue it is every date.

Jun 03, 2023

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

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 duplicated. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred and that the suspension error warning message was illuminated. The contact then stated that while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the launch control feature was inadvertently activated, causing the contact to lose control of the steering wheel, the vehicle to make a 360-degree turn in the middle of the intersection, and the contact to crash onto the sidewalk. The contact had to receive medical attention and sustained a broken wrist and torn ligament. The vehicle was towed to Sunrise Ford(16005 Valley Blvd, Fontana, CA 92335); however, the mechanic advised for body repairs to be done first, and the vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, where the tires, rims, and spoiler were replaced. The vehicle was then towed back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the alternator and catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred, and after the vehicle was towed back to the dealer, the failures could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.

May 18, 2023

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

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.

Jan 19, 2023

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1 complaint

The exhaust pipes on this model like stainless steel knives. Please consider a repair or sleeve to prevent future mishaps. Thank you

Nov 09, 2022

SEAT BELTS

1 complaint

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.

Mar 23, 2022

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4.6/5.0

41 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 2021 FORD Mustang have?

The 2021 FORD Mustang currently has 44 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2021 FORD Mustang?

The most common problems reported for the 2021 FORD Mustang are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2021 FORD Mustang problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2021 FORD Mustang comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.