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2021 Ford Mustang problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2021 Ford Mustang. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 29% of relevant complaints.
Better than 72% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2021 Ford Mustang have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 115 of 402 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Ford Mustang concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (29%). For comparison, the 2020 scores 42% and the 2022 scores 30%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2021 compares with other Ford Mustang years
Of the 13 Ford Mustang years with enough complaints to score, the 2021 is the 2nd-best on engine and transmission share (29%). The worst is the 2011 (74%), the best the 2017 (22%). By volume, the 2021 drew 402 complaints (115 drivetrain), against 120 for the 2020 and 188 for the 2022.
Ford Mustang years to avoid and best years →
2010 Mustang problems · 2011 Mustang problems · 2012 Mustang problems · 2013 Mustang problems · 2014 Mustang problems · 2015 Mustang problems · 2016 Mustang problems · 2017 Mustang problems · 2018 Mustang problems · 2019 Mustang problems · 2020 Mustang problems · 2021 · 2022 Mustang problems
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Ford Mustang
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2021 Ford Mustang said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 115 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2021 Ford Mustang fuel system recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2021 Ford Mustang involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump on super duty vehicles and update the powertrain control module (PCM) software on all other affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July…
5 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2021 Ford Mustang? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2021 Ford Mustang
Does the 2021 Ford Mustang have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 115 of 402 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Ford Mustang concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (29%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Ford Mustang?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2021 Ford Mustang is electrical system: 160 of 402 complaints (40%) name it, followed by forward collision avoidance (105) and power train (61). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 29% of the relevant total.
Is the 2021 Ford Mustang reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 29% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 72% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Ford Mustang years we score, it ranks 2nd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Ford Mustang?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2021 Ford Mustang involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total: 25V455000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ford Mustang years are better?
Among the Ford Mustang years we track, the 2017 (22%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (29%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/ford-mustang
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.