2021 Ford Mustang Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report hesitation, misfiring, stalling, or loss of power, and many of these complaints mention the low-pressure fuel pump recall, where owners say the repair part was not yet available. Many complaints come from cars with low mileage, and the symptoms often appear suddenly while driving. Transmission jerking or bucking, brake grabbing or a brake warning light that does not illuminate, and rear camera image problems are reported less often.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Hesitation, stalling, or loss of power while driving

   • 20 complaints (36%)
   • median 5,000 mi at 4.6 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe the engine hesitating when accelerating or pulling away from a stop, misfiring, shuddering, or losing power, sometimes at highway speed or while merging. Some complaints describe stalling, including after refueling, and some say the car had to be turned off and restarted before power returned. Many complaints link these symptoms to the fuel pump recall 25V455000 and say the repair was still not available, while some report that dealer work such as reprogramming or sensor replacement did not stop the symptoms. Where mileage is given, reports range from a few miles to about 48,000 miles, and most of those are under 15,000 miles.

   Recall 25V4550002 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a test drive, check for hesitation, shudder, or stalling when accelerating from a stop and at highway speed, and ask whether any hesitation or stall repairs are on record. If the car is a GT500, ask whether the supercharger clutch service bulletin for lack of power was checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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, filed 2025-08

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11620825, filed 2024-10
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Recall repair parts not yet available

   • 13 complaints (24%)
   • median 28,500 mi at 4.7 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe receiving a recall notice, then being told by the dealer that the repair part or remedy was not yet available. Some complaints say the manufacturer exceeded what they considered a reasonable time for the repair, and some dealers gave no date for parts. Complaints about a brake recall, including one for recall 23V727000, describe the same wait for parts. Where mileage is given, reports range from a few miles to about 48,000 miles, and most of these complaints were filed from mid-2025 onward.

   Recall 25V455000Recall 23V727000

   What to check: Check the VIN on the NHTSA recall lookup for any open campaigns, and ask the dealer when the remedy part is expected. If a campaign is still open, ask for written confirmation of the repair date.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 while pulling over to the shoulder of the roadway. The contact restarted the vehicle and drove slowly to the destination. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11729641, filed 2026-04, 2,700 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11695004, filed 2025-10, 44,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission jerks, bucks, or shifts unexpectedly

   • 8 complaints (15%)
   • typically at 3.1 yrs old
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe jerking, banging, or slipping during upshifts and downshifts, bucking at low speed, and in some cases the car acting as if it were in neutral before surging. One complaint says the transmission shifted into neutral while in drive, forcing a stop at the side of the road, and another describes limp mode and loss of power on the highway. According to complaints, the dealer said repairs were made but the problem continued, and some drivers described near accidents at low speed. Mileage is not stated in these complaints, and they were filed between late 2022 and March 2025.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the transmission service bulletins for the 10R80 transmission have been applied, and request the dealer's repair history for shifting complaints. On a test drive, check for buck, jerk, or delayed engagement when moving into drive and on downshifts.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11650202, filed 2025-03

   “Vehicle bucks at low speed after putting in drive and when driving during downshift, on 4 occasions I almost hit my wife's vehicle during low speed bucking with the trans”

   NHTSA complaint #11492196, filed 2022-11
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brakes grab, fail to respond, or warning does not light

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 5,000 mi at 1.9 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2023

   Owners describe front brakes grabbing suddenly at low speed and locking up at higher speeds, and one case in which the brake pedal did not slow the car at very low speed before it hit another vehicle. Other complaints say the brake fluid low warning light did not come on, including complaints tied to recall 23V727000 that describe the warning failing when fluid is low. According to complaints, the dealer could not duplicate the grabbing and described it as normal ABS operation, and a different complaint says the dealer could not correct the warning light fault. Where mileage is given, reports are from low mileage, roughly 3,000 to 6,000 miles.

   Recall 23V727000Recall 25V689000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 23V727000 or 25V689000 has been completed, and check that the brake fluid warning light comes on when the ignition is switched on. On a test drive, check that the brakes apply smoothly at low speed without grabbing or pulling.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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, filed 2023-12

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11525206, filed 2023-06
5. 5
   Back-over prevention (rear camera)

   Rear camera image black, distorted, or flipped

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 62,895 mi at 5.0 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe the rear camera picture going black, glitching between black and blue, or appearing flipped, sometimes intermittently while reversing. In one case a new camera fixed the flipped image but not the missing guide lines, and in another the owner noted the wiring at the deck lid looked exposed and at risk of fraying. According to complaints, the dealer said a diagnostic test was needed, and the manufacturer said the vehicle's VIN was not included in a camera recall. Where mileage is given, reports fall between roughly 53,000 and 72,500 miles.

   Recall 25V442000

   What to check: Check that the rear camera image is steady, correctly oriented, and shows the guide lines while reversing, and look at the camera wiring at the deck lid for fraying. Ask the dealer to check the VIN against the rearview camera software recall (25V442000).

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11698817, filed 2025-11

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11548399, filed 2023-10

Buying note. When considering this model year, ask whether the fuel pump recall (25V455000) and the brake fluid warning recalls (23V727000 and 25V689000) have been completed, since complaints describe repair parts being unavailable for some time. Also check that the rear camera image works properly and that the brake warning light comes on.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 49 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.