2021 Ford Mustang
Gas Compact car
The 2021 Ford Mustang is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 16 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Mustang, is EPA-rated at 25 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 55 complaints, most often about fuel system, gasoline. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy (EPA)
| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mustang | Gas | RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 21 | 32 | 25 | $2,500 |
| Mustang | Gas | RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 21 | 32 | 25 | $2,500 |
| Mustang | Gas | RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 21 | 29 | 24 | $2,600 |
| Mustang Convertible | Gas | RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 20 | 27 | 23 | $2,700 |
| Mustang Convertible | Gas | RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 20 | 28 | 23 | $2,700 |
| Mustang Convertible | Gas | RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 20 | 28 | 23 | $2,700 |
| Mustang HO Coupe | Gas | RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 20 | 27 | 23 | $2,700 |
| Mustang HO Convertible | Gas | RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 19 | 26 | 22 | $2,850 |
| Mustang HO Coupe | Gas | RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 20 | 27 | 22 | $2,850 |
| Mustang HO Convertible | Gas | RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 19 | 25 | 21 | $2,950 |
| Mustang | Gas | RWD | 5.0L 8-cyl | 15 | 24 | 19 | $3,300 |
| Mustang | Gas | RWD | 5.0L 8-cyl | 15 | 24 | 18 | $3,450 |
| Mustang Convertible | Gas | RWD | 5.0L 8-cyl | 15 | 23 | 18 | $3,450 |
| Mustang Mach 1 | Gas | RWD | 5.0L 8-cyl | 15 | 23 | 18 | $3,450 |
| Mustang Mach 1 | Gas | RWD | 5.0L 8-cyl | 14 | 22 | 17 | $3,650 |
| Shelby GT500 Mustang | Gas | RWD | 5.2L 8-cyl | 12 | 18 | 14 | $5,550 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.
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Recalls (6)
Electrical System
highProblem: 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."
Risk: Without a low brake fluid warning light, the vehicle may be driven with low brake fluid, reducing braking performance and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C55. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning November 17, 2025.
Fuel System, Gasoline
highProblem: 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 27, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S75.
Back Over Prevention
minorProblem: 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.
Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
Electrical System
highProblem: 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."
Risk: Without a low brake fluid warning light, the vehicle may be driven with low brake fluid, reducing braking performance and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C35.
Air Bags
highProblem: 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.
Risk: An improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front passenger knee air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 8, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S07.
Air Bags
highProblem: 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."
Risk: An air bag that does not inflate properly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the side curtain air bags, free of charge. An interim owner notification letter was mailed on February 3, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 22, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C37.
Owner complaints
55 complaints filed
4 involved a crash, 0 a fire, 2 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.
Filed by year — 2021: 1 · 2022: 9 · 2023: 10 · 2024: 6 · 2025: 19 · 2026: 10
Most-cited components
- Fuel System, Gasoline — 10
- Power Train — 9
- Engine — 8
- Electrical System — 6
- Unknown Or Other — 5
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Crash ratings
| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 DR RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 9% |
| 2 DR RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 9% |
| C RWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★★ | 8% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.
Compare the 2021 Mustang with
Other Mustang model years
2026 Mustang
5 recalls · 5 complaints
F2025 Mustang
6 recalls · 14 complaints
F2024 Mustang
12 recalls · 74 complaints
F2023 Mustang
6 recalls · 15 complaints
F2022 Mustang
9 recalls · 49 complaints
F2020 Mustang
8 recalls · 118 complaints
F2019 Mustang
6 recalls · 147 complaints
C2018 Mustang
3 recalls · 188 complaints
F2017 Mustang
6 recalls · 265 complaints
F2016 Mustang
5 recalls · 375 complaints
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 43669, 43680, 43667, 43672, 43673, 43681, 43670, 43674, 43668, 43671, 43677, 43676). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.