Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2021 Ford Mustang
NHTSA data on file today
The 2021 Ford Mustang has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 55 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #25V689000 Low Brake Fluid Warning Inoperative/FMVSS 135 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V455000 Low Pressure Fuel Pump May Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V442000 Rearview Camera Image May Not Display NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V727000 Low Brake Fluid Warning Inoperative/FMVSS 135 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V083000 Passenger Knee Air Bag May Deploy Improperly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V980000 Side Curtain Air Bag May Not Inflate Properly NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 10 complaints
- Power Train 9 complaints
- Engine 8 complaints
- Electrical System 6 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 5 complaints
- Unknown or Other 5 complaints
Of the 55 complaints on file, 4 report a crash; across all 55 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $8,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2021 Ford Mustang has several critical recalls relating to safety features such as brake fluid sensors and airbag deployment. Complaints are mainly about the fuel system and power train, suggesting reliability issues.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| fuel pump | 20,000–40,000 miles | $400–$700 | very common |
| rearview camera | 15,000–30,000 miles | $200–$500 | common |
| brake system | 30,000–50,000 miles | $300–$600 | occasional |
| knee airbag | 10,000–20,000 miles | $250–$450 | rare |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- Tire rotation every 10,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change at 50,000 miles
- Coolant replacement at 5 years
- Spark plug replacement at 60,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Fuel pump failure symptoms
- Brake warning light that stays on
- Rearview camera malfunctions
- Rough engine idling
- Unusual brake noises
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2021 Ford Mustang at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.