NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of June 2026, the NHTSA has logged 50 complaints against the 2021 Ford Mustang. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2021 Ford Mustang complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2021 Ford Mustang has generated 802 NHTSA complaints and has 6 active recalls. If your 2021 Ford Mustang has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. Ford pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2021 Ford Mustang include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 111 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “While charging my electric vehicle with this Enel X JuiceBox 40 charger, a burning plastic smell was noted. Upon examining the Enel X charger plug th…”
Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) defects — including malfunctioning forward collision warnings, lane keep assist failures, and erratic automatic emergency braking — can create dangerous driving conditions. The 2021 Ford Mustang has 65 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “The car would intermittently give an error saying pre-collision assist not available and now this error is permanent. There is a technical service bu…”
The 2021 Ford Mustang has generated 61 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “The spot welds connecting the door at the hinges have failed. The metal is shearing, over 10mm, at multiple of the world locations.…”
Powertrain and transmission defects directly impair the vehicle’s core function and are generally considered substantial defects under California lemon law. Owners of the 2021 Ford Mustang have reported harsh shifting, shuddering, slipping, and transmission warning lights. 45 NHTSA complaints have been submitted for this defect category. Owner reports include: “On Saturday, [XXX], while driving under normal conditions, the vehicle experienced a sudden and complete loss of propulsion without warning. There was…”
Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) defects — including malfunctioning forward collision warnings, lane keep assist failures, and erratic automatic emergency braking — can create dangerous driving conditions. The 2021 Ford Mustang has 30 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “Camera system that allows hands free driving, lane departure warning, collision warning and adaptive cruise control fails and all system offline. Ext…”
The following 6 recalls have been issued for the 2021 Ford Mustang by the NHTSA or Ford. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Component: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: An air bag that does not inflate properly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Component: AIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTER
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: An improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
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.
Remedy: 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.
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
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.
Remedy: 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.
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The remedy is under development. Interim notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 16, 2025. Second letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated March 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
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.
Remedy: 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 se
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2021 Ford Mustang:
Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Ford to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Ford must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your 2021 Ford Mustang qualifies as a lemon under California law, Ford may be legally required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Ford a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Ford dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.
Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Ford pays your fees if you win.
Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Ford a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.
Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Ford is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.
Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.
California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
If your 2021 Ford Mustang has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
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