Is the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E a bad year?
351 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Mustang Mach-E years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E are in line with other Mustang Mach-E years. Electrical system stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2021 Mustang Mach-E owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 25,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 155 (44%) | 8k–40k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Collision avoidanceSTANDS OUT | 106 (30%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 52 (15%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 49 (14%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 37 (11%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 32 (9%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Lane assist | 32 (9%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 21 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine | 16 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 15 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Backup camera | 8 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 25,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 351 complaints: 15 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 6 report an injury · 17 say the car was towed.
35 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E: 13
The rear differential pinion shaft may fracture. Differential pinion shaft fracture may result in a loss of drive power, or unintended vehicle movement if the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied, increasing the risk of a crash.
An Over-The-Air (OTA) update to the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) may result in a loss of power brake assist, ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, and driver assistance features. A loss of power brake assist can increase the distance required to stop the vehicle. Additionally, a disabled antilock brake system and/or stability control system can result in a loss of vehicle control.
In the event of a low battery charge, the electronic door latches may remain locked once the driver or front passenger exits and shuts the door, possibly trapping someone who is unable to use the inside door release handles, such as a child in the back seat. The inability to enter or exit the vehicle in an emergency increases the risk of injury.
A software error may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse. A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The high voltage battery main contactors may overheat. An overheated high voltage battery contactor may cause the vehicle to lose drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
An Over-The-Air (OTA) update to the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) may result in a loss of power brake assist, ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, and driver assistance features. A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle. Additionally, a disabled antilock brake system and/or stability control system can result in a loss of vehicle control.
The high voltage battery main contactors may overheat. An overheated high voltage battery contactor can result in a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The high voltage battery main contactors may overheat. An overheated high voltage battery contactor may cause the vehicle to lose drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The powertrain control module (PCM) functional safety software may fail to detect a software error, resulting in unintended acceleration, unintended deceleration, or a loss of drive power. Unintended acceleration, unintended deceleration, or a loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The rear seat belt buckles may not be properly attached to the rear floor assembly. Improperly attached seat belts may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The vehicle's panoramic roof glass panel may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, which could allow it to detach. A roof panel that separates from a vehicle can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, which could allow it to detach. A windshield that separates from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The front subframe bolts may not have been tightened properly during assembly, which could result in loose bolts. Loose subframe bolts may reduce the vehicle's performance in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 319
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may exhibit a condition where the interior propulsion sound feature does not remain active and deactivates immediately
Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit the condition that the traction control feature cannot be turned off/disabled through…
For 2022-2024 e-Transit vehicles equipped with the standard range battery with engine code "ENC0" and 2021-2024 Mustang Mach-E vehicles when attempting…
Some vehicles may exhibit a powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0929:77 stored in the gear shift module (GSM)
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Collisions Involving Ford BlueCruise
Collisions Involving Ford BlueCruise
High Voltage Battery Contactor Failure
Pedestrian alert sounds
Neighbouring years
2022 Mustang Mach-E: 140 complaints, keep it.
Every Ford Mustang Mach-E year
2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Mustang Mach-E years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E a bad year?
351 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Mustang Mach-E years. At 25,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (155), collision avoidance (106), transmission and drivetrain (52), fuel system (49), speed control (37).
How many recalls does the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E have?
13 recall campaigns list this model year: Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 26V-417), Brakes (NHTSA 25V-513), Latches and locks (NHTSA 25V-404), Backup camera (NHTSA 25V-315) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.