The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mach-E. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 21V711000 (Visibility) and 21V712000 (Visibility) however, the dealer had not been returning the contact's calls to schedule the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the issue but did…
2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E visibility problems
moderate Owners of the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E have filed 15 NHTSA complaints about the visibility at roughly $350 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See visibility across all vehicles →
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
What stands out
No new NHTSA visibility complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Side mirrors malfunction in a way dealers can't reproduce: owners report the motorized mirrors fail to unfold automatically about one-third to half the time at startup, even though they fold correctly when locking. With mirrors closed, blind-spot checks and pedestrian visibility are impossible. Software updates haven't fixed it, and dealers claim the system works fine during their inspections.
Windshield adhesion is a structural problem. Paint separates from primer at the bonding area, allowing adhesive to peel away. A minor 40-mph chip triggered an 18-inch crack in 60 seconds that expanded to nearly full width while the vehicle sat parked. One owner—a car dealer with extensive glass experience—found this paint separation highly unusual. Water leaks into the cabin during heavy rain as a result.
Glass bonding recalls 21V711 and 21V712 sit incomplete across multiple dealerships. Owners have been waiting since November 2021 and beyond to get recall work done. Dealers flat-out refuse the work, citing that Ford reimbursement doesn't cover labor and parts costs, with over 50 percent of glass components breaking during removal and no Ford guarantee to cover replacements. Some dealers provide no documentation of attempted work. Parts remain unavailable months or years after recall issuance. Ford corporate tells owners they cannot force dealers to comply and won't identify participating shops.
Failure modes owners describe
Side mirror auto-unfold failure
Motorized side mirrors fail to automatically unfold when the vehicle is started, occurring intermittently (1/3 to 1/2 of the time). Owners must manually press the fold/unfold button to open the mirrors. The failure creates a visibility safety hazard—owners cannot check blind spots or see pedestrians/traffic with closed mirrors.
When: Occurs after vehicle is locked and mirrors fold; failure happens at startup during return trips
Symptoms owners cite: Mirrors remain closed at startup instead of auto-unfolding; No error messages or dashboard warnings; Manual button press required to unfold mirrors; Intermittent occurrence—not consistent
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to reproduce the failure during diagnostic visits; no documented repair attempts
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Software updates applied but none resolved the issue
Windshield adhesion failure due to paint/primer separation
Paint and clear coat separate from primer at the windshield bonding area, allowing adhesive to peel away. This compromise of the structural glass bond can occur after minor windshield impact and causes rapid crack propagation. Owners have observed paint peeling from primer during windshield removal.
When: Crack propagation observed after minor chip at 40 mph; crack expanded significantly while vehicle parked
Symptoms owners cite: Small windshield chip at 40 mph speed; 18-inch lengthwise crack appears within 60 seconds of chip; Crack expands to 90 percent of windshield horizontal width while parked; Paint/clear coat peeling from primer visible on adhesive bond area; Water intrusion into vehicle cabin in heavy rain conditions
Repairs/costs cited: Windshield replacement required; paint separation observed during removal by glass service provider
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Some 2021 Mach-E units covered under recall, but affected VINs not included in original recall scope
Inadequate windshield and roof glass bonding (recall implementation failure)
NHTSA recalls 21V711 and 21V712 address windshield and glass roof bonding defects, but dealers refuse to perform recall work citing insufficient Ford reimbursement to cover labor and parts costs. Multiple dealers report over 50 percent breakage rate when removing glass components, but Ford does not reimburse replacement parts. Some dealers provide no documentation that recall work was completed. Owners unable to schedule appointments at multiple dealerships across geographic regions.
When: Recall notifications issued 09-14-2021; owners attempting repairs from November 2021 through multi-year periods; parts unavailable for extended periods
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification received (21V711 or 21V712); Dealer refusal to perform recall work; Extended dealer wait times or cancelled appointments; Dealer states parts not available; Ford refuses to increase reimbursement or guarantee replacement parts; No work documentation provided by dealer after recall attempt
Codes mentioned: 21V711, 21V712
Repairs/costs cited: Recalls 21V711 and 21V712 require windshield and/or glass roof replacement; dealers report 50 percent breakage rate upon removal; parts backlog extends recall timeline indefinitely; no reimbursement guarantee from Ford for broken components
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls 21V711 and 21V712 issued for windshield and roof bonding; Ford states inability to force dealer participation or guarantee parts reimbursement; customer service unable to provide assistance or locate participating dealerships
Door lock and window electrical fault with smoke
Passenger-side door fails to lock on first attempts, requiring multiple lock attempts before engaging. Smoke emission from window area during lock attempt. Dashboard warning 'The door Fault' illuminates. Single documented incident; vehicle taken to dealer for diagnosis.
When: Approximately 6,326 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger door fails to lock on multiple attempts; Smoke coming from window area; Door Fault warning on instrument panel; Smoke ceased when vehicle turned off
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle taken to dealer; diagnosis pending
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated they would contact owner but no follow-up documented
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V711000 (Visibility) and 21V712000 (Visibility) however, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and it was confirmed that the parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable…
Had visibility trouble with your 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the visibility problem on the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 15 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $350 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Based on the 15 complaints filed, visibility issues most often appear around 25,163 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $350 for visibility repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2021/Ford/Mustang Mach-E.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.