Some 2017-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with 3.3L, 3.5L EcoBoost, or 5.0L engines may exhibit stalling, lack of power, low fuel rail pressure and/or DTCs P0087 or P008A after a repair was made that required the removal of the fuel line that connects the high-pressure fuel pump to the port injection rail, such as injector replacements or base engine repairs. This line must be installed in the correct orientation as it has an internal one-way check valve. To determine if the fuel line has been installed improperly, look at the position of the Oetiker clamp (stainless band clamped around the black fuel line). The clamp holds the one-way check valve in place and should be located close
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2021 Ford Mustang fuel system problems
moderate Owners of the 2021 Ford Mustang have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the fuel system at roughly $1,200 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See fuel system across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,200
| Model year | fuel system complaints |
|---|---|
| 2021 Mustang (this page) | 10 |
| 2022 Mustang | 7 |
When does it fail?
Of the 10 fuel system complaints filed for the 2021 Ford Mustang, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Fuel system accounts for 18% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 6 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering fuel system on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2021 Ford Mustangs subject to recall campaign 25V455000 describe a range of fuel-system-related driveability issues. The most common failures involve hesitation or loss of power when accelerating—some vehicles shudder or vibrate, others lose response entirely when the throttle is pressed. A few owners report stalling, vapor lock, or extended cranking during restart attempts. Engine misfires occur in some cases, triggering the check engine light; one owner noted the misfire happened right after refueling with warm fuel. Failures have been reported across a broad mileage span, from under 100 miles to 48,000.
The critical issue driving all these complaints is that Ford issued the recall but has not yet made repair parts available—six months in one case, with no confirmed delivery date. Two owners explicitly state that recall parts remain unavailable months after notification. One owner had the fuel pump and battery replaced at a dealer but discovered his VIN wasn't even covered under the recall. Owners express frustration about the delay; one plainly states the concern that loss of motive power while driving 65 MPH could be fatal. The vehicles in question have not been repaired because the necessary parts do not exist yet in the dealer supply chain.
Failure modes owners describe
Vapor lock and no-start/difficult restart
Vehicle experiences vapor lock in stop-and-go traffic or after sitting, followed by hard restart or temporary no-start condition with abnormal cranking sounds. Failures occur when fuel tank is half-full or more.
When: Around 5,000 miles; occurs in stop-and-go traffic and warm conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation during driving; Vapor lock condition; Vehicle fails to restart or exhibits abnormal cranking sound; Multiple restart attempts required
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer suspected purge valve involvement; vehicle was not repaired due to recall parts unavailability
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 25V455000 issued; recall repair parts not yet available
Engine shudder and banging under acceleration
Vehicle shudders and produces a banging sound when accelerator pedal is depressed at highway speeds. No check engine light present at time of failure.
When: Around 2,700 miles; occurred at 65 MPH
Symptoms owners cite: Shuddering while accelerating; Banging noise from engine; No warning lights illuminated during failure
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; dealer confirmed parts unavailable for recall
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 25V455000 issued; recall repair parts not yet available
Check engine light after storage/battery reconnection
Check engine warning light illuminates temporarily (one day) after vehicle removal from winter storage and battery retainer connection. Limited symptomatology reported.
When: Around 21,000 miles; occurred after winter storage and battery reconnection
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine warning light illuminated for one day; Light cleared after one day
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; parts unavailable
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 25V455000 issued; recall repair parts not yet available from multiple dealers contacted
Hesitation, misfire, and lack of engine response under acceleration
Vehicle hesitates and misfires when accelerator is depressed at various speeds, failing to respond as expected. Check engine light illuminates. Recurring condition reported.
When: Around 44,878 miles; multiple occurrences reported
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation when depressing accelerator; Engine misfire; Vehicle fails to respond to throttle input; Check engine warning light illuminated; Recurring failure
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; recall parts unavailable
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 25V455000 issued; recall remedy not yet available
Stalling and no-start during turning
Vehicle stalls while driver attempts a right turn and subsequently fails to restart. Fuel pump and battery required replacement. This VIN was not included in the recall.
When: Around 4,855 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls during turning maneuver; Vehicle fails to respond when restarting; No warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Towed to dealer; diagnosed with failed fuel pump and dead battery; both parts replaced
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; confirmed this VIN was not included in Campaign 25V455000
Misfire and check engine light after warm fuel refueling
Engine misfires occur immediately after refueling with warm fuel. Check engine light flashes on instrument cluster. Contact later associated failure with recall campaign.
When: Around 13,000 miles; occurred in May 2025 after refueling
Symptoms owners cite: Engine misfire after refueling; Check engine light flashing
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; recall parts unavailable
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 25V455000 issued; recall repair not yet available
Intermittent power loss and stalling
Vehicle loses power intermittently at various speeds and stalls multiple times during driving. Vehicle is able to restart each time. Loss of motive power is intermittent but recurring.
When: Around 48,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of automotive power while driving; Vehicle stalls multiple times; Intermittent failure pattern; Vehicle able to restart
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; recall parts unavailable
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 25V455000 issued; recall parts not yet available; contact made to dealer and manufacturer multiple times
Acceleration hesitation and vibration
Vehicle hesitates and then vibrates when accelerator pedal is depressed. Failure only occurs during acceleration attempts. No check engine light present.
When: Around 44,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation when depressing accelerator; Vibration during acceleration; No warning lights illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; recall parts unavailable
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 25V455000 issued; recall parts not yet available
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped and the accelerator pedal was depressed on several occasions, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or…
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving in stop-and-go traffic, the vehicle hesitated. The contact pulled into a gas station where the vehicle experienced vapor lock. The vehicle failed to restart, with…
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that parts had not yet been available for six months. The contact was concerned that the vehicle could lose motive power while driving at 65 MPH. The contact stated that if the failure…
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated and then vibrated. The contact stated that the failure only occurred while attempting to accelerate. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). However, when the dealer was contacted,…
Had fuel system trouble with your 2021 Ford Mustang?
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 fuel system problem on the 2021 Ford Mustang?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,200 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the fuel system typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, fuel system issues most often appear around 23,205 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 $1,200 for fuel system 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 fuel system?
No active recalls currently cover fuel system 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.
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.