Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 Ford Mustang?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2021 Ford Mustang?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2021 Ford Mustang?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2021 Ford Mustang reliable?

Based on MOT data from 369 vehicles, the 2021 Ford Mustang has a first-time MOT pass rate of 92.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2021 Ford Mustang?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2021 Ford Mustang are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (7.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (7% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (6.3% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2021 Ford Mustang?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Ford Mustang (2021)

369 real MOT outcomes analysed • 92.6% first-time pass rate

2021 Ford Mustang

CarHunch analysed 369 real MOT records for the 2021 Ford Mustang. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 369 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2021 Ford Mustang is a genuinely reliable prospect, with a first-time pass rate of 92.6%—comfortably ahead of the UK average of 80%. The dangerous defect rate sits at 11.1%, which is acceptable and shouldn't be a deal-breaker for most buyers.

At an average mileage of 17,274 miles for a three-year-old car, these Mustangs are lightly used, which supports the strong pass rate. Vehicles that fail tend to rack up just 0.24 failures on average, and advisories average 1.1 per car—both very low—so before you buy one, a pre-purchase inspection by a Ford specialist will likely confirm it's in solid shape.

The 2021 Ford Mustang passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (92.6% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

92.6%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

11.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.24

Over 2.2 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

15k

Middle half: 10k–22k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 92.6% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 369 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

A solid choice — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 369 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 7.9%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 5.8%

Parking brake efficiency below requirements · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2021.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 369 Ford Mustang cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Ford Mustang

Based on MOT data from 369 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 11.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (99%)	366	92.7%	0.24

Colour Breakdown

Based on 19,029 Ford Mustang vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 21%

3,998

Blue 17.4%

3,320

Black 16.2%

3,079

Grey 12%

2,288

White 9.3%

1,764

Green 8.8%

1,668

Yellow 5.1%

969

Silver 5%

944

Orange 3.6%

688

Maroon 0.8%

144

Gold 0.5%

Purple 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 Ford Mustang vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

14,907

typical

9,728

low mileage

22,497

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Ford Mustang vehicles fall between 9,728 and 22,497 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 9,728 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 9,728–22,497 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Ford Mustangs sit.

⚠ Over 30,370 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

2.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.24

Avg failures per vehicle

1.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Ford Mustang: All Mustang years → Which year to buy? →

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Or browse all models: Ford →

Compare with another model

See how the 2021 Ford Mustang stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?