2021 Ford Expedition Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
67/100
#6 most-complained of 16 Expedition years
The 2021 Ford Expedition has 232 NHTSA complaints, 12 recalls, and a Complaint Index of 67, ranking 6th worst of 16 model years — a Caution year, better than 2017-2020 but worse than most others.
- Complaints
- 232
- Recalls
- 12
- Crashes / fires
- 3 / 4
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 17 city / 22.5 hwy
Top 2021 Ford Expedition problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain110 (47%)
- Engine66 (28%)
- Other29 (13%)
- Electrical System25 (11%)
- Visibility & Wipers22 (9%)
- Fuel System14 (6%)
- Structure & Body11 (5%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras6 (3%)
- Brakes5 (2%)
- Airbags3 (1%)
What owners report
- Transmissions have gotten stuck in a fixed gear during highway acceleration, with the gear display going blank.
- Backup and 360-degree cameras cut out or show a black/blue blank screen, making it hard to see behind the vehicle.
- An engine-off, unattended vehicle caught fire in the engine area.
- A vehicle caught fire under the hood on the passenger side, which owners linked to an open recall.
- Some owners report the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated forward after being shifted into park, even with the brake applied.
- Rodent damage to soy-based wiring caused the check engine light to illuminate shortly after purchase.
2021 Ford Expedition recalls
12 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V402000Jun 24, 2026Transmission & Powertrain741,195 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
Risk: Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.
- NHTSA 26V368000Jun 9, 2026Structure & Body548,463 vehicles
Structure:interior panels:center console
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2024 Expedition vehicles. The chrome plating on the center console may bubble and peel, resulting in sharp edges.
Risk: Vehicle occupants may contact the center console's sharp edges, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the center consoles as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 16, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S38. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 10, 2026.
- NHTSA 26V344000May 27, 2026Seat Belts419,967 vehicles
Seat belts:pretensioner
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.
Risk: Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 8, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S34. This recall replaces and expands previous NHTSA recalls 24V099 and 25V197. Vehicles previously inspected or repaired under the prior recalls will need the new repair completed.
2021 Ford Expedition fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 22.5 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,400
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2021 compared with other Expedition years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2021 Ford Expedition reliable?
- NHTSA lists 232 complaints and 12 recalls for the 2021 Expedition, giving it a Complaint Index of 67 and a Caution verdict, ranking 6th worst among 16 model years of the Expedition.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2021 Ford Expedition?
- Transmission & Powertrain issues are the top problem area, accounting for 47% of complaints (110 of 232), with a median failure mileage of 65,000 miles.
- Does the 2021 Ford Expedition have transmission recalls?
- Yes. Recall 26V402000 covers a transmission park pawl that may engage while the vehicle is in motion on 2018-2021 Expedition and related Ford/Lincoln models.
- How does the 2021 Expedition compare to other years?
- With a Complaint Index of 67, 2021 is milder than the worst years — 2019 (100), 2020 (93), and 2018 (87) — but still ranks 6th worst out of 16 years tracked.
- Are there camera-related recalls on the 2021 Expedition?
- Yes. Two recalls, 25V442000 and 25V048000, address rearview camera software and blank or distorted camera images on the 2021 Expedition.