YearToAvoid

2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid ranks worst of 5 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100 and 257 complaints logged with NHTSA. It carries an Avoid verdict, driven mainly by Transmission & Powertrain complaints (123, 48% of the total).

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
100/100
#1 of 5 F-150 Hybrid years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
257
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
0
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
5
reported in complaints
Fires
3
Injuries
5
Top issue
Transmission & Powertrain
Best nearby year
2025
rated Best

Top 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain123 (48%)
  2. Electrical System45 (18%)
  3. Engine34 (13%)
  4. Suspension, Wheels & Tires32 (12%)
  5. Other31 (12%)
  6. Fuel System17 (7%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers15 (6%)
  8. Brakes13 (5%)
  9. Structure & Body13 (5%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras9 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Some owners describe brake pedals going to the floor with no stopping power, in one case rolling into a garage wall.
  • Electrical faults are reported under the driver's seat area, with at least one fire that required fire department response.
  • Owners report the truck failing to accelerate when switching from electric to gas power, especially after sitting idle and then merging into traffic.
  • A steering wheel reportedly locked while in self-driving mode at highway speed, leading to a crash into a road sign.
  • One owner reported an axle retaining bolt failure at the hub with symptoms matching a related Ford customer satisfaction program, though outside its build-date window.
  • Trailer brakes are reported to intermittently stop working mid-trip despite showing as connected and operational on the dash.
2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per quarter342021 Q22022 Q12022 Q42023 Q32024 Q22025 Q12026 Q2
257 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2021 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2022 Q3 (34).

2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2021 compared with other F-150 Hybrid years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2021Avoid1002570—
2022Avoid752110—
2023Caution50940—

All Ford F-150 Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid reliable?
Among the 5 F-150 Hybrid model years with data, 2021 has the highest complaint index (100) and ranks worst, with 257 NHTSA complaints and an Avoid verdict.
What are the most common problems on the 2021 F-150 Hybrid?
Transmission & Powertrain complaints are the largest group, 123 complaints or 48% of the total, with a median failure mileage of 34,000 miles. Electrical System issues follow at 45 complaints (18%).
Does the 2021 F-150 Hybrid have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls tied to this year in the data provided, though some sample complaints reference separate Ford customer satisfaction campaigns.
Which F-150 Hybrid year should I avoid?
The 2021 and 2022 model years both carry an Avoid verdict, with complaint indexes of 100 and 75 respectively. Complaint indexes drop steadily in 2023 (50), 2024 (25), and 2025 (0).
Were there any crashes or fires reported for the 2021 F-150 Hybrid?
NHTSA data shows 5 crashes, 3 fires, 5 injuries, and 1 death tied to 2021 F-150 Hybrid complaints.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.