YearToAvoid

2021 Ford F-150 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

47/100

#9 most-complained of 16 F-150 years

The 2021 Ford F-150 has a complaint index of 47 and ranks 9th worst out of 16 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other F-150 years. NHTSA lists 1,012 complaints, 29 recalls, and a top problem area of Transmission & Powertrain at 31% of complaints.

Complaints
1,012
Recalls
29
incl. Do Not Drive
Crashes / fires
13 / 4
Injuries / deaths
8 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
17 city / 23.5 hwy

Top 2021 Ford F-150 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain314 (31%)
  2. Electrical System223 (22%)
  3. Visibility & Wipers130 (13%)
  4. Engine113 (11%)
  5. Other103 (10%)
  6. Fuel System87 (9%)
  7. Collision Avoidance & Cameras79 (8%)
  8. Brakes76 (8%)
  9. Structure & Body42 (4%)
  10. Steering41 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the engine shuddering and vibrating before the vehicle would not restart, sometimes with a burning odor near the engine compartment.
  • Some drivers report the truck lunging or accelerating on its own after braking, causing low-speed collisions with walls or objects.
  • Trailer brakes reportedly failed while towing downhill, letting the trailer push into the rear of the truck during a turn.
  • Owners describe the rear end suddenly seizing at highway speed with no warning light, causing loss of control and a road departure.
  • The rearview camera reportedly froze while backing up, showing an inaccurate distance and leading to a collision with a house.
  • Owners report the front windshield seal detaching in snowy conditions, contributing to a crash.
2021 Ford F-150 complaints: complaints filed per quarter1382021 Q12021 Q42022 Q32023 Q22024 Q12024 Q42025 Q32026 Q2
1271 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2021 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q3 (138).

2021 Ford F-150 recalls

29 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V489000Jul 28, 2026Collision Avoidance & Cameras47,587 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Back over prevention:display function

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 F-150 and 2023-2026 F-250 SD vehicles equipped with 8-inch SYNC infotainment screens. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to be obstructed by the infotainment home screen menu when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Risk: An obstructed rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 7, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C37. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 31, 2026.

  2. 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.

  3. NHTSA 26V104000Feb 20, 2026Electrical System4,381,878 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Exterior lighting:tail lights

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may lose communication with the vehicle, possibly causing a loss of brake and turn signal lights, or a loss of brake function. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

    Risk: Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: The integrated trailer module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 17, 2026.

See all 29 recalls for the 2021 Ford F-150 →

2021 Ford F-150 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17 MPG
Highway
23.5 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,325
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 F-150 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Caution601,327919.5
2020Best207271119
2021Good471,01229 !20
2022Good335942320
2023Good274071319

All Ford F-150 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Ford F-150 reliable?
Compared to other F-150 model years, the 2021 has a complaint index of 47 and ranks 9th worst out of 16 years tracked, giving it a "Good" verdict relative to the rest of the lineup.
What is the biggest problem with the 2021 Ford F-150?
Transmission & Powertrain issues make up 31% of complaints (314 complaints), with a median mileage at failure of 58,000 miles, making it the top reported problem area.
Does the 2021 Ford F-150 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 29 recalls for the 2021 F-150, including one do-not-drive recall, covering areas such as Collision Avoidance & Cameras, Transmission & Powertrain, Electrical System, Visibility & Wipers, and Fuel System.
How does the 2021 F-150 compare to other years?
The 2021 F-150's complaint index of 47 is lower than Avoid-rated years like 2013 (100), 2011 (87), and 2018 (93), but higher than Best-rated years like 2024 (7) and 2025 (0).
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Ford F-150?
The 2021 F-150 is EPA-rated at 20 mpg combined (17 city / 23.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,325.

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.