2021 Ford F-250 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
40/100
#10 most-complained of 16 F-250 years
The 2021 Ford F-250 has 164 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 40, ranking 10th out of 16 model years — a Good year relative to other F-250s. It carries 12 recalls, led by Fuel System issues, but reports no fires, injuries, or deaths.
- Complaints
- 164
- Recalls
- 12
- Crashes / fires
- 3 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- —
Top 2021 Ford F-250 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Fuel System41 (25%)
- Transmission & Powertrain25 (15%)
- Electrical System22 (13%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires19 (12%)
- Visibility & Wipers17 (10%)
- Engine15 (9%)
- Steering15 (9%)
- Other14 (9%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras13 (8%)
- Structure & Body13 (8%)
What owners report
- Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed, sometimes described as 'death wobble,' with drift toward the center lane.
- 10-Speed Automatic Transmission shifts hard, slips leaving a stop, or randomly jumps gears near 68 mph on cruise control.
- Rear-end vibration appears intermittently between 67 and 77 mph, coming and going as speed changes.
- Tailgate has opened on its own multiple times, both parked and while driving, risking cargo spillage.
- Windshield recall repairs were delayed due to part shortages, and some owners were warned the fix itself could crack the glass.
- A brake pedal linkage pin was missing a retaining clip shortly after delivery, causing a loss of normal braking force.
2021 Ford F-250 recalls
12 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V158000Mar 17, 2026Fuel System9,839 vehicles
Fuel system, diesel:delivery:fuel pump
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 F-Super Duty F250, F350, F450, F550, 2021-2022 F600, and 2022 F750 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 24V957. Biodiesel deposits may form on the pump drivetrain roller components, which could lead to failure of the high pressure fuel pump.
Risk: High pressure fuel pump failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed mailed April 7, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S17. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 18, 2026.
- NHTSA 25V686000Oct 10, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras291,901 vehicles
Back over prevention:software
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, and F-450 SD vehicles. The 360-degree view camera system may not display a rearview image properly in certain lighting conditions.
Risk: A rearview camera image that does not display properly can reduce the driverâs view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the image processing module software, free of charge.This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 30, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the remedy is available on each phase. Owner notification letters were mailed May 19, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA8. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 13, 2025.
- NHTSA 25V626000Sep 19, 2025Steering115,539 vehicles
Steering:column
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-250, F-350, and F-450 vehicles. The steering column upper shaft may detach from the steering column and result in a loss of steering control.
Risk: A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering column, and repair or replace the upper shaft as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 20, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S94. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 23, 2025.
2021 compared with other F-250 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2021 Ford F-250 reliable?
- NHTSA lists 164 complaints for the 2021 F-250 with a complaint index of 40, ranking 10th of 16 model years — better than most other F-250 years and rated Good relative to them.
- What is the top problem area for the 2021 Ford F-250?
- Fuel System complaints lead with 41 reports, 25% of all complaints, at a median mileage of 97,500 miles.
- Does the 2021 F-250 have a steering recall?
- Yes. Recall 25V626000 covers 2020-2021 F-250, F-350, and F-450 vehicles where the steering column upper shaft may detach, causing loss of steering control.
- How many recalls does the 2021 Ford F-250 have?
- NHTSA lists 12 recalls for the 2021 Ford F-250, covering fuel system, cameras, steering, and other components, with none marked do-not-drive.
- What mileage do 2021 F-250 problems typically show up at?
- The median mileage at failure across all reported complaints for the 2021 F-250 is 48,000 miles.