YearToAvoid

2021 Ford F-250 Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 15 engine complaints for the 2021 Ford F-250, about 9% of its 164 total complaints. Owners report loss of motive power, hard starting, engine knock, and lifter/cam damage, with a median failure mileage of 70,000. No related recall is listed in this data set for the engine category itself, though owners describe a separate fuel pump recall.

Engine complaints
15
9% of 164
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
70,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of motive power or the truck failing to respond when accelerating from a stop.
  • Some describe the vehicle independently accelerating or surging while the driver held the brake.
  • Several report a loud knocking noise from the intake manifold area, present both warm and cold.
  • Owners describe hard starting or extended cranking without the engine turning over, tied to a high-pressure fuel pump issue.
  • One owner reported catastrophic engine failure with metal found in the oil, diagnosed as a faulty oil pump.
  • Another reported delaminated lifters, cam, and rockers with metal shavings in the oil after abnormal valve noise.

When 2021 Ford F-250 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 17, 2023, latest Jul 1, 2026.

2021 Ford F-250 engine complaints: complaints filed per month1Jul 2023Jun 2024Feb 2025Apr 2025Jul 2025Jan 2026Mar 2026Jul 2026
15 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2023 to Jul 2026; peak Jul 2023 (1).

Engine recalls for the 2021 Ford F-250

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by F-250 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201023 (22%)
  2. 201168 (18%)
  3. 201263 (20%)
  4. 201322 (19%)
  5. 201421 (13%)
  6. 201549 (17%)
  7. 201635 (12%)
  8. 201751 (4%)
  9. 201818 (5%)
  10. 201936 (3%)
  11. 202033 (13%)
  12. 202115 (9%)
  13. 202222 (18%)
  14. 202312 (28%)
  15. 20244 (11%)
  16. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2021 Ford F-250 have?
NHTSA lists 15 engine complaints for the 2021 F-250, which is 9% of the 164 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there an engine recall for the 2021 Ford F-250?
This data set shows no recall specifically listed under the Engine category for the 2021 F-250, though sample complaints reference a separate high-pressure fuel pump recall (NHTSA 24V957) affecting drivability.
At what mileage do 2021 F-250 engine problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2021 F-250 is 70,000 miles.
What engine problems do 2021 F-250 owners report most?
Owners most often describe loss of motive power, engine knock from the intake manifold, hard starting, and internal damage such as delaminated lifters or metal in the oil.

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.