2021 Ford F-350 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
33/100
#11 most-complained of 16 F-350 years
NHTSA lists 96 complaints and 14 recalls for the 2021 Ford F-350, giving a complaint index of 33 and a rank of 11th worst out of 16 model years. That places it in the "Good" category compared to other F-350 years, well below the worst year (2019, index 100).
- Complaints
- 96
- Recalls
- 14
- incl. Do Not Drive
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 4
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- —
Top 2021 Ford F-350 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Fuel System38 (40%)
- Engine17 (18%)
- Electrical System13 (14%)
- Other11 (11%)
- Transmission & Powertrain10 (10%)
- Structure & Body7 (7%)
- Visibility & Wipers7 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (6%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras5 (5%)
- Brakes4 (4%)
What owners report
- Owners report engine fires starting under the hood or from the engine block heater cable, sometimes while the truck was parked or towing a trailer.
- Some describe the Diesel Particulate Filter cleaning alert triggering a sudden loss of power and the truck shifting itself into neutral while towing.
- Several owners say the power tailgate opens on its own while driving or stationary, without the remote being pressed.
- One owner reported the panoramic sunroof glass shattered on its own while driving at 72 mph.
- A steering wheel vibration was traced to a driveshaft issue at very low mileage.
2021 Ford F-350 recalls
14 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-350 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2021 Ford F-350 reliable?
- Compared to other F-350 model years, 2021 ranks 11th worst out of 16 with a complaint index of 33, and NHTSA gives it a "Good" verdict relative to other years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2021 Ford F-350?
- The top problem area is the Fuel System, making up 40% of complaints, followed by Engine issues at 18% and Electrical System issues at 14%.
- Does the 2021 Ford F-350 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 14 recalls for the 2021 F-350, including one do-not-drive recall, covering issues like fuel system biodiesel deposits, steering column upper shaft detachment, and rearview camera display problems.
- How does the 2021 F-350 compare to the 2019 and 2017 model years?
- The 2019 F-350 has the highest complaint index at 100 and the 2017 has 93, both rated "Avoid," while the 2021 model's complaint index of 33 is far lower.
- What mileage do 2021 F-350 fuel system problems appear at?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 112,500 miles for Fuel System complaints on the 2021 F-350.