Is the 2021 Ford Expedition a bad year?
242 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 113, 6.3× a quiet Expedition year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 40k–90k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 3 of 113 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2021 Expedition owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 65,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 113 (47%) | 40k–90k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 58 (24%) | 41k–98k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 24 (10%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 23 (10%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 14 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 10 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Backup camera | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 65,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 242 complaints: 4 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 5 report an injury · 10 say the car was towed.
69 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2021 Ford Expedition: 12
The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage. Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
The chrome plating on the center console may bubble and peel, resulting in sharp edges. Vehicle occupants may contact the center console's sharp edges, increasing the risk of injury.
The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend. Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the wipers to fail. Windshield wiper failure can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The moonroof wind deflector clips may be inadequately attached to the moonroof frame, which can result in the wind deflector detaching from the vehicle. A detached wind deflector can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended. A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver.
The rearview camera may display a blank or distorted image. Rearview camera failure can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The owner's manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints. Without instructions, the head restraints may be improperly adjusted, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
An engine compartment fire may occur while driving or parked, even with the ignition in the "Off" position. A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail. Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
The front-door side impact pressure sensor modules may have been damaged during supplier assembly, which can cause the side impact air bags to not deploy properly in a crash. An air bag that does not deploy properly during a crash increases the risk of injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 140
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2021 Ford Expedition. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
For 2021 2026 vehicles equipped with the 10R80 transmission, a new Transmission Clutch Circuit Leak Test has been introduced in the Ford Diagnosis and Repair…
To allow servicing of the turbocharger actuator rod
Some vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022…
Some 2021-2025 Expedition/Navigator/F-150/F-Super Duty/F-53 Motorhome/F59 Commercial Stripped Chassis/F-650/F-750/Transit vehicles equipped with a 2.7L/3.5L…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
NU Car rental of vehicles with open recalls
Neighbouring years
2020 Expedition: 430 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2022 Expedition: 117 complaints, keep it.
Every Ford Expedition year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Expedition years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2021 Ford Expedition a bad year?
242 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 113, 6.3× a quiet Expedition year. At 65,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 40k–90k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 3 of 113 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Ford Expedition?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (113), engine (58), electrical system (24), visibility and wipers (23), fuel system (14). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 40k–90k miles.
How many recalls does the 2021 Ford Expedition have?
12 recall campaigns list this model year: Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 26V-402), Body structure (NHTSA 26V-368), Seat belts (NHTSA 26V-344), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 26V-204) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.