Is the 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid a bad year?
266 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 125.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 20k–61k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 4 of 125 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2021 F-150 Hybrid 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 34,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 125 (47%) | 20k–61k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical system | 43 (16%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine | 29 (11%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 27 (10%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 19 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 15 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 14 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 12 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 6 (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 34,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 266 complaints: 5 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 5 report an injury · 10 say the car was towed.
42 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 F-150 Hybrid: 0
No recall campaign lists this model year.
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: 2
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Certain 2021-2023 Model Year F-150 HEV Vehicles Replacement of Exhaust Gas Heat Recovery Coolant Spigot…
Neighbouring years
2022 F-150 Hybrid: 215 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Ford F-150 Hybrid year
2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All F-150 Hybrid 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 Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · 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 F-150 Hybrid a bad year?
266 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 125. At 34,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 20k–61k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 4 of 125 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (125), electrical system (43), engine (29), wheels (27), fuel system (19). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 20k–61k miles.
How many recalls does the 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid have?
No recall campaign lists this model year in NHTSA data. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm.
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.