Is the 2021 Ford F-150 a bad year?
1,044 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 323, 5.7× a quiet F-150 year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
The transmission draws 5.7× the complaints of a quiet F-150 year, but the 2021 is still young: half of its transmission complaints so far came in by 60k miles, and that mark will move as owners add miles. Check your powertrain warranty first.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2021 F-150 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 60,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 323 (31%) | 32k–82k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 131 (13%) | 20k–60k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 94 (9%) | 31k–63k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Backup cameraSTANDS OUT | 43 (4%) | 22k–60k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 36 (3%) | 7k–65k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Parking brake | 12 (1%) | 20k–75k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 131 (13%) | 10k–57k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Engine | 99 (9%) | 7k–58k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 65 (6%) | 6k–45k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 117 (11%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 43 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 43 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 27 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 21 (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 60,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,044 complaints: 13 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 6 report an injury · 36 say the car was towed.
322 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Complete engine failure at 2,300 miles. The engine is a 2.7 V6 which has recently been documented as having potential engine problems per Motor Trend.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 60,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2021 Ford F-150: 29
A software error may cause the rearview camera image to be obstructed by the infotainment home screen menu when the vehicle is placed in reverse. An obstructed rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may lose communication with the vehicle, possibly causing a loss of brake and turn signal lights, or a loss of brake function. Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver's ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, 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.
The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can result in an engine stall while driving. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
An over-the-air software update to the body control module (BCM) may have disabled both reverse lights. Inoperative reverse lights may fail to alert others that the vehicle is reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.
A software error may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse. A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for low transmission fluid pressure may falsely activate and cause the transmission to unexpectedly shift into neutral. An unexpected shift into neutral will cause a loss of drive power and increase the risk of a crash.
Due to a software error, a towed trailer equipped with an electric or electric-over hydraulic brake system may not brake. Loss of trailer brake functionality can extend the distance required to stop, 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 engine intake valves may break while driving, which can result in engine failure and a loss of drive power. A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
An over-the-air software update to the body control module (BCM) may have disabled both reverse lights. Disabled reverse lights cannot alert others that the vehicle is reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.
The rear axle hub bolt may fatigue and break, which can result in damage to the axle hub splines. Damaged axle hub splines can result in a vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied or cause a loss of drive power. Both of these conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
Contact with the rear axle housing may damage the wiring harness, causing the electric parking brake to activate unexpectedly. Unexpected activation of the electric parking brake while driving increases the risk of a crash.
The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail. Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
The front windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail. Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Underbody heat and noise insulators may loosen and contact the aluminum driveshaft, which could damage the driveshaft and cause it to fracture. A fractured driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power, or a loss of vehicle control if the driveshaft contacts the ground. Additionally, unintended movement could occur while parked if the parking brake is not engaged.
A single vehicle may have been assembled without a fuel tank front attachment resulting in an unsecured fuel tank attachment strap. An improperly attached fuel tank increases the risk of a fuel leak and potential for fire.
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.
Due to a software error, a towed trailer equipped with an electric or electric-over hydraulic brake system may not brake. Loss of trailer brake functionality could result in extended stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash.
The Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for low transmission fluid pressure may falsely activate and cause the transmission to unexpectedly shift into neutral. An unexpected shift into neutral will cause a loss of drive power and increase the risk of a crash.
The front windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail. Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Underbody heat and noise insulators may loosen and contact the aluminum driveshaft, which could damage the driveshaft and cause it to fracture. A fractured driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power, or a loss of vehicle control if the driveshaft contacts the ground. Additionally, unintended movement could occur while parked if the parking brake is not engaged.
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.
The front seatbelt webbing may be incorrectly routed. A misrouted seatbelt may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The electronic brake booster may leak brake fluid into the electronic control unit, which could result in reduced braking performance. Reduced braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
The steering gear may have internal damage, which could result in difficulty steering, or the inability to rotate the steering wheel while driving. Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
The two-piece driveshafts may have been improperly assembled, which could result in driveshaft separation. Driveshaft separation may result in a sudden loss of drive power, or unintended vehicle movement if the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied, increasing the risk of a crash.
During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. In the event of a crash, if the windshield separates from the vehicle, it can increase 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: 634
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2021 Ford F-150. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Detected with the CDF clutch cylinder following this article, technicians should carefully inspect and replace other transmission c
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Some 2021-2023 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 3.5L PowerBoost engine and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 3.3L hybrid engine may exhibit…
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…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Loss of Motive Power
Neighbouring years
2020 F-150: 746 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2022 F-150: 607 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Ford F-150 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 F-150 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 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 F-150 a bad year?
1,044 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 323, 5.7× a quiet F-150 year. At 60,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. The transmission draws 5.7× the complaints of a quiet F-150 year, but the 2021 is still young: half of its transmission complaints so far came in by 60k miles, and that mark will move as owners add miles. Check your powertrain warranty first.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Ford F-150?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (323), visibility and wipers (131), fuel system (94), backup camera (43), body structure (36). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 32k–82k miles.
How many recalls does the 2021 Ford F-150 have?
29 recall campaigns list this model year: Backup camera (NHTSA 26V-489), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 26V-402), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 26V-104), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 25V-729) 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.