Reliable Auto DB

2021 Ford F-150 reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2021 Ford F-150 holds 1,011 complaints after 6 years, a rate of 109 per year. That is more complaints per year than most F-150 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 90. NHTSA has 29 recalls on file, including Display, Automatic transmission, and Trailer brake controller.

2021 Ford F-150 crew cab
Photo by Gold Pony, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY 3.0
Complaints

1,011

Per year

109

Recalls

29

Years on the road

6

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (304 of 1,011), then Electrical system (117) and Exterior lighting (103). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 46,000 miles, and the middle half falls between 19,916 and 70,000 miles. Those filings include 13 that report a crash, 4 that report a fire, and 6 that report an injury.

Next to 2020 and 2022

The 2020 F-150 has 726 complaints, 58 per year, and the 2022 has 593 complaints, 92 per year. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2021 Ford F-150. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (29)

Recall back-over prevention, display 2026-07-28 · NHTSA campaign 26V489000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 F-150 and 2023-2026 F-250 SD vehicles equipped with 8-inch SYNC infotainment screens. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 7, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C37. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 31, 2026.
Vehicles affected 47,587
Recall powertrain, automatic transmission 2026-06-24 · NHTSA campaign 26V402000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
Remedy Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.
Vehicles affected 741,195
Recall electrical system, trailer brake controller 2026-02-20 · NHTSA campaign 26V104000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Remedy The integrated trailer module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 17, 2026.
Vehicles affected 4,381,878
Recall visibility, sunroof 2025-10-24 · NHTSA campaign 25V729000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, 2021-2023 F-150, 2022 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, and F-450 SD vehicles. The moonroof wind deflector clips may be inadequately attached to the moonroof frame, which can result in the wind deflector detaching from the vehicle.
Remedy Dealers will inspect and repair the moonroof wind deflector as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SB7. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 30, 2025.
Vehicles affected 174,853
Recall Fuel pump 2025-07-07 · NHTSA campaign 25V455000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Bronco, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, 2021-2022 Lincoln Navigator, Mustang, F-150, and 2022 Expedition vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can result in an engine stall while driving.
Remedy Dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump on super duty vehicles and update the powertrain control module (PCM) software on all other affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 27, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S75.
Vehicles affected 850,318
Recall exterior lighting, backup lights 2025-05-23 · NHTSA campaign 25V348000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles equipped with the Onboard Scales feature that were repaired incorrectly under recall 24V443. An over-the-air software update to the body control module (BCM) may have disabled both reverse lights.
Remedy Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 27, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S57.
Vehicles affected 10
Recall back-over prevention, software 2025-05-09 · NHTSA campaign 25V315000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco, F-150, 2021-2024 Edge, 2022-2025 Escape, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, 2022-2024 Expedition, 2022-2025 Transit, 2021-2023 Mach-E, 2024 Ranger, Mustang, 2021-2023 Lincoln Nautilus, 2022-2024 Navigator, and 2023-2024 Corsair vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse.
Remedy The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on June 26, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Owner notification letters were sent on October 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S49.
Vehicles affected 1,076,138
Recall powertrain, automatic transmission, transmission control module 2025-03-14 · NHTSA campaign 25V169000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 22V-188. The Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for low transmission fluid pressure may falsely activate and cause the transmission to unexpectedly shift into neutral.
Remedy Dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S24.
Vehicles affected 567
Recall electrical system, trailer brake controller 2025-02-28 · NHTSA campaign 25V132000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 F-150, 2022 Maverick, Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 22V-193. Due to a software error, a towed trailer equipped with an electric or electric-over hydraulic brake system may not brake.
Remedy Dealers will update the integrated trailer brake control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S18.
Vehicles affected 10,952
Recall Labels 2024-11-08 · NHTSA campaign 24V852000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Remedy Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
Vehicles affected 27,678
Recall engine and cooling, engine, internal engine parts 2024-08-23 · NHTSA campaign 24V635000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco, F-150, Edge, Explorer, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with either a 2.7L or 3.0L Nano EcoBoost engine. The engine intake valves may break while driving, which can result in engine failure and a loss of drive power.
Remedy Dealers will perform an engine cycle test and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S55.
Vehicles affected 90,736
Recall electrical system, body control module, software 2024-06-14 · NHTSA campaign 24V443000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles equipped with the Onboard Scales feature. An over-the-air software update to the body control module (BCM) may have disabled both reverse lights.
Remedy Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are were mailed June 26, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S38.
Vehicles affected 159
Recall powertrain, axle hubs 2023-12-22 · NHTSA campaign 23V896000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 F-150 vehicles equipped with the Trailer Tow Max Duty package and a 9.75-inch heavy duty axle with a 3/4 float axle design. The rear axle hub bolt may fatigue and break, which can result in damage to the axle hub splines.
Remedy Dealers will replace the left and right rear axle shaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 9, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S65.
Vehicles affected 112,965
Recall parking brake, electrical 2023-07-21 · NHTSA campaign 23V509000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 F-150 vehicles equipped with a single exhaust system. Contact with the rear axle housing may damage the wiring harness, causing the electric parking brake to activate unexpectedly.
Remedy Dealers will install a protective tie strap, tape wrap, and replace the harness as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 12, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S35.
Vehicles affected 870,701
Recall visibility, windshield wiper, linkages 2023-03-10 · NHTSA campaign 23V163000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.
Remedy Dealers will inspect and replace the wiper arms, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 13, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S10. This recall expands previous recall number 22V-250.
Vehicles affected 222,454
Recall visibility, windshield wiper, motor 2022-11-15 · NHTSA campaign 22V842000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 F-150 vehicles. The front windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail.
Remedy Dealers will replace the front windshield wiper motor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2023. Remedy parts are expected in the 3rd Quarter of 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S71. This recall expands previous recall number 22V-142.
Vehicles affected 483,082
Recall Driveshaft 2022-08-12 · NHTSA campaign 22V623000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 F-150 vehicles. Underbody heat and noise insulators may loosen and contact the aluminum driveshaft, which could damage the driveshaft and cause it to fracture.
Remedy Dealers will inspect and repair the driveshaft, as necessary, and properly attach the underbody insulators, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 1, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S53.
Vehicles affected 58,203
Recall gasoline fuel system, storage 2022-06-10 · NHTSA campaign 22V414000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling one 2021 F-150 vehicle. A single vehicle may have been assembled without a fuel tank front attachment resulting in an unsecured fuel tank attachment strap.
Remedy Dealers will inspect and repair (if necessary) the fuel tank strap bracket, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 1, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S42.
Vehicles affected 1
Recall visibility, windshield wiper, linkages 2022-04-14 · NHTSA campaign 22V250000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-150, Expedition, 2020-2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, and 2020-2021 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.
Remedy Dealers will replace both front windshield wiper arms, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed on May 24, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available 3rd Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S26.
Vehicles affected 652,996
Recall powertrain, automatic transmission, transmission control module 2022-03-25 · NHTSA campaign 22V188000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for low transmission fluid pressure may falsely activate and cause the transmission to unexpectedly shift into neutral.
Remedy Dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 12, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S15.
Vehicles affected 47,084
Recall electrical system, trailer brake controller 2022-03-25 · NHTSA campaign 22V193000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 F-150, 2022 Maverick, Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles. Due to a software error, a towed trailer equipped with an electric or electric-over hydraulic brake system may not brake.
Remedy Dealers will update the integrated trailer brake control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S17.
Vehicles affected 391,836
Recall visibility, windshield wiper, motor 2022-03-11 · NHTSA campaign 22V142000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The front windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail.
Remedy Dealers will replace the front windshield wiper motor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 22, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S12.
Vehicles affected 157,306
Recall Driveshaft 2021-12-16 · NHTSA campaign 21V986000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 F-150 vehicles. Underbody heat and noise insulators may loosen and contact the aluminum driveshaft, which could damage the driveshaft and cause it to fracture.
Remedy Dealers will inspect and repair the driveshaft as necessary, and properly attach the underbody insulators, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 4, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S56.
Vehicles affected 184,698
Recall air bags, sensor, side impact 2021-10-15 · NHTSA campaign 21V805000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, 2021 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 214, "Side Impact Protection."
Remedy Dealers will replace the driver and passenger front door side impact sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 3, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C26.
Vehicles affected 777
Recall seat belts, front, webbing 2021-08-23 · NHTSA campaign 21V653000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 Super Cab vehicles. The front seatbelt webbing may be incorrectly routed.
Remedy Owners are advised to perform a preliminary self-inspection of the front seatbelts. If the passenger-side seatbelt fails inspection, owners should not use the passenger seat until the repair is performed. If the driver-side seatbelt fails inspection, owners should not drive their vehicle until the repair is performed. Dealers will inspect the front seatbelts and, if the webbing is misrouted, will replace the seatbelt retractor and pretensioner, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 14, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C20.
Vehicles affected 16,430
Recall Hydraulic brakes 2021-07-15 · NHTSA campaign 21V533000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The electronic brake booster may leak brake fluid into the electronic control unit, which could result in reduced braking performance.
Remedy Dealers will replace the electronic brake booster assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 28, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S33.
Vehicles affected 56
Recall steering, steering gearbox 2021-05-29 · NHTSA campaign 21V407000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The steering gear may have internal damage, which could result in difficulty steering, or the inability to rotate the steering wheel while driving.
Remedy Owners are advised to not drive their vehicles until the repair is complete. Vehicles will be towed in for service, and dealers will remove and replace the steering gear, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S28.
Vehicles affected 223
Recall Driveshaft 2021-05-24 · NHTSA campaign 21V381000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The two-piece driveshafts may have been improperly assembled, which could result in driveshaft separation.
Remedy Dealers will inspect the driveshaft, and replace it if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 15, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S25.
Vehicles affected 4,436
Recall visibility, windshield, critical fasteners 2021-02-18 · NHTSA campaign 21V090000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 and 2020-2021 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
Remedy Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove and reinstall the windshield, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C06.
Vehicles affected 79,017

NHTSA's count is every vehicle in that campaign. A campaign can cover other model years and other models.

Complaints by component (1011 total)

Powertrain
304
Electrical system
117
Exterior lighting
103
Engine
82
Visibility
66
Visibility and wipers
56
Service brakes
53
Fuel and propulsion system
50
Steering
41
Fuel system, gasoline
37
Wheels
27
Back-over prevention
23
Warnings
22
Automatic emergency braking
20
Speed control
20
Structure, body
20
Adaptive cruise control
14
Engine and engine cooling
14
Suspension
13
Parking brake
12
Structure
12
Camera
10
Hydraulic brakes
8
Blind spot detection
7
Speakers
6
Trailer brake controller
6
Windshield
6
Air bags
5
Assist
5
Seat belts
5
Automatic transmission
4
Headlights
4
Instrument cluster
4
Latch
4
Rear automatic braking
4
Warning
4
Axle hubs
3
Exhaust system
3
Axle shaft
2
Bulbs
2
Driveshaft
2
Lock
2
Navigation system
2
Speedometer and odometer
2
12V/24V/48V battery
1
ABS warning light
1
Body control module
1
Brake assist
1
Camera or sensor
1
Chest clip, buckle, and harness
1
Dashboard
1
Defroster and HVAC
1
Door
1
Exterior
1
Filter
1
Forward collision avoidance
1
Hinge
1
Hoses and fittings
1
Hydraulic brakes, fluid
1
Infotainment
1
Interior lighting
1
Latch plate
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Motor
1
Pipes and hoses
1
Recreational vehicle or trailer
1
Seats
1
Side or rear glass
1
Sunroof
1
Tail lights
1
Tires
1
Transfer case
1
Tread
1
Turn signal
1
Windshield wiper
1
Wiring
1
Show 68 more Show less
Crash-flagged

13

Fire-flagged

4

Injury reports

6

Death reports

0

Of the 218 complaints that include an odometer reading, the median is 46,000 miles. The middle half fall between 19,916 and 70,000 miles.

Complaints filed per year

46202110320221782023130202430320252512026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "Daytime Running Light in the headlight assembly overheated and stopped working. Thousands of 2021-2023 F150 owners have had the same issue. This is clearly a mass scale manufacturer known defect and Ford already tried…"
    Exterior lighting · filed 2026-09-19
  • "ON YOUR VEHICLE, THE WHEEL END HUB BOLT IN THE REAR AXLE MAY BECOME LOOSE OR BREAK. CONTINUED DRIVING WITH A BROKEN BOLT MAY LEAD TO WEAR WITHIN THE AXLE AND DAMAGE THE AXLE HUB SPLINES. I’ve been contacting ford…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-09-18
  • "Fuel pump failed while driving causing vehicle to be disabled in a roadway blocking traffic. The vehicle was then incapable of shifting to neutral so that it could be moved out of the roadway. A Ford dealer confirmed…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-09-17
  • "The contact's son owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that her son reported that while accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated significantly and shifted hard while the accelerator pedal was…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-09-16
  • "The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while attempting to shift into park (P), the gear shifter became stuck, requiring the contact to remove the key from the ignition or depress the brake pedal…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-09-16

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2021 Ford F-150 Regular Cab PU/RC 2WD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2021 Ford F-150 Regular Cab PU/RC 4WD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2021 Ford F-150 Super Cab Diesel PU/EC 2WD Not rated Not rated Not rated 4 stars
2021 Ford F-150 Super Cab Diesel PU/EC 4WD Not rated Not rated Not rated 4 stars
2021 Ford F-150 Super Cab PU/EC 2WD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2021 Ford F-150 Super Cab PU/EC 4WD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2021 Ford F-150 Super Crew Diesel PU/CC 2WD Not rated Not rated Not rated 4 stars
2021 Ford F-150 Super Crew Diesel PU/CC 4WD Not rated Not rated Not rated 4 stars
2021 Ford F-150 Super Crew HEV PU/CC 2WD Not rated Not rated Not rated 4 stars
2021 Ford F-150 Super Crew HEV PU/CC 4WD Not rated Not rated Not rated 4 stars
2021 Ford F-150 Super Crew PU/CC 2WD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2021 Ford F-150 Super Crew PU/CC 4WD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
F-150 pickup two-wheel drive 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 18 24 20 MPG $3250
F-150 pickup two-wheel drive 2.7L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 20 26 22 MPG $2950
F-150 pickup two-wheel drive 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 17 24 20 MPG $3250
F-150 pickup two-wheel drive flex-fuel 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 20 24 21 MPG $3100
F-150 pickup two-wheel drive flex-fuel 5L, 8-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 17 24 19 MPG $3400
F-150 pickup two-wheel drive flex-fuel 5L, 8-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 17 24 20 MPG $3250
F-150 pickup two-wheel drive hybrid 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 25 26 25 MPG $2600
F-150 pickup four-wheel drive 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 17 23 19 MPG $3400
F-150 pickup four-wheel drive 2.7L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 18 24 20 MPG $3250
F-150 pickup four-wheel drive 2.7L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 19 24 21 MPG $3100
F-150 pickup four-wheel drive 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 18 23 20 MPG $3250
F-150 pickup four-wheel drive 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 20 27 23 MPG $4100
F-150 pickup four-wheel drive flex-fuel 5L, 8-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 16 22 19 MPG $3400
F-150 pickup four-wheel drive flex-fuel 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 19 22 20 MPG $3250
F-150 pickup four-wheel drive flex-fuel 5L, 8-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 16 22 18 MPG $3600
F-150 pickup four-wheel drive hybrid 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 24 24 24 MPG $2700
F-150 pickup Tremor four-wheel drive 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 16 20 18 MPG $3600
F-150 pickup Tremor four-wheel drive 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 16 20 18 MPG $3600
F-150 RAPTOR 37 four-wheel drive 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 15 16 15 MPG $4300
F-150 RAPTOR 37 four-wheel drive 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 14 16 15 MPG $4300
F-150 RAPTOR four-wheel drive 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 15 18 16 MPG $4050
F-150 RAPTOR four-wheel drive 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 14 18 15 MPG $4300

Specs and fitment

14th generation, 2021–present
Body styles Pickup truck
Oil 5W-20 (3.3L V6); 5W-30 (EcoBoost, PowerBoost hybrid, 5.0L V8, diesel) , 6 qt capacity
Tire size 245/70R17 to 275/50R22
Towing capacity 14,000 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA recall 24V-635 (Ford campaign 24S55) covers 2021-2022 F-150 trucks equipped with the 2.7L or 3.0L Nano EcoBoost V6, built within a production spike period of May 2021 to October 2021; the engine intake valves may break while driving, which can result in engine failure and a loss of drive power. NHTSA's engineering analysis (EA23-002) found that fractured valves showed "grinding burn" or out-of-specification hardness at the keeper grooves, leaving them hard and brittle, and that the same defect spans the 2.7L and 3.0L Nano engine families across several Ford and Lincoln nameplates, not the F-150 specifically. Ford's remedy is a free engine cycle test with engine replacement as necessary; Ford changed the intake valve alloy from Silchrome Lite to Silchrome 1, and vehicles produced after October 2021 are not affected. This recall does not apply to the separately tracked F-150 Lightning EV, which does not use the Nano EcoBoost engine.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Ford F-150 reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2021 Ford F-150 holds 1,011 complaints after 6 years, a rate of 109 per year. That is more complaints per year than most F-150 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 90. NHTSA has 29 recalls on file, including Display, Automatic transmission, and Trailer brake controller.

What are common problems with a 2021 Ford F-150?

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (304 of 1,011), then Electrical system (117) and Exterior lighting (103). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 46,000 miles, and the middle half falls between 19,916 and 70,000 miles. Those filings include 13 that report a crash, 4 that report a fire, and 6 that report an injury.

Is the 2021 Ford F-150 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2020 F-150 has 726 complaints, 58 per year, and the 2022 has 593 complaints, 92 per year. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

Has the 2021 Ford F-150 been recalled?

The 2021 Ford F-150 has 29 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Ford F-150?

Owners have filed 1011 complaints about the 2021 Ford F-150 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2021 Ford F-150 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2021 Ford F-150 is 19.5 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What generation is my Ford F-150?

2009-2014 is the 12th generation, 2015-2020 is the 13th generation (first all-aluminum body), and 2021-present is the 14th generation.

Does the towing capacity apply to every F-150 trim?

No. The listed figure is the generation's best-equipped maximum (specific engine, cab, and Max Trailer Tow Package); a base XL or Raptor will tow significantly less.

Is the F-150 Lightning included in this data?

No, the F-150 Lightning EV is tracked as a separate model in this catalog; this page covers only the conventional gas and hybrid F-150.