2021 Ford F-150 reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2021 Ford F-150 — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,225
- 1,225 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- POWER TRAIN
- 267 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 27
- see below
- Reported harm
- 19 reported crashes · 10 injuries · 7 fires
What owners report fails — 2021 Ford F-150
- POWER TRAIN 267
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 111
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 88
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING 87
- ENGINE 78
27 recalls on record for the 2021 Ford F-150
- NHTSA 26V104000 · 2026 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the tr
- NHTSA 23V896000 · 2025 · POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS Damaged axle hub splines can result in a vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied
- NHTSA 24V635000 · 2025 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PA A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 25V132000 · 2025 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BR Loss of trailer brake functionality can extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 25V169000 · 2025 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTR An unexpected shift into neutral will cause a loss of drive power and increase the risk of a crash.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2021 Ford F-150
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2021 Ford F-150 units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Ford F-150 reliable?
NHTSA has 1,225 consumer complaints on record for the 2021 Ford F-150 and 27 recalls. The most-reported problem area is power train (267 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2021 Ford F-150 units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Ford F-150?
Owners most often report problems with: power train (267), electrical system (111), unknown or other (88), exterior lighting (87). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2021 Ford F-150?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.