Is the 2021 Ford F-150 reliable?

The 2021 Ford F-150 has 1228 complaints filed with NHTSA (0.7x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: average. Most common issue: TRANSMISSION problems.

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

Top problems: TRANSMISSION (281 complaints, avg repair $500); VISIBILITY (133 complaints, avg repair $500); ELECTRICAL (127 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2021 Ford F-150?

Yes, there are 28 recall(s): POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD:CRITICAL FASTENERS, AIR BAGS:SENSOR:SIDE IMPACT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT, STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION), VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM), VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES, PARKING BRAKE:ELECTRICAL, POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL, EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM), BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. Contact any Ford dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

Is the 2021 Ford F-150 often stolen?

Theft risk tier for the Ford F-150: above-avg. HLDI insurance loss data suggests higher-than-average theft claims for this model.

How much does it cost to insure a 2021 Ford F-150?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2021 Ford F-150 is approximately $1,789/year (sedan-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2021 Ford F-150

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2021 Ford F-150 has 1228 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.7x the segment average of 1726. The most common issue is transmission problems (23% of all complaints), specifically: on june 23rd while driving my 2021 xl supercrew with the 3.5l ecoboost engine, the engine quit while i was driving about 30mph. i pushed the accelerator slightly intending to accelerate to 35mph and when the truck downshifted, the engine stalled, and i think the transmission tried to move to park. . There are 28 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.

6 fire reports 12 crash reports 6 injuries

1228

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

TRANSMISSION

281 complaints

23%

• On June 23rd while driving my 2021 XL SuperCrew with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine, the engine quit while I was driving about 30mph. I pushed the accelerator slightly intending to accelerate to 35mph and when the truck downshifted, the engine stalled, and I think the transmission tried to move to park.
• Transmission in truck shudders and does not down shift in maneuvers required to avoid some near miss situations.
• The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle shuddered and jerked forward. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact continued driving to his residence. The failure recurred several times. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer to be di

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“On June 23rd while driving my 2021 XL SuperCrew with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine, the engine quit while I was driving about 30mph. I pushed the accelerator slightly intending to accelerate to 35mph and when the truck downshifted, the engine stalled, and I think the transmission tried to move to park. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2021 Ford F-150

Based on 255 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 42K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

VISIBILITY

In line with typicalmedian 40K mi · 30 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 25K mi · 27 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

In line with typicalmedian 34K mi · 24 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ENGINE

In line with typicalmedian 31K mi · 21 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

In line with typicalmedian 39K mi · 10 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BODY/STRUCTURE

In line with typicalmedian 46K mi · 8 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (28)

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT16/12/2021

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.

Risk: 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. Any of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Above-average theft risk

Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2021 Ford F-150

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,789

Full coverage / month

$149

Liability only / year

$611

vs US avg

+7%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.06x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age1.05x

= Full coverage estimate$1789

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Ford F-150 Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

30K mi

Engine coolant

100K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

20K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

30K mi

IOLM (Intelligent Oil Life Monitor) may signal earlier. Older 5.4L Triton engines have specific service needs — check the manual.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Ford New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Ford. If you're buying a used 2021 F-150, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ford dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1228 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: On June 23rd while driving my 2021 XL SuperCrew with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine, the engine quit while I was driving about 30mph. I pushed the accelerator slightly intending to accelerate to 35mph and when the truck downshifted, the engine stalled, and I think the transmission tried to move to park.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: The rear window shattered after closing a door on my 2021 F-15 XLT. It was 68 degrees, 11am and the truck was parked in the shade. There's approximately 3800 miles on the odometer. There was no one in the truck. The window blew out onto the tonneau cover. I have a call into my insurance and have yet
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: IF THE TRUCK SITS FOR MORE THAN 2 DAYS THE BATTERY WILL BE DEAD AND UNABLE TO BE JUMPSTARTED WITH JUMP PACKS. HAD TO HAVE THE BATTERY REPLACED IT WAS SO DEAD ALREADY.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: INTRUSION ALARM GOING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT FOR NO REASON. VEHICLE IS PARKED AND LOCKED IN THE DRIVE WAY, HAPPENS EVERY NIGHT. MUST DISABLE MOTION SENSORS PRIOR TO PARKING OVER NIGHT EVERY TIME.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 28 recalls have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)