2021 Ford F-250 Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 13 NHTSA recalls and 166 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
D
44/100
High Reported Activity — 2021 Ford F-250
The 2021 Ford F-250 shows high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Review the issues below and have a thorough pre-purchase inspection done by an independent mechanic.
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13
NHTSA Recalls
13 recalls on record
166
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
3
Crash Reports
In NHTSA complaints
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NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Ford F-250 (13)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Ford dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 Visibility: Windshield: Critical Fasteners
In the event of a crash, if the windshield separates from the vehicle, it can increase the risk of injury.
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…
🔧 Steering
If the steering locks, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Icon will notify owners, and dealers will install a new shock assembly with a revised foam ring and steel support disc, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2020….
🔧 Fuel System, Diesel
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the primary and secondary fuel filters, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 28, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number…
🔧 Structure: Frame And Members: Underbody Shields
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…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the driveshaft as necessary, and properly attach the underbody insulators, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 7, 2022. Owners may contact…
🔧 Visibility: Windshield Wiper/Washer: Linkages
Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
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…
🔧 Equipment: Other: Owners/Service/Other Manual
Without instructions, the head restraints may be improperly adjusted, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will mail the Owner's Manual addendums that describe how to adjust and remove the head restraints for the center seating positions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed…
🔧 Fuel System, Diesel: Delivery: Fuel Pump
High pressure fuel pump failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) and Transmission Control Module (TCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer…
🔧 Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
Rearview camera failure can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 18, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for…
🔧 Back Over Prevention: Software
A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations…
Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…
🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Fuel Pump
An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
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…
Showing 10 of 13 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →
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Most Common Problems — 2021 Ford F-250
Based on 166 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.
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Ford F-250 — Complaints by Year
A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.
→ Recently checked Ford F-250 VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.
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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2017, 2019 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.
✅ Best model years: 2021, 2022, 2023 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
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Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 Ford F-250
Is the 2021 Ford F-250 reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Ford F-250 has 13 recall campaigns and 166 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2021 Ford F-250 have?
The 2021 Ford F-250 has 13 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Ford F-250?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 Ford F-250 are: Fuel System, Power Train, Electrical System, Steering. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2021 Ford F-250 safe to buy?
The 2021 Ford F-250 has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 13 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Ford F-250 should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Ford F-250 are: 2021, 2022, 2023. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2017, 2019.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update.
For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit
NHTSA.gov/recalls.