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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2021 Ford F-150 is associated with 1234 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 29 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Powertrain, accounting for 312 reports (25% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 22 certified vehicle configurations spanning 3.5L 6-Cyl hybrid, 2.7l 6-cyl, 3.3l 6-cyl, 3.5l 6-cyl, 5l 8-cyl, and 3l 6-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 15 to 25 MPG combined. The 2021 Ford F-150 belongs to the 14th generation (P702) F-150 platform spanning model years 2021–2026.

Platform Architecture: 14th Generation (P702) • Production Span: 2021–2026 • Platform Code: P702 • Lifecycle Note: Pre-Facelift (2021–2023) / Facelift (2024–2026)
Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 1234 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 29 official campaigns
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Powertrain (312 / 25%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 18 crash / 7 fire / 11 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 15–25 MPG across 22 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2021 Ford F-150?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
F150 Pickup 2WD HEV Hybrid 3.5L 6-Cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 25 MPG 26 MPG 25 MPG — $2,450 / yr
F150 Pickup 2WD 2.7L 6-Cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 20 MPG 26 MPG 22 MPG — $2,800 / yr
F150 Pickup 2WD FFV 3.3L 6-Cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 20 MPG 24 MPG 21 MPG — $2,950 / yr
F150 Pickup 2WD 3.5L 6-Cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 18 MPG 24 MPG 20 MPG — $3,100 / yr
F150 Pickup 2WD FFV 5L 8-Cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 17 MPG 24 MPG 20 MPG — $3,100 / yr
F150 Pickup 2WD 3.5L 6-Cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 17 MPG 24 MPG 20 MPG — $3,100 / yr
F150 Pickup 2WD FFV 5L 8-Cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 17 MPG 24 MPG 19 MPG — $3,250 / yr
F150 Pickup 4WD HEV Hybrid 3.5L 6-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 24 MPG 24 MPG 24 MPG — $2,550 / yr
F150 Pickup 4WD Diesel 3L 6-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 20 MPG 27 MPG 23 MPG — $3,450 / yr
F150 Pickup 4WD 2.7L 6-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 19 MPG 24 MPG 21 MPG — $2,950 / yr
F150 Pickup 4WD 3.5L 6-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 18 MPG 23 MPG 20 MPG — $3,100 / yr
F150 Pickup 4WD FFV 3.3L 6-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 19 MPG 22 MPG 20 MPG — $3,100 / yr
F150 Pickup 4WD 2.7L 6-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 18 MPG 24 MPG 20 MPG — $3,100 / yr
F150 Pickup 4WD FFV 5L 8-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 16 MPG 22 MPG 19 MPG — $3,250 / yr
F150 Pickup 4WD 3.5L 6-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 17 MPG 23 MPG 19 MPG — $3,250 / yr
F150 Pickup Tremor 4WD 3.5L 6-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 16 MPG 20 MPG 18 MPG — $3,400 / yr
F150 Pickup 4WD FFV 5L 8-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 16 MPG 22 MPG 18 MPG — $3,400 / yr
F150 Pickup Tremor 4WD 3.5L 6-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 16 MPG 20 MPG 18 MPG — $3,400 / yr
F150 RAPTOR 4WD 3.5L 6-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 15 MPG 18 MPG 16 MPG — $3,850 / yr
F150 RAPTOR 37 4WD 3.5L 6-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 15 MPG 16 MPG 15 MPG — $4,100 / yr
F150 RAPTOR 37 4WD 3.5L 6-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 14 MPG 16 MPG 15 MPG — $4,100 / yr
F150 RAPTOR 4WD 3.5L 6-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 14 MPG 18 MPG 15 MPG — $4,100 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2021 Ford F-150?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
Regular Cab PU/RC 4WD 19.1%
Regular Cab PU/RC 2WD 16.400000000000002%
Super Crew PU/CC 2WD 16.400000000000002%
Super Crew Diesel PU/CC 2WD 16.400000000000002%
Super Crew HEV PU/CC 2WD —
Super Cab PU/EC 2WD 16.400000000000002%
Super Cab Diesel PU/EC 2WD 16.400000000000002%
Super Cab PU/EC 4WD 19.1%
Super Cab Diesel PU/EC 4WD 19.1%
Super Crew PU/CC 4WD 19.1%
Super Crew Diesel PU/CC 4WD 19.1%
Super Crew HEV PU/CC 4WD —
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Standard and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Optional in official NHTSA records for tested 2021 Ford F-150 models.
View complete 2021 Ford F-150 crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2021 Ford F-150?

Summary of 1234 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
1234
Crash Reports
18
Fire Reports
7
Complaints w/ Injury
11
Total Injuries
13

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Powertrain 312 complaints (2 crashes)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 88 complaints
Electrical System 72 complaints (2 crashes)
Visibility / Glass 69 complaints (1 crash)
Visibility & Wipers 50 complaints

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2021 Ford F-150 problems & component breakdown (172 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2021 Ford F-150?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #21V407000 Active Recall
Affected Component: STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

Defect 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.

Free Manufacturer 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.
NHTSA Campaign #26V489000 Active Recall
Affected Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

Defect 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."

Free Manufacturer 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.
NHTSA Campaign #26V402000 Active Recall
Affected Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Defect 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.

Free Manufacturer 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.
View all 2021 Ford F-150 recalls & campaign history (29 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2021 Ford F-150

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2021 Ford F-150

How many safety recalls does the 2021 Ford F-150 have?

The 2021 Ford F-150 is associated with 29 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

View all 29 recall campaigns & remedy details →
Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2021 Ford F-150?

NHTSA records list 1,234 consumer defect complaints for the 2021 Ford F-150. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Powertrain, appearing in 312 filings (25% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Explore full 2021 Ford F-150 defect complaint breakdown →
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2021 Ford F-150?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2021 Ford F-150 earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 6 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

View detailed crash test laboratory breakdown →
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2021 Ford F-150 get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2021 Ford F-150 range from 15 to 25 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Compare MPG ratings across all certified trims →
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.