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2021 Ford Expedition problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
71% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2021 Ford Expedition are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 92% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2021 Ford Expedition have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 163 of 235 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Ford Expedition concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (71%), and the largest group is filed under power train (111). For comparison, the 2020 scores 75% and the 2022 scores 25%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2021 compares with other Ford Expedition years
Of the 14 Ford Expedition years with enough complaints to score, the 2021 is the 4th-worst on engine and transmission share (71%). The worst is the 2019 (80%), the best the 2022 (25%). By volume, the 2021 drew 235 complaints (163 drivetrain), against 419 for the 2020 and 113 for the 2022.
Ford Expedition years to avoid and best years →
2010 Expedition problems · 2011 Expedition problems · 2012 Expedition problems · 2013 Expedition problems · 2014 Expedition problems · 2015 Expedition problems · 2016 Expedition problems · 2017 Expedition problems · 2018 Expedition problems · 2019 Expedition problems · 2020 Expedition problems · 2021 · 2022 Expedition problems · 2023 Expedition problems
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Ford Expedition
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2021 Ford Expedition said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 163 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2021 Ford Expedition engine and transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2021 Ford Expedition involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 12 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. An engine compartment fire may occur while driving or parked, even with the ignition in the "Off" position.
Risk: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles, until the remedy is performed. Dealers will inspect and replace the battery junction box, as necessary, and remove a ground…
10 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2021 Ford Expedition? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2021 Ford Expedition
Does the 2021 Ford Expedition have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 163 of 235 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Ford Expedition concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (71%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Ford Expedition?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2021 Ford Expedition is power train: 111 of 235 complaints (47%) name it, followed by engine (56) and electrical system (23). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2021 Ford Expedition reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 71% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 92% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Ford Expedition years we score, it ranks 4th-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Ford Expedition?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2021 Ford Expedition involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 12 in total: 26V402000 (power train: automatic transmission), 22V346000 (engine). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ford Expedition years are better?
Among the Ford Expedition years we track, the 2022 (25%), the 2023 (27%) and the 2017 (30%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (71%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/ford-expedition
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.