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2021 Ford F-250 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2021 Ford F-250. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 29% of relevant complaints.
Better than 73% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2021 Ford F-250 have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 45 of 165 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Ford F-250 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (29%). For comparison, the 2020 scores 46% and the 2022 scores 39%. 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 F-250 years
Of the 14 Ford F-250 years with enough complaints to score, the 2021 is the 4th-worst on engine and transmission share (29%). The worst is the 2020 (46%), the best the 2019 (8%). By volume, the 2021 drew 165 complaints (45 drivetrain), against 263 for the 2020 and 127 for the 2022.
Ford F-250 years to avoid and best years →
2010 F-250 problems · 2011 F-250 problems · 2012 F-250 problems · 2013 F-250 problems · 2014 F-250 problems · 2015 F-250 problems · 2016 F-250 problems · 2017 F-250 problems · 2018 F-250 problems · 2019 F-250 problems · 2020 F-250 problems · 2021 · 2022 F-250 problems · 2023 F-250 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Ford F-250
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2021 Ford F-250 said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- 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 45 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2021 Ford F-250 fuel system recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2021 Ford F-250 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 13 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 2020-2022 F-Super Duty F250, F350, F450, F550, 2021-2022 F600, and 2022 F750 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 24V957. Biodiesel deposits may form on the pump drivetrain roller components, which could lead to failure of the high pressure fuel pump.
Risk: High pressure fuel pump failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed mailed April 7, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Bronco, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, 2021-2022 Lincoln Navigator, Mustang, F-150, and 2022 Expedition vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can result in an engine stall while driving.
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 letters were mailed July…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 F-Super Duty F250, F350, F450, F550, F600, and 2021-2022 F-650, F750 vehicles. Biodiesel deposits may form on the pump drivetrain roller components, which could lead to failure of the high pressure fuel pump.
Risk: High pressure fuel pump failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 service…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, and Medium Duty F-650 and F-750 vehicles equipped with 6.7L diesel engines. A small void may be present in the top-center of the vehicle's underhood secondary fuel filter cap, which may progress to a pinhole over time, allowing fuel to leak from the top of the secondary fuel filter.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire or injury.
Fix: 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 for this…
9 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 F-250? 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.
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Does the 2021 Ford F-250 have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 45 of 165 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Ford F-250 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (29%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Ford F-250?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2021 Ford F-250 is fuel system: 29 of 165 complaints (18%) name it, followed by diesel (25) and power train (25). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 29% of the relevant total.
Is the 2021 Ford F-250 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 29% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 73% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Ford F-250 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 F-250?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2021 Ford F-250 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 13 in total: 26V158000 (fuel system, diesel: delivery: fuel pump), 25V455000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), 24V957000 (fuel system, diesel: delivery: fuel pump), and more. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ford F-250 years are better?
Among the Ford F-250 years we track, the 2017 (8%), the 2019 (8%) and the 2018 (10%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (29%). 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-f-250
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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 5 body styles NHTSA files separately.