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2021 Ford E-Series

Van
0 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-11-04

Safety Signal

69 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 6

Complaints1 crash reported 49

Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —

2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2021 Ford E-Series is a special purpose; vehicles over 8,500 lb GVWR are not certified for fuel economy by the EPA, so this page is built from NHTSA's recall, complaint and investigation records. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 49 complaints, most often about the service brakes.

Ford E-Series — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Ford E-Series · Photo: Bull-Doser · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

No EPA fuel-economy record: the EPA does not certify vehicles over 8,500 lb GVWR. Recall, complaint and investigation data below come from NHTSA.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Incomplete - Stripped Chassis
GVWR class	Class 3: 10,001 - 14,000 lb (4,536 - 6,350 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	8
Displacement	7.3 L
Engine configuration	V-Shaped

Engine Output

Horsepower

350 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes one configuration rather than every trim (seen: Econoline). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (6)

Source: NHTSA recall database

●moderate

Engine

25SC7

7,046 vehicles 35% reported repaired

Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 E-350 and E-450 vehicles that received an incomplete software update under recall 20V795. The engine cover may become excessively hot. Risk Direct contact with certain areas of engine cover surface in the passenger compartment may increase the risk of injury or burns to the skin of the driver or front seat passenger. Fix Dealers will update the powertrain calibration for heat management under elevated idle conditions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC7. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning December 22, 2025.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V793000 reported Nov 17, 2025 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Steering

24S07

16,543 vehicles 34% reported repaired built May 11, 2019 – Jun 17, 2021

Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 E-350 and E-450 vehicles equipped with dual rear wheels. An inadequate connection between the power steering pressure line and the brake hydroboost unit may result in a sudden loss of power steering fluid. Risk A sudden loss of power steering fluid can result in a loss of power steering and power brake assist, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the power steering pressure line and the hydroboost jumper line, free of charge. Vehicles in this recall were previously recalled under 22V-089 and owners will need to have the new remedy completed even if their vehicle was remedied under the prior recall. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 21, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S07.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 24V097000 reported Feb 9, 2024 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Steering

22S08

44,219 vehicles 100% reported repaired

Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 E-350 and E-450 vehicles equipped with dual rear wheels. An inadequate connection between the power steering pressure line and the brake Hydroboost unit may result in a sudden loss of power steering fluid. Risk A sudden loss of power steering fluid can result in a loss of power steering and power brake assist, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect the connection between the power steering lines and the Hydroboost unit, and replace the power steering lines, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 18, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S08.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 22V089000 reported Feb 16, 2022 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

●moderate

Engine

20S73

29,344 vehicles 87% reported repaired

Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 E-350 and E-450 vehicles. The underside of the engine cover may have mispositioned insulation, allowing the cover to get excessively hot. Risk Direct and continuous contact with certain areas of engine cover surface in the passenger compartment may increase the risk of injury or burns to the skin of the driver or front seat passenger. Fix Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine cover for gaps between the rubber seal and the insulation. If gaps are present, the dealer will install engine cover insulation patches in the right hand and left hand inner lower corners of the engine cover. The dealer will also update the powertrain calibration for heat management under elevated idle conditions should a vehicle be equipped with SEIC or BCP, free of charge. The recall began February 15, 2021. Owners may contact Ford

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 20V795000 reported Dec 17, 2020 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

20S13

2,871 vehicles 75% reported repaired

Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 E-350 and E-450 vehicles. A wire harness in the rear of the vehicle may contact the vehicle frame, resulting in damage to the circuits that support the fuel pump and the anti-lock braking system (ABS). Risk Damage to the fuel pump circuit in the wiring harness could result in an unexpected engine stall. Damage to the ABS wiring can lead to reduction of ABS functionality and a loss of roll stability control (RSC) functionality. These scenarios increase the risk of a crash. Fix Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wire harness for damage. If no damage is found, dealers will apply anti-abrasion tape over the area and ensure clearance to surrounding components. If damage is found, dealers will splice in new wire and apply anti-abrasion tape over the area and ensure clearance to surrounding components. All services will be performed free of charge. The recall began May 18, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's numb

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 20V175000 reported Mar 23, 2020 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Power Train

20S09

319 vehicles 93% reported repaired

Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 F-550 and 2021 E-350 and E-450 vehicles. The rear axle differential fluid may be below the minimum level, possibly resulting in a failure of the rear axle assembly and driveshaft separation. Risk If the driveshaft separates, there may be a loss of drive, increasing the risk of crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied, unintended vehicle movement can occur and increase the risk of injury or crash. Fix Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear axle differential fluid level and adjust it, or replace the rear axle as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S09.

NHTSA campaign 20V099000 reported Feb 21, 2020 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above.

NHTSA defect investigations

Engine — Camshaft and Lifter Failure in Ford 7.3L Gasoline Engines open

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition on June 13, 2026, requesting an investigation into camshaft and lifter failures in Ford 7.3L gasoline engines used in 2021-2022 Ford E-350 and 2021 Ford F59 and F-750 vehicles. The Petitioner alleges that insufficient oil lubrication at low idle (~6 psi) causes severe wear on lifter rollers and camshaft lobes, leading to catastrophic engine failure and sudden loss of motive power while driving at highway speeds with little to no warning. The petition further alleges that Ford Motor Company was aware of the root cause and released a software calibration patch raising idle speed to ~1,000 RPM, but failed to initiate a public safety

Opened Oct 23, 2026 · action DP26011 · the investigation’s page →

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections — Loss of Power Brake/Steering Assist Post Recall 22V089 Inspection. closed

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query (RQ) 24003 on February 27, 2024, to evaluate the scope and remedy effectiveness of NHTSA recall 24V097. On February 16, 2022, Ford Motor Company (Ford) issued a safety recall, NHTSA recall 22V089, for certain 2021-2022 Ford E-350 and E-450 vehicles equipped with dual rear wheels. According to the filing, specific hydraulic lines could leak resulting in a sudden loss of power steering and power brake assist, increasing the risk of a crash. The remedy involved a dealer inspection of the lines and their replacement as necessary. Only vehicles that failed the inspection received updated parts. On February 9, 2024, Ford issued a new re

Opened Feb 27, 2024 · closed May 11, 2026 · action RQ24003 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific E-Series

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2021 can differ. Type the VIN and the WhichTrim recall report sets aside the campaigns that name a different engine or drive, and narrows the rest to its build month.

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2021 Ford E-Series, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

49complaints filed

1 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

36 per 10,000 built · Ford reported 13,454 E-Series built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2021: 8 · 2022: 12 · 2023: 7 · 2024: 9 · 2025: 9 · 2026: 4

Most-cited components

Service Brakes 21

Steering 18

Engine 17

Vehicle Speed Control 7

Unspecified 6

Forward Collision Avoidance 5

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

Engine failure on a 2021 Ford E-350 cutaway, 7.3L V8, used for parcel delivery. The vehicle was taken out of service and has not run since. Two diagnoses, both in writing. ACME Mobile Service, July 27, 2026, at 152,760 miles: "Found the #5 cylinder is completely disabled and dropped out.

Engine Sep 13, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11763932

After hitting a very rough patch of interstate, our steering became very difficult. The driver thought that maybe we had a low tire, so looked for a place to pull over. We crested a hill, and there was an exit with a truck stop. As we attempted to slow for the exit, the driver discovered we had no brakes or power steering.

Service Brakes Aug 18, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11609275

The contact owns a 2021 Ford E-450. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, the steering wheel and brake pedal became stiff, and the vehicle failed to slow down as intended. The contact stated that the brake pedal was continuously depressed for the vehicle to come to a stop.

Steering at 14,104 miles Jul 18, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11603091

Component= Traction control and cruise control. Safety risk=Driving a Ford e-450 Class C RV on interstate at 63 MPH going generally up hill with cruise control on, the "Service AdvanceTrac" warning light came on dashboard. I Immediately lost cruise control capability and steering became a little shakey.

Vehicle Speed Control Jun 17, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11594828

2021 FORD E-450- Recall# 21V-441- heat shield not properly installed in between the LP tank and chassis muffler. Consumer enclosed a copy of the recall notice. Consumer went to an RV dealer in reference to a recall repair.

Structure Jun 28, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11529337

The contact owns a 2021 Ford E-350. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the power steering and brakes became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed with loosened brake line fittings and an unknown fluid leak. The vehicle was repaired.

Fuel/Propulsion System at 13,667 miles Jul 1, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11472024

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

When owners reported it

Reported at 11k

miles, typically

Half the 14 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 5,000 and 18,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

Too few readings for a curve — the 14 on file: 6 under 10k, 5 10k–20k, 2 20k–30k, 1 40k–50k.

Median mileage by component

Component	Reports	Median miles	Vs same age
Service Brakes	13	10,800	0.54×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2021-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported earlier than same-age vehicles: service brakes (0.54×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 84

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-06-19

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 81 service bulletins, 3 others

Most often about: Power Train, Engine, Electrical System, Equipment, Unknown Or Other.

TSB 26-2256 Service bulletin
2026-06-19 · Engine
This article supersedes TSB 25-2572 to update the Parts List to correct the part number LC3Z-6006-L to LC3Z-6781-A, remove the flex plate bolts AL3Z-6379-BA from the parts list as these bolts are in kit LC3Z-6781-A, update the claim quantity of the part number W709771-S440 to 9 pieces (F-650/F750-Engine Replacement), W706447-S437 and W715068-S437 to 4 pieces, W712861-S439 to 8 pieces(F-Super Duty
25N17 Other
2026-03-25 · Back Over Prevention — Rearview System Braking
Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Replacement If Required After Dealer Evaluation
SSM 54678 Service bulletin
2026-03-20 · Engine
Some 2021-2026 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 5.0L/5.2L engine, 2021-2025 F-Super Duty/F-53 Motorhome/F59 Commercial Stripped Chassis vehicles equipped with a 6.8L/7.3L engine and 2021-2025 E-Series/F-650/F-750 vehicles equipped with a 7.3L engine may exhibit a rattle/scraping noise upon startup that may remain after the engine is running. Workshop Manual (WSM),
SSM 54601 Service bulletin
2026-02-24 · Electrical System
Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool or from the label printed on the body control module (BCM). Th
TSB 25-2572 Service bulletin
2025-11-26 · Power Train
This article supersedes TSB 25-2322 to update the Service Procedure, Labor Operations and Parts List. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit an upper engine ticking or tapping noise at idle. Customers may also report experiencing rough engine performance, engine misfire, or a malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0301-P0308 in the powert
25H05 Other
2025-11-19 · Electrical System
This is a proactive investigation program by Ford Motor Company to inspect a limited number of affected vehicles that are customer-owned. Ford is voluntarily conducting this program to evaluate the software currently installed on one or more electronic modules in the affected vehicles.
SSM 54363 Service bulletin
2025-11-10 · Power Train
Some 2021-2025 Expedition/Navigator/F-150/F-Super Duty/F-53 Motorhome/F59 Commercial Stripped Chassis/F-650/F-750/Transit vehicles equipped with a 2.7L/3.5L (non hybrid)/6.8L/7.3L engine and 2021-2026 E-Series may exhibit a rattle/scraping noise from the bellhousing area on start-up. Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-00 Engine System - General Information > Diagnosis and Testing and 303-06 > Star
SSM 54338 Service bulletin
2025-10-29 · Power Train
Some 2021-2025 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 5.0L/5.2L engine, 2021-2025 F-Super Duty/F-53 Motorhome/F59 Commercial Stripped Chassis vehicles equipped with a 6.8L/7.3L engine and 2021-2026 E-Series/F-650/F-750 vehicles equipped with a 7.3L engine may exhibit a rattle/scraping noise upon startup that may remain after the engine is running. This may be due to the starter motor drive gear not retrac

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P0457 P0457 on Ford →	An evaporative leak the system has attributed to a loose or missing fuel cap.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Gas cap →	10 bulletins
C0051 C0051 on Ford →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	6 bulletins
P0420 P0420 on Ford →	The catalytic converter on bank 1 is not cleaning up the exhaust as well as it should.	Power Train · Catalytic converter →	2 bulletins
P0430 P0430 on Ford →	The catalytic converter on bank 2 is not cleaning up the exhaust as well as it should.	Power Train · Catalytic converter →	2 bulletins
P0455 P0455 on Ford →	A large leak in the evaporative emissions system — often a fuel cap left off.	Engine · Gas cap →	2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 0.47%

failed emissions

273 initial inspections of 266 vehicles.

Measure	The 2021 E-Series	Every 2021 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	0.47%	1.9%	215
Failed the safety inspection	2.2%	1.5%	273
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0%	0.19%	273
Miles driven a year	4,169	10,341	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	22,673	55,061	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2021 vehicle” is every 2021 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

E-Series by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2027 A 1 0 2026 B 2 2 2025 A 1 4 2024 A 1 6 2023 B 3 5 2022 C 3 27 2021 this page D 6 49 2020 A 0 2 2019 B 2 9 2018 F 7 8 2017 D 6 27 2016 D 7 25

Common questions about the 2021 E-Series

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2021 Ford E-Series have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 6 recall campaigns for the 2021 Ford E-Series. The most serious on file is 24V097000, covering Steering. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2021 Ford E-Series?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2021 Ford E-Series yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it D (69/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What do owners complain about on the 2021 Ford E-Series?

Owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Ford E-Series, most often about service brakes, steering, engine. Of those, 1 involved a crash. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Ford E-Series?

The manufacturer has filed 84 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 Ford E-Series, most often covering power train, engine, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-06-19. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2021 Ford E-Series do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 26, 2026, the 2021 Ford E-Series failed the emissions check on 0.47% of first inspections — lower than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.2% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	none	EPA certification records	The EPA does not certify vehicles rated over 8,500 lb GVWR, so heavy-duty nameplates have no entry at all.
Emission certificates	none	EPA emission certificates	The EPA published no certificate we could match to a configuration on this page.
Recalls	6	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	49	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	none	NHTSA NCAP	NHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe.
Service bulletins	84	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	2	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	7 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-11-04. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

JSON for this page · API

2021 Ford E-Series

Specs & fuel economy

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Dimensions Exterior

Engine Basics

Engine Output

Fuel Economy

Factory warranty running out?

Recalls (6)

Engine

Steering

Steering

Engine

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Power Train

NHTSA defect investigations

Whether any of this applies to one specific E-Series

Hear about a recall before the letter does

Parts & accessories for the 2021 Ford E-Series

Owner complaints

Most-cited components

In owners' own words

When owners reported it

miles, typically

Median mileage by component

Crash ratings

Service bulletins & campaigns

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

At the New York inspection station

failed emissions

E-Series by model year

Common questions about the 2021 E-Series

Does the 2021 Ford E-Series have any recalls?

How safe is the 2021 Ford E-Series?

What do owners complain about on the 2021 Ford E-Series?

Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Ford E-Series?

How does the 2021 Ford E-Series do at state inspection?

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Where to go next

Sources & method