2021 Ford F-150 engine problems
130 of the 1,277 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Ford F-150 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 83 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 130 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2021: 3 · 2022: 11 · 2023: 21 · 2024: 19 · 2025: 46 · 2026: 30
Half of the 30 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 16,000 and 65,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,277 complaints in all about the 2021 Ford F-150, 30 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford F-150 engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact that the engine coolant over temperature warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart however, the failure recurred.
Right turn from stop then try to cleated there is no response from the pedal Will lunge forward and engage throttle if I’m lucky
1) Vehicle acceleration delays. From a stopped vehicle condition transitioning onto highway roadway the vehicle failed to accelerate for several seconds. Again from stopped or low speed idling condition following a turn there occurs a 1 to 10 second failure to accelerate.
Exhaust Heat Exchanger failure with Powerboost engine at 55k miles. This seems to fail on nearly all Ford F-150 Hybrid Powerboost engines. Ford does NOT cover this repair under the Emissions, Hybrid, or Ford Extended Service plan. This is a known failure they are not covering and is documented in NHTSA SSM 52050
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that upon attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission and a battery failure. The vehicle was partially repaired.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 24V635000 HighAug 23, 2024 · 90,736 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco, F-150, Edge, Explorer, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with either a 2.7L or 3.0L Nano EcoBoost engine. The engine intake valves may break while driving, which can result in engine failure and a loss of drive power.
NHTSA investigation
- EA23002 Loss of Motive Poweropened Sep 29, 2023 · closed Oct 31, 2024
- On July 22, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) granted a Defect Petition (DP22001) and opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE22007) to investigate allegations of loss of motive power in model year (MY) 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles equipped with 2.7L EcoBoost engines. Complainants were reporting sudden engine failure while driving resulting in a loss of motive power, often without the abilit…
83 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2021 Ford F-150 names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2021 Ford F-150
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 441 complaints
- electrical problems 176 complaints
- visibility and wiper problems 149 complaints
- exterior lighting problems 113 complaints
- fuel system problems 106 complaints
- brake problems 77 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2021 Ford F-150?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 130 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (10% of everything owners filed about it), and 83 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall, 1 NHTSA investigation are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2021 Ford F-150?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 24V635000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the 2021 Ford F-150?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 40,000 miles; half of them between 16,000 and 65,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.