FREE VEHICLE RESEARCH
2021 Ford F150 Pickup 2WD
The 2021 Ford F150 Pickup 2WD has no open NHTSA safety recalls on file, 935 owner complaints, and gets about 20 mpg combined. Here's the full free record from NHTSA and the EPA.
SPECS
2021 Ford F150 Pickup 2WD at a glance
- Engine
- 6-cyl 3.5L
- Cylinders
- 6
- Displacement
- 3.5 L
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive
- Transmission
- Automatic (S10)
- Body
- Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD
- Fuel
- Regular
Source: EPA / NHTSA vPIC, as of July 12, 2026.
SAFETY RECALLS · NHTSA
No safety recalls on file with NHTSA for this year and model. That's a good sign.
NHTSA has opened one or more investigations covering this model. Recalls can follow an investigation, so check NHTSA for the latest before you buy.
Open safety recalls are free to fix at any franchised dealer. What recalls mean → Source: NHTSA recalls, as of July 12, 2026. Recalls can be issued any time, confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.
OWNER COMPLAINTS · NHTSA
935 filed- 270
POWER TRAIN
I recently purchased a 2021 f-150 with 48,000 miles on it. Just over 60,000 miles I was noticing some bad shifting occurring with my 10R80 transmission. It progressively got worse by harsh shifting, terrible gear hunting, then finally afte
- 102
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My 2021 Ford F-150 intermittently displays the warning message “Reverse Brake Assist Not Available – See Manual” when the vehicle is placed in reverse. When this message appears, the reverse brake assist / parking collision warning feature
- 82
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The passenger side running light in the headlight has gone out. Not the entire part just the vertical section of the running light
- 69
VISIBILITY
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that since purchasing the vehicle, there was an abnormal film-like substance visible inside the windshield. The substance obstructed the vision while driving and worsened while driving
- 68
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Check engine light went on. Knock sensor failure. Vehicle running rough and knocking. On line lots of people complaining. Gentleman in the service department who works for Ford said that he has been getting a lot of knock sensor failures l
- 44
VISIBILITY/WIPER
When using the window wipers, they become inoperable. Stopping in the middle of the window, pausing when moving, or completely stopping and unable to get them to start moving until they begin to move on their own. This has occurred multiple
Problems owners reported to the government, useful for spotting patterns, not proof any one car has them. What complaints mean → Source: NHTSA complaints, as of July 12, 2026. Owner-submitted reports, not verified diagnoses.
CRASH-TEST RATINGS · NHTSA NCAP
- Overall
- ★★★★★
- Frontal
- ★★★★★
- Side
- ★★★★★
- Rollover
- ★★★★☆
Government crash tests of this model; not every trim or year is tested. Source: NHTSA NCAP, as of July 12, 2026.
FUEL & RUNNING COST · U.S. EPA
- Combined
- 20 mpg
- City / Hwy
- 18 / 24
- Est. fuel / yr
- $3,100
- CO₂ / mi
- 437 g
EPA lab estimates; real mpg varies by how you drive. Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov, as of July 12, 2026. Annual cost assumes 15,000 mi/yr at EPA's reference price.
All figures above come from free U.S. government sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, investigations, crash tests) and the EPA (fuel economy and specs). We don't show market price, insurance cost, or proprietary reliability scores, because there's no free, reliable public source for them. For a verdict on a specific listing, with a fair-offer number and what to ask the seller, that's the VINly app.
BEFORE YOU BUY
What to check on this car
Have a mechanic check the power train
Owners report problems with the power train more than anything else on this model. Call it out specifically during a pre-purchase inspection.
Watch for a pending investigation
NHTSA has an open investigation covering this model. A recall can follow an investigation, so check nhtsa.gov for the latest before you commit.
-
Test-drive the basics
Cold start, full-lock steering both ways, firm brakes with no pulsing, smooth shifts, and every electronic feature. Warning lights should come on at key-on, then go out.
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Check the title and the VIN
Confirm the title status in hand matches the listing, and that the VIN matches across the dash, door jamb, and title. VINly does not show ownership or accident history, for that, run a paid report like Carfax.
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Ask the seller the right questions
Why they are selling, any service records, accident or panel-repaint history, how many owners, and whether any open recalls were completed.
See the full used-car inspection checklist. None of this replaces a hands-on inspection by a mechanic.
Quick answers
Are there any recalls on the 2021 Ford F150 Pickup 2WD? +
No open NHTSA safety recalls are on file for the 2021 Ford F150 Pickup 2WD. Recalls can be issued at any time, so confirm with the VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Ford F150 Pickup 2WD get? +
The EPA rates the 2021 Ford F150 Pickup 2WD at 20 mpg combined (18 city / 24 highway), about $3,100 a year in fuel.
How safe is the 2021 Ford F150 Pickup 2WD? +
NHTSA's NCAP program gives the 2021 Ford F150 Pickup 2WD 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars for rollover resistance.
What do owners complain about on the 2021 Ford F150 Pickup 2WD? +
Owners have filed 935 complaints with NHTSA for the 2021 Ford F150 Pickup 2WD, including 13 involving a crash. The most-reported area is power train.
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