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Ford F-150 2021–2025

14th generation · P702

NHTSA data through 12 August 20263,068 complaints, 569 with mileageMethod

On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 10,000 and 51,000 miles.

10%

2,900

25%

10,000

Median

30,000

75%

51,000

90%

81,000

Tallest bin: 131 complaints between 0 and 10,000 miles. Based on 569 complaints that record mileage. Bin width 10,000 miles.

What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.

What fails, and when

Each bar spans the middle half of reports for that system; the tick marks the median.

1. Transmission and driveline34,000median 34,500 miles, middle half 15,000 to 62,000
2. Electrical system21,000median 21,250 miles, middle half 7,500 to 40,000
3. Exterior lighting54,000median 53,500 miles, middle half 48,000 to 72,000
4. Engine12,000median 12,000 miles, middle half 4,000 to 47,000
5. Forward collision avoidance10,000median 10,000 miles, middle half 620 to 24,000
6. Brakes9,000median 9,000 miles, middle half 4,000 to 24,000
7. Visibility equipment32,000median 32,000 miles, middle half 10,000 to 55,000

Which systems, and when

Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 30,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The transmission and driveline accounts for 22.5% of complaints (690 reports, 158 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 34,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,000 and 62,000 miles.

The electrical system accounts for 13.0% of complaints (400 reports, 60 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 21,250 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 7,400 and 40,000 miles.

The exterior lighting accounts for 7.9% of complaints (241 reports, 20 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 53,500 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 48,000 and 71,842 miles.

The engine accounts for 5.1% of complaints (157 reports, 33 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 12,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 4,000 and 47,000 miles.

Forward collision avoidance accounts for 4.7% of complaints (145 reports, 10 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 10,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 620 and 24,000 miles.

The brakes account for 4.6% of complaints (140 reports, 12 of them with a mileage figure), and they fail early — a median of 9,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 4,000 and 24,000 miles.

Differences between model years

Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2021 model year drew the most — 1,282 complaints — while 2025 drew the fewest at 166. The median year sits at 575.

That makes 2021 an outlier: roughly 2.2 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.

Recalls and what they cover

NHTSA records 55 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.

The campaigns cluster around the transmission and driveline (10), the exterior lighting (7), visibility equipment (7). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.

Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.

Reported severity

Of the 3,068 complaints filed against this generation, 128 reported a crash; 35 reported a fire; 106 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 4.2% of the total.

These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.

What this means if you are buying one

For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 10,000 and 51,000 miles, with a median of 30,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.

On inspection, the transmission and driveline and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 21,250, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.

None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.

Documented problems

By model year

Recalls (55)

What owners reported

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started and the gear shifter was shifted into drive(D), the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The…

2021 · 10 miles · Transmission and driveline

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that from the time the vehicle was delivered to him, the brake pedal had been making abnormal loud clicking sounds when depressed. The contact also stated that the brake booster had been making abnormal sounds whenever he depressed the brake pedal. The contact…

2021 · 100 miles · Hydraulic brake circuit

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the instrument cluster and the infotainment system reset independently, which affected the trailer blind spot setting while towing a trailer. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and to a second dealer, Kenly Ford, Inc. (500 S…

2021 · 100 miles · Electrical system

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal clunking sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The contact stated that the failure progressively worsened. The contact stated…

2021 · 150 miles · Transmission and driveline

Built from 569 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page

Other generations

• F-150 1992–1996
• F-150 1997–2003
• F-150 2004–2008
• F-150 2009–2014
• F-150 2015–2020