2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty: Problems & Reliability
AVOID2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty: AVOID — 12 owner complaints, rated on its recalls: 13 campaigns, 4 for fire or crash risk; top issue: powertrain / transmission (3 complaints).
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2021 is 1.63, where 1.00 is a typical F-250 Super Duty year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; the avoid line is 1.60, so this year clears it by 0.03. Severity drives it: 60% of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury or involve a safety-critical system (engine, powertrain, steering, brakes or fuel). Its raw count is below the median year, but it has been on the road only about 5 years, so complaints are arriving faster than for older F-250 Super Duty years.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2015–2026 compared · Updated 2026-11-12 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
12
NHTSA complaints
1.63
Verdict score (1.00 = typical F-250 Super Duty year)
238
Service bulletins
13
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty problems
Powertrain / transmission leads a spread-out record, named in 25% of complaints.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2021 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 3 | 25% |
| Engine | 2 | 17% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 2 | 17% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 17% |
| Gasoline | 2 | 17% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty recalls
13 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2021, reported between Dec 10, 2020 and Mar 17, 2026.
| NHTSA campaign | Reported | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 26V158000 | Mar 17, 2026 | Fuel system, diesel › Delivery › Fuel pump |
| 25V686000 | Oct 10, 2025 | Backup camera / back-over prevention › Software |
| 25V626000 | Sep 19, 2025 | Steering › Column |
| 25V455000 | Jul 7, 2025 | Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump |
| 25V442000 | Jun 27, 2025 | Backup camera / back-over prevention › Software |
| 25V048000 | Jan 31, 2025 | Backup camera / back-over prevention › Sensing system › Camera |
| 24V957000 | Dec 20, 2024 | Fuel system, diesel › Delivery › Fuel pump |
| 23V420000 | Jun 9, 2023 | Equipment › Other › Owners/service/other manual |
| 22V250000 | Apr 14, 2022 | Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Linkages |
| 22V087000 | Feb 16, 2022 | Structure › Frame and members › Underbody shields |
| 22V013000 | Jan 14, 2022 | Fuel system, diesel |
| 21V090000 | Feb 18, 2021 | Visibility › Windshield › Critical fasteners |
+1 more campaigns on the NHTSA record.
2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 238 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2021 — close to the 237 of the median F-250 Super Duty year from 2015 to 2026. Coded bulletins most often cover powertrain / transmission (74), electrical system (63), engine & cooling (34). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2021 vs. the year before and after
From the 2020 to the 2021, owner complaints fell by more than half (271 → 12) — an improvement. The 2022 that followed jumped 10.8× (12 → 130), so the 2021 is the cleaner of the two by count.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 F-250 Super Duty | AVOID | 271 | 296 | 15 | — |
| 2021 (this page) | AVOID | 12 | 238 | 13 | — |
| 2022 F-250 Super Duty | AVOID | 130 | 235 | 17 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Ford F-250 Super Duty years to avoid.
What to check on a used 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty
Powertrain / transmission (3 complaints on the 2021): test-drive from cold through every gear and feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder; ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced.
Engine (2 complaints on the 2021): cold-start it yourself and listen for ticking or knocking; check for oil leaks, low coolant and a lit check-engine light, and ask for oil-change records.
Fuel / propulsion system (2 complaints on the 2021): smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
Visibility (1 complaint on the 2021): test the wipers at every speed, the washers, defrosters and the climate system.
Recalls: confirm all 13 campaigns above were completed on this VIN.
Know what to pay for the right 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty — then negotiate it
Years-to-avoid tells you which year. Search live listings to see the target price and what verified buyers actually paid for it.
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FAQ
Is the 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty reliable?
2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty: AVOID — 12 owner complaints, rated on its recalls: 13 campaigns, 4 for fire or crash risk; top issue: powertrain / transmission (3 complaints). CarWhere's verdict score for the 2021 is 1.63, where 1.00 is a typical F-250 Super Duty year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; the avoid line is 1.60, so this year clears it by 0.03.
What are the most common 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty are powertrain / transmission (3, 25%), engine (2, 17%), fuel / propulsion system (2, 17%). The manufacturer has 238 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty have?
13 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty, most recently 26V158000 (Mar 17, 2026, fuel system, diesel); 25V686000 (Oct 10, 2025, backup camera / back-over prevention); 25V626000 (Sep 19, 2025, steering). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.