InsightArise CarsU.S. Owner Complaint Index
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2021 Ford Expedition problems, complaints & recalls

Typical Steady

NHTSA has received 230 owner complaints about the 2021 Ford Expedition, or 40.5 per year on the road — a typical number of complaints for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.96, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 85 model-year 2021 vehicles we track, it ranks #60 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Ford models its rate is 26% lower; against other Full-size SUVs it is 17% higher.

Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count

Complaints filed between 2021-08-21 and 2026-08-30. Median delay from incident to filing: 18 days.

230Complaints
40.5Complaints per year on the road
0.96Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
12Recalls · ⚠ 1
3.0%Share involving a crash or fire
67Last 12 months

Analysis

The previous model year (2020) drew 59.9 complaints per year, more than this one. The following model year (2022) drew 23.8 per year, fewer than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2021 model collected 52 complaints, 15% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.

The most common problem area is Transmission / powertrain (41.3% of complaints), followed by Engine (24.8%) and Interior & equipment (8.3%). Transmission / powertrain complaints are 3.5 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Within Transmission / powertrain reports, owners most often mention “transmission”, “gear”, “shifting”, “cdf” and “drum”. 7 reports (3.0%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 5 injuries and 0 deaths.

Half of the reported incidents happened within 42 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was years three to five (40% of incidents). In the last 12 months 67 new complaints were filed, versus 53 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.

NHTSA lists 12 safety recalls for this model year, 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 90% of the complaints fall in component areas that a recall addresses. 1 NHTSA defect investigation covers this model year; the most recent is “NU Car rental of vehicles with open recalls” (opened 2026-06-09, still open).

Complaint index

  • vs. all tracked vehicles0.96
  • vs. other Ford models0.74
  • vs. other 2021 models1.06
  • vs. other Full-size SUVs1.17
  • Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (52)0.85
  • #60 of 85 · 2021Rankings ›

1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road.

Other model years

  • 201842.9 per year1.02
  • 201963.1 per year1.5
  • 202059.9 per year1.42
  • 202140.5 per year0.96
  • 202223.8 per year0.57
  • 202317.4 per year0.41
  • 202426.5 per year0.63
  • 202517.9 per year0.43

Ford Expedition problems, complaints & recalls by model year ›

What owners complain about

  • Transmission / powertrain95 · 41.3% · 3.55×
  • Engine57 · 24.8% · 1.12×
  • Interior & equipment19 · 8.3% · 0.93×
  • Body & structure18 · 7.8% · 0.85×
  • Electrical16 · 7.0% · 0.44×
  • Fuel system10 · 4.3% · 1.0×
  • Other4 · 1.7% · 0.94×
  • Brakes3 · 1.3% · 0.21×

vs. all vehicles: 1.00 = All-vehicle average

Transmission / powertrain · Common terms in reports

  • transmission73
  • gear47
  • shifting26
  • cdf12
  • drum10
  • accelerate21

Engine · Common terms in reports

  • engine recall24
  • notification engine18
  • exceeded reasonable26
  • reasonable amount26
  • amount recall25
  • received30

Interior & equipment · Common terms in reports

  • sunroof4
  • husband3
  • slowed3
  • shifting3
  • twice3
  • cause4

Problem areas: Transmission / powertrain · Engine · Interior & equipment · Airbags & seat belts · Electrical · Body & structure · Wheels, tires & suspension · Brakes · Lighting

When complaints were filed

2021: 4 4 2021 2022: 48 48 2022 2023: 33 33 2023 2024: 40 40 2024 2025: 54 54 2025 2026: 51 51 2026
  • Crashes reported: 3
  • Fires reported: 4
  • Injuries: 5
  • Deaths: 0

Vehicle age at incident

  • <1 yr6.1%
  • 1–2 yrs24.3%
  • 2–3 yrs10.0%
  • 3–5 yrs40.4%
  • 5+ yrs19.1%

Median age at incident: 42 months

What owners report

Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.

Segment peers · 2021 · Full-size SUVs

ModelsComplaintsComplaints per year on the roadComplaint index
2021 Ford Expedition23040.50.96
2021 Chevrolet Tahoe44378.11.86

Safety recalls (12)

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Campaign 26V402000 · 2026-06-24

Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.

Risk: Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.

STRUCTURE:INTERIOR PANELS:CENTER CONSOLE Campaign 26V368000 · 2026-06-09

Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2024 Expedition vehicles. The chrome plating on the center console may bubble and peel, resulting in sharp edges.

Risk: Vehicle occupants may contact the center console's sharp edges, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the center consoles as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 16, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S38. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 10, 2026.

SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER Campaign 26V344000 · 2026-05-27

Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.

Risk: Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 8, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S34. This recall replaces and expands previous NHTSA recalls 24V099 and 25V197. Vehicles previously inspected or repaired under the prior recalls will need the new repair completed.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES Campaign 26V204000 · 2026-03-31

Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2022-2023 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, and F-600 SD vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the wipers to fail.

Risk: Windshield wiper failure can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the wiper arms, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 5, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S24.Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 1, 2026.

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY Campaign 25V729000 · 2025-10-24

Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, 2021-2023 F-150, 2022 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, and F-450 SD vehicles. The moonroof wind deflector clips may be inadequately attached to the moonroof frame, which can result in the wind deflector detaching from the vehicle.

Risk: A detached wind deflector can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the moonroof wind deflector as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SB7. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 30, 2025.

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE Campaign 25V442000 · 2025-06-27

Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.

Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA Campaign 25V048000 · 2025-01-31

Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Expedition, 2021-2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The rearview camera may display a blank or distorted image.

Risk: Rearview camera failure can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 18, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S05.

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS Campaign 24V852000 · 2024-11-08

Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL Campaign 23V420000 · 2023-06-09

Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with third-row seating; and 2019-2023 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCab vehicles. The owner's manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."

Risk: Without instructions, the head restraints may be improperly adjusted, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will mail the Owner's Manual addendums that describe how to adjust and remove the head restraints for the center seating positions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C20.

ENGINE Campaign 22V346000 · 2022-05-17

⚠ Park-outside / do-not-drive warning

Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. An engine compartment fire may occur while driving or parked, even with the ignition in the "Off" position.

Risk: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles, until the remedy is performed. Dealers will inspect and replace the battery junction box, as necessary, and remove a ground wire. On models equipped with standard-duty radiator fan motors, dealers will also install an auxiliary electrical box with a wire jumper. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed May 25, 2022. Owners will receive a second letter once the remedy is available. Currently the remedy is available for vehicles equipped with heavy-duty radiator fan motors, and those letters were mailed July 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S36.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES Campaign 22V250000 · 2022-04-14

Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-150, Expedition, 2020-2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, and 2020-2021 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.

Risk: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace both front windshield wiper arms, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed on May 24, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available 3rd Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S26.

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:SIDE IMPACT Campaign 21V805000 · 2021-10-15

Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, 2021 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The front-door side impact pressure sensor modules may have been damaged during supplier assembly, which can cause the side impact air bags to not deploy properly in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 214, "Side Impact Protection."

Risk: An air bag that does not deploy properly during a crash increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver and passenger front door side impact sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 3, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C26.

How to check whether your car has an open recall ›

Investigations

Frequently asked questions

How many complaints were filed for the 2021 Ford Expedition?

230 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Ford Expedition, or about 40.5 per year on the road.

What is the most common problem reported for the 2021 Ford Expedition?

The most common category is Transmission / powertrain, accounting for 41.3% of complaints.

Does the 2021 Ford Expedition have any recalls?

NHTSA lists 12 safety recall(s) for this model year. 1 NHTSA defect investigation covers this model year; the most recent is “NU Car rental of vehicles with open recalls” (opened 2026-06-09, still open).

Is the 2021 Ford Expedition still generating complaints?

In the last 12 months 67 new complaints were filed, versus 53 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.

How does the 2021 Ford Expedition compare with similar vehicles?

NHTSA has received 230 owner complaints about the 2021 Ford Expedition, or 40.5 per year on the road — a typical number of complaints for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.96, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 85 model-year 2021 vehicles we track, it ranks #60 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Ford models its rate is 26% lower; against other Full-size SUVs it is 17% higher.