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2021 Ford F-250 (crew Cab)
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
158 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 14, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Complaints are overwhelmingly minor: almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
Varies 4–5 stars by trim; shown conservatively.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2021 Ford F-250 Crew Cab PU/CC 4WD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 29%
No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2021 Ford F-250 (crew Cab), plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Fuel System, Diesel (24) · Electrical system (18) · Suspension (18) · Visibility & wipers (17)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Fuel System, Diesel
15%24 complaints · 23 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the local dealer, it was determined that the heat shield was rubbing on the drive …”
Transmission & drivetrain
14%22 complaints · typically near 75k mi · 11 in the last 2 years
“Transmission has shifting issues. Sometimes is don't down shift below 4th gear and when in an intersection truck barley moves then it shifts hard and can move . It als…”
Electrical system
11%18 complaints · 10 in the last 2 years
“Front camera malfunctions and goes black and stops working. Ford refuses to acknowledge this issues and prevents forward collision alert system from working. The refus…”
Suspension
11%18 complaints · 3 in the last 2 years
“[XXX] 275m rear axle tubes are crushed in and it has eaten the end off of the driveshaft. Truck has not towed more than 17000 lbs via gooseneck trailer. Reached out to…”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2021 Ford F-250 (CREW CAB) beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2021? See how every F-250 (crew Cab) model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2021 Ford F-250 (crew Cab) against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.