2021 Ford Expedition: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
230 NHTSA owner complaints · 12 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
Avoid the 2019 and 2020 Expedition, which score 42 and 41 on 481 and 397 owner complaints, both led by Power Train at 211 and 252. Buy a 2015, which scores 89 on 164 complaints with no safety-critical campaign, or a 2023 to 2025, which score 79, 73 and 73 on 71 or fewer complaints each; the 2018, 2021 and 2022 are CAUTION at 55, 63 and 65. Read the full note on the model page. 2021 specifically: 230 complaints on record, score 64/100 — read the year table on the model page to see where it sits among its siblings.
Read the guide
Used full-size SUVs: Expedition, Tahoe, Yukon and Escalade years to avoid, including 2021 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 230 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 46.0
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact noticed an abnormal sound and the vehicle jerked. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and to an independent mechanic; however the failure could not b…
For the past three years I have complained about the transmission dropping out of gear. It happens most often if I'm towing a trailer. I seems to occur in spurts, happening a couple of times in a few days then not for some time. Very dangerous if you pull around to pass and suddenly you lose power. Originally the dealership said they could find nothing wrong. I have read recently that Ford is having trouble with the…
Vehicles automatic transmission repeatedly looses its gear, often while accelerating. The transmission tries to shift down, but somehow ends up loosing engagement and will not re-engage. This lead to critical/dangerous situations on Highways due to the sudden loss of power.
Recalls: 12 campaigns (2 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 24V852000 | Equipment:Other:Labels | 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. |
| 23V420000 | Equipment:Other:Owners/Service/Other Manual | 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. |
| 26V368000 | Structure:Interior Panels:Center Console | 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. |
| 22V250000 | Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages | 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. |
| 21V805000 | Air Bags:Sensor:Side Impact | 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. |
| 22V346000 | Engine | 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. |
| 26V402000 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 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. |
| 25V729000 | Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a full-size SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 19 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $3,250
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Power Train108 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Engine54 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Unknown Or Other28 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Electrical System22 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Visibility13 complaints · typical job: Glass, wiper or defogger repair (2.5 h labour + parts)$490–$1,200
- Fuel/Propulsion System10 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
Other Ford Expedition years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Ford Expedition?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Power Train (108 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2021 Ford Expedition a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 64/100, computed from 230 NHTSA complaints and 12 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2021 Ford Expedition's most common problem?
108 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2021 Ford Expedition sit in the Power Train group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is transmission service or clutch-pack repair: about 7.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,290–$4,040 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2021 Ford Expedition cost to run per year?
About $5,494 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $27,470 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2021 Ford Expedition have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 12 recall campaign(s) for the 2021 Ford Expedition, 2 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 08/11/2024. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other fullsize suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2021 Ford Expedition really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 230 complaints, 12 recalls on record
- 230 NHTSA complaints on record (46.0/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (37.5/yr)
- 12 recall campaigns, 2 touching safety-critical systems