Most common 2021 Ford Edge problems
Share of the 114 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Edge complaints by model year
Best Edge years: 2023, 2009, 2021. Years to avoid: 2013, 2011, 2017, 2012, 2019. Compare all years →
2021 Ford Edge recalls (7)
Back over prevention › Software
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Ford Bronco and 2021-2024 Ford Edge vehicles. The Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) may overheat and shutdown, which can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended.
Remedy: The APIM software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 13, 2026. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332.
Back over prevention › Software
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco, F-150, 2021-2024 Edge, 2022-2025 Escape, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, 2022-2024 Expedition, 2022-2025 Transit, 2021-2023 Mach-E, 2024 Ranger, Mustang, 2021-2023 Lincoln Nautilus, 2022-2024 Navigator, and 2023-2024 Corsair vehicles.
Remedy: The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge.
Back over prevention › Software
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Edge vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 22V-151. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank or distorted image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S28.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Hard parts internal/mechanical
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco, F-150, Edge, Explorer, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with either a 2.7L or 3.0L Nano EcoBoost engine. The engine intake valves may break while driving, which can result in engine failure and a loss of drive power.
Remedy: Dealers will perform an engine cycle test and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Back over prevention › Display function
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Edge vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank or distorted image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Remedy: The rearview camera software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 29, 2022.
Seat belts › Pretensioner
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Edge vehicles. The driver's seat belt retractor pretensioner assembly may not function correctly when activated during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's seat belt retractor pretensioner assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 15, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Show 1 more recall
Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Edge, 2020 Lincoln Nautilus and Ford Escape and 2021 Lincoln Corsair and Ford Bronco Sport vehicles. An inadequate amount of lubricant in the rear drive unit may cause seizure of the rear drive axle.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the rear drive unit lubricant level. Axles found to have lubricant at the minimum level will be filled to the full level.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2021 Ford Edge:
Loss of Motive Power
On July 22, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) granted a Defect Petition (DP22001) and opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE22007) to investigate allegations of loss of motive power in model year (MY) 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles equipped with 2.7L EcoBoost engines. Complainants were reporting sudden engine failure while driving resulting in a loss of motive power, often without the ability to restart.
What 2021 Ford Edge owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 38 →
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while accelerating, the vehicle jerked and went into low-power mode. While at a stop, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle surged forward. After using the phone charger, the phone charger overheated. The contact unplugged the phones. The contact stated that the steering wheel was hot to the touch. There was an abnormal burning odor detected. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the failure was related to the turbo-eco boost and engine. The sensors, valves, brackets, and hoses were replaced, but the failure recurred. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions and making a turn, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact added that her husband did donuts continuously and observed the sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the sound in the rear axle was coming from the left rear differential. The mechanic stated that the rear differential fluid had been leaking oil for a while and that the rear differential needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with Manufacturer Recall: 21S02. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
Driver assistance all 31 →
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V315000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the infotainment center screen blacked out intermittently. A message indicating that a blocked cylinder was causing the cruise control to fail to engage was displayed on the infotainment center. The contact stated that the cruise control would disengage independently after approximately two minutes. Additionally, the contact stated that the Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking and other collision mitigation systems failed to function as needed while driving. …
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Edge. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V151000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the rear-view camera displayed a distorted image. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to perform the recall repair due to the module configuration data being missing from the Ford server. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 15,130. Parts distribution disconnect.
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V315000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the infotainment center screen blacked out intermittently. A message indicating that a blocked cylinder was causing the cruise control to fail to engage was displayed on the infotainment center. The contact stated that the cruise control would disengage independently after approximately two minutes. Additionally, the contact stated that the Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking and other collision mitigation systems failed to function as needed while driving. …
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Key Not Detected" message was displayed, after which the vehicle independently turned off while in motion. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway; however, upon restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The contact stated that the information display center went black, resulting in the loss of safety features and alerts for pertinent vehicle information. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 10,000.
2021 Ford Edge engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 21 / 28 / 23 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 19 / 25 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Ford Edge a good car?
Based on 114 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2021 Edge rates better than average: 62% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Edge at the same age. It is one of the best Edge years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Ford Edge?
The transmission & drivetrain — 38 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the driver assistance (31) and electrical system (14).
How many recalls does the 2021 Ford Edge have?
There are 7 recalls for the 2021 Ford Edge, the most recent from March 3, 2026 (software). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Edge?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023, 2009 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2011, 2017, 2012 and 2019. See the full Ford Edge years comparison.
At what mileage do 2021 Ford Edge problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 42,000 miles; 67% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.