2021 Ford Edge

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.

Fuel economy
21–24 mpgcombined; city 19–21, highway 25–29; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$13,530–$15,470U.S. average; Ohio $12,090–$13,820 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
5 starslowest across the versions NHTSA tested
Recall campaigns
7over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
112filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2021 Edge. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 112 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Edge. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by part of the car
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power train36000
Back over prevention21100
Unknown or other18110
Electrical system14000
Engine11010
Forward collision avoidance8100
Service brakes5110
Vehicle speed control5000
Visibility5000
Fuel/propulsion system4000
Engine and engine cooling3000
Lane departure3100
11 more parts
Suspension3000
Visibility/wiper3000
Seat belts2000
Air bags1000
Equipment1000
Exterior lighting1000
Fuel system, gasoline1000
Latches/locks/linkages1001
Seats1000
Steering1000
Wheels1000

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 2007989
  2. 20081,120
  3. 2009261
  4. 2010673
  5. 20111,803
  6. 20121,134
  7. 20132,446
  8. 2014383
  9. 2015729
  10. 2016923
  11. 20171,374
  12. 2018840
  13. 2019770
  14. 2020324
  15. 2021112
  16. 2022133
  17. 202323
  18. 202444

Every Edge year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2021 Edge over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Back over prevention: software

NHTSA campaign 26V124000 · reported Mar 3, 2026 · 849,310 vehicles potentially affected

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.

Risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

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. Ford's number for this recall is 26S09. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 5, 2026.

NHTSA's record and documents

Back over prevention: software

NHTSA campaign 25V315000 · reported May 9, 2025 · 1,076,138 vehicles potentially affected

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. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse.

Risk: A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on June 26, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Owner notification letters were sent on October 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S49.

NHTSA's record and documents

Back over prevention: software

NHTSA campaign 25V160000 · reported Mar 14, 2025 · 2,290 vehicles potentially affected

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.

Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank or distorted image can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Engine and engine cooling: engine

NHTSA campaign 24V635000 · reported Aug 23, 2024 · 90,736 vehicles potentially affected

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.

Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

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. Ford's number for this recall is 24S55.

NHTSA's record and documents

Back over prevention: display function; Back over prevention: software

NHTSA campaign 22V151000 · reported Mar 11, 2022 · 78,376 vehicles potentially affected

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.

Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank or distorted image can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S14.

NHTSA's record and documents

Seat belts: front; Seat belts: pretensioner

NHTSA campaign 21V377000 · reported May 24, 2021 · 82 vehicles potentially affected

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."

Risk: A seatbelt assembly that does not function as intended can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

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. Ford's number for this recall is 21C13.

NHTSA's record and documents

Power train: driveline

NHTSA campaign 21V011000 · reported Jan 15, 2021 · 147 vehicles potentially affected

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.

Risk: If the rear drive unit seizes, there may be a loss of drive and/or a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

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. Axles found to be below the minimum lubricant fill level will be replaced, free of charge. This recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S02.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 147 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2021 Edge, the latest on Sep 22, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: electrical system (52), unknown or other (41), equipment (29), power train (29), back over prevention (15).

NHTSA defect investigations

Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.

InvestigationPartOpenedStatus
Engineering analysis EA23002
Loss of Motive Power · covers 2 makes
EngineSep 29, 2023Closed Oct 31, 2024
upgraded from PE22007
NHTSA's summary names recall 24V635000
NHTSA's record and documents

Maintenance

Oil

The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2021 Edge.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Used ones for sale

See used 2021 Ford Edges for sale on: Autotrader · CarMax

These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.

Specs

EPA class: small sport utility vehicle. EPA greenhouse gas score: 4–5 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
Edge
Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic 8-spdRegular Gasoline21 / 29 / 24
Edge
All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic 8-spdRegular Gasoline21 / 28 / 23
Edge
All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic (S8)Regular Gasoline20 / 28 / 23
Edge
All-Wheel Drive
2.7 L, 6 cyl, turboAutomatic (S8)Regular Gasoline19 / 25 / 21

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data