The Lemon Index

All cars · Ford Edge

2021 Ford Edge.

The 2021 Ford Edge is better than average by owner complaints: 48 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 53, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 7 recalls, and it gets 21 to 24 mpg combined. The best Ford Edge year is 2010.

53Lemon Index · 100 = average car

Better than average. 1.9× fewer complaints than average.

Best year 2010 · Worst year 2013

Ford Edge
Photo shows a 2017 Ford Edge. Matti Blume, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Before you buy. What matters most for this car.

Owner complaints48first 3 years
Fuel economy21–24 mpgcombined, EPA
Crash test★★★★★NHTSA overall

How serious. Out of 112 owner complaints, owners reported:

4crashes
1injuries
1fires
3tows

What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.

electrical19%
backup camera17%
transmission & drivetrain15%
automatic emergency braking12%
visibility10%

Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.

Transmission problems in every Ford Edge year →

When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.

half by 41K
0K50K100K150K200K

Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 16K to 66K miles on the car (24 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.

Recalls 7

  • back over prevention 2026

    The Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) may overheat and shutdown, which can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended.

  • back over prevention 2025

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

  • back over prevention 2025

    A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank or distorted image when the vehicle is in reverse.

Show all 7 recalls
  • engine 2024

    The engine intake valves may break while driving, which can result in engine failure and a loss of drive power.

  • back over prevention 2022

    A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank or distorted image when the vehicle is in reverse.

  • seat belts 2021

    The driver's seat belt retractor pretensioner assembly may not function correctly when activated during a crash.

  • transmission & drivetrain 2021

    An inadequate amount of lubricant in the rear drive unit may cause seizure of the rear drive axle.

Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.

Check a VIN for open recalls

Problems Ford told dealers about

Ford sent dealers 148 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:

  • Noise from the rear
  • Some 2021 Mustang Mach-E, Edge and Nautilus customers may be unable to authorize the…
  • Some 2019-2021 Edge/Nautilus/Transit Connect, 2020-2021 Escape/Corsair and 2021 Bronco Sport…

Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.

Government investigations

  • ClosedLoss of motive power2023–2024

NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.

Safety

Stability controlStandard
Collision warningOptional
Lane departure warningStandard
NHTSA front crash test of the 2021 Ford Edge
Front crash test · NHTSA
Crash test details
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Ford Edge SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆
Ford Edge SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines

About $2700–3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.7L 6-cyl.

In owners' words

After over the air update to fix rear camera issues the front camera does not operate. The camera is used when operating at slow speeds. When the button is pushed the camera does not come on.

2021 Ford Edge owner · NHTSA complaint 11477125
More owner reports

Hi The main screen just goes blank or partially corrupted, so I have no access to the rear camera or main controls on the panel

NHTSA complaint 11457218

Quick answers

Is the 2021 Ford Edge reliable?

Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.9× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 53; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford Edge year by this measure since 2010 is 2023.

What are the most common 2021 Ford Edge problems?

In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (19%), backup camera (17%) and transmission & drivetrain (15%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.

How many recalls does the 2021 Ford Edge have?

7 safety recalls (latest: back over prevention). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2021 Ford Edge get?

21 to 24 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).

Is the 2021 Ford Edge safe?

NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.

At what mileage do 2021 Ford Edge problems start?

Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 16,100 and 66,000 miles. The middle report was at 41,000 miles, from 24 complaints.

Does the 2021 Ford Edge have transmission problems?

Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 15% of its owner complaints.

How much does the 2021 Ford Edge cost in fuel a year?

About $2700 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.

What engines does the 2021 Ford Edge have?

2.0L 4-cyl, 2.7L 6-cyl.

What Ford Edge year is better than the 2021?

By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2010, 2021 and 2014.

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data