NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of June 2026, the NHTSA has logged 90 complaints against the 2021 Ford Edge. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2021 Ford Edge complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2021 Ford Edge has generated 180 NHTSA complaints and has 7 active recalls. If your 2021 Ford Edge has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. Ford pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
Powertrain and transmission defects directly impair the vehicle’s core function and are generally considered substantial defects under California lemon law. Owners of the 2021 Ford Edge have reported harsh shifting, shuddering, slipping, and transmission warning lights. 36 NHTSA complaints have been submitted for this defect category. Owner reports include: “Transmission total failure at 118000 miles vehicle had shutting and jerking problems for about 40000 miles.” (NHTSA Complaint #11717469)
The 2021 Ford Edge has generated 32 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2021 Ford Edge. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V315000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, who was unable to complete the recall repair because the dealer was waiting on an Override Code from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was informed of the issue but was unable to help. The contact had not experienced a failure.” (NHTSA Complaint #11716288)
The 2021 Ford Edge has generated 14 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “I am a second time owner of Ford cars, it’s really concerning to me that for one, they have the reputation of their transmissions being faulty, lastly that this being my second vehicle that I have purchased from them that’s having transmission issues. Transmission issues that are identical to each other. The transmission keeps slipping and I’ve only owned the car going on two years. There should be no reason that I would have to replace it so soon. Just like it was in my 2005 ford Taurus. This is an issue that needs immediate attention and it’s a rip off because coming up with 9 thousand dollars to spend to repair something that you can just get a new car with that as a deposit. I am very frustrated with Ford and it really needs to be looked at. From looking at it, many people have had this issue with this particular car and need you to please act on this. Ford can not continue to make faulty transmission in their cars and expect people to pay these high prices for repair. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND HELP US THE CONSUMER AND SPENDING OUR HARD EARNED MONEY ON FAULTY PRODUCRTS.” (NHTSA Complaint #11698401)
Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2021 Ford Edge include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 12 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “Screen went black, had to replace the computer behind the screen for 1,500 dollars.” (NHTSA Complaint #11695380)
The 2021 Ford Edge has generated 8 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2021 Ford Edge. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the sunroof glass exploded without impact, sending glass into the cabin of the vehicle. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by the dealer or an independent mechanic. The contact stated that the sunroof glass was not replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.” (NHTSA Complaint #11611565)
The following 7 recalls have been issued for the 2021 Ford Edge by the NHTSA or Ford. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Component: POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
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. O
Component: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
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.
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
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.
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
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.
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
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.
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
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
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
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 are expected to be mailed March 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 26S09. Vehicle Identification Num
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2021 Ford Edge:
Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Ford to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Ford must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your 2021 Ford Edge qualifies as a lemon under California law, Ford may be legally required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Ford a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Ford dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.
Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Ford pays your fees if you win.
Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Ford a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.
Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Ford is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.
Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.
California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
If your 2021 Ford Edge has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
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