NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Ford F-150. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
I pulled out of my driveway and the truck rapidly downshifted from 5th to second gear upon coming to a stop sign and threw my wife and I up in our seats and me into the steering wheel. . Then upon accelerating to come into the highway the truck RPM went way up but the truck didn’t accelerate and then it slammed into gear and took off. This happened on multiple occasions before I could get it into service.
Once transmission gets to operating temperature it shifts funny between 8 9 &10, and when downshifting 7,6 and 5. It's really jerky when downshifting and goes into a kind of neutral on the highway when shifting into 10th
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
I was driving to in the morning and my entire rear window randomly shattered and glass flew everywhere in my truck and on me in the drivers seat.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly decelerated and could only be driven at an excessively slow speed. The traction control, brakes, and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to Kings Auto, where it was diagnosed that the ABS pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The mechanic related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V533000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
Daytime running lights quit working.
The factory-installed panoramic sunroof mesh air deflector is causing a water drainage issue. Water accumulates in the main channels, saturating the mesh and allowing it to retain moisture for an extended period. This prolonged dampness leads to mold growth, creating a health concern due to the mold odor inside the cabin after any rainstorm.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the tailgate opened unexpectedly. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the tailgate unintendedly opened and closed independently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and was diagnosed with a fault in the tailgate switch. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.
This recall has been out since August of 2024, this recall is extremely serious and should not be taken lightly, a remedy should absolutely already be developed!!!!!!!!!! This can cause serious accidents resulting in death especially at a high rate of speed!!!!!! Solve this issue!!!!!
Sometimes goes into neutral when accelerating. In a couple seconds, will then find a gear. From a dead stop, will sometimes shift to tenth gear, making it seem like the transmission is in neutral. Hard shift from 1st to 3rd.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train); 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 vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera failed to display an image, compromising the backup prevention system. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the rear-view camera. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 29,000.
The back window of the Panoramic sunroof exploded, and spider webbed across the entire glass windowpane while going down the road. Pieces of glass shards immediately fell all over the truck interior and then a piece of glass fell out of the middle of the sunroof panel. I notified my Ford dealer immediately and took it in for observation and review. I also took pictures of the glass right away.
Rearview camera does black out sometimes takes 10 minutes to load any info including radio and camera. Radio and camera tries to reload but usually takes 5 minutes for the screen to load up. Causing no rearview camera visibility
Transmission, hard shifting,shifting out of gear wrong when towing sometimes when not Transmission was already overhauled under factory powertrain warranty at around 42000 miles
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera image was black, and the message "Return Vehicle to Dealer for Camera Malfunction" was displayed on the infotainment screen. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed, but the failure could not be replicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while shifting to reverse(R), the rear camera image was distorted. The contact stated that the image was blank, and blue intermittently. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer, or an independent mechanic, and was not diagnosed. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired because it was not under recall. On a separate occasion, the console screen ceased to function and would not display data and shut off intermittently and turned on independently. The headlight warning lights, and Forward Collision Avoidance warning light was illuminated, and a message that the center sensor not active was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer made several software updates; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000. The VIN was not available.
Whining or whistling noise at idle. Bangs when shifts to lowest gear.
Steering assist, faults and adaptive steering not available lights up. Power steering goes away. Program update with dealer did not solve the problem. Looks like it’s a faulty gear.
I did not have an incident. However, we have been waiting 7 months for a remedy. I am scared to drive the vehicle until it is fixed. How long do we have to wait for a solution?
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle turned off on several occasions, the message "Parking Brake Fault" was displayed. The contact stated that each time the vehicle was started, the message was no longer displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that on another occasion, the windshield wipers stopped midway and kicked back. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the rearview camera displayed a distorted image while the vehicle was in reverse(R). In addition, the contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the screen turned off, or a black or blue screen was displayed. The contact stated that the failure obstructed the driver's visibility, preventing the driver from safely operating the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 53,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact remote started the vehicle from the office and walked up to the vehicle, and became aware that the front driver’s side vertical daytime running lights failed to function as intended. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure might be related to the headlight assembly and that the headlight assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that the repair would be an out-of-pocket expense for the replacement of the headlight module because the failure was not covered under recall or warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.
Terrible hard shifting
Confirmed through dealership that the Clock Spring in the steering column needs to be replaced as it is defective. Ford has indicated that my vehicle vin is not a part of the current clock spring recall.
Computer screen goes black. Sometimes this happen right when I start the truck, sometimes when put it in reverse and sometimes just while driving down the road. This started shortly after i purchased the truck in Feb 2025 and seems to be getting worse.
DRIVER DOOR WON'T LOCK OR UNLOCK IN EXTREME COLD. TO EXIT AND ENTER TRUCK, I HAVE TO USE THE PASSENGER DOOR AND SLIDE INTO DRIVER SEAT, WHICH IS VERY DIFFICULT B/C OF THE CENTER CONSOLE. NO WAY I COULD GET OUT OF THE TRUCK IN A HURRY IF I HAD TO. TOOK TO A DEALER BUT OF COURSE IT COULDN'T BE DUPLICATED. INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 2021 FORD F150.
During cold weather the Driver and both back door locks will and cannot be locked or unlocked and the doors cannot be opened from inside or out if locked. Temperatures under 28 degrees Fahrenheit the locks become sluggish. Below 20 Fahrenheit the locks and door will not function at all. The dealer ship has checked out this issue but say that if replaced with current parts the problem will most likely continue. With this issue I have been locked in the car twice and had to exit the passenger door (which works for some reason). I now leave the truck unlocked which leaves me open to theft.
My truck has a 2.7 eco boost engine than has failed around 134,000 miles. The truck had a couple of misfires over the last couple of months, but otherwise no issues. I drove the truck one Saturday, did not drive Sunday, and on Monday I am told the engine is completely seized and I am responsible for replacing the engine. Ford will not attempt to determine if the recall for the valve intake stem has caused the issue and now I am spending over $12,000 to replace a 4 year old engine with no other issues.
Rear backup camera and distance sensors stopped working. The issue is intermittent This issue could have resulted in an accident or injury/fatality due to no image sensor information No dealer involvement at this time No outside inspections at this time No prior warnings or messages were given before the failure
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH and ascending a hill, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who was unable to diagnose the vehicle and the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle experienced a similar failure, and the vehicle was taken to another dealer. The dealer was unable to diagnose the vehicle, and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 26,000.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The exterior door handles and latching mechanism failed due to freezing in cold weather. When temperatures drop, the door handles become stuck or the latch mechanism fails to engage or disengage properly. This issue is reproducible during cold weather and the affected components are available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The malfunction poses a safety risk in multiple ways. The doors may not close securely, which could result in a door opening while driving. Conversely, frozen latches can prevent doors from opening, which is a serious concern in the event of an emergency where rapid exit from the vehicle is required. This could endanger both the driver and passengers. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The issue has not yet been confirmed by a dealer, but it is a widely documented problem among 2021 Ford F-150 owners, and it occurs consistently during cold weather conditions. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No formal inspection by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives has been conducted to date. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There were no warning lamps or dashboard messages. The issue was first noticed during freezing temperatures in the winter season. The symptoms are physical—frozen or stuck handles and malfunctioning door latches.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V635000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Right side headlight had partial failure resulting in insuffient lighting. had it replaced because Ford said its not a covered item. Three months later the left side headlight went partially out. ive spoke to a few Ford owners who has had the same problem and Ford is not recognizing this issue as a defective part. I think this problem needs to be addressed.
Just bought this truck. I was driving down the highway and my sunroof had exploded and blew off the top of my truck. I also noticed that my windshield is wavy and hard to see through.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 35 MPH, there was a loud pop from the rear end of the vehicle, and the rear end of the vehicle started vibrating abnormally. No warning light was illuminated. The contact immediately parked on the side of the road to inspect the vehicle and became aware that the driveshaft had fractured in half. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the drive shaft had fractured in half and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,200.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS, Advancetrac, and several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was confirmed that the failure was due to an unrepaired recall. The contact was informed that parts were on back order. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train). Additionally, the contact stated that the parts had been on back order since January 2025. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
The power steering assist model failed rendering the truck without power steering. I called my dealership and they told me that the part is not available until sometime after February but could not give new a more precise date. I called Ford customer service on [XXX] and they could not give me an availability date on the part (Ford customer service case # [XXX]). They also informed me that the part is not under recall. This leaves me with an truck that is basically safe to drive for the last 60 days. I am the ogival owner of the truck and it has only 5300 miles on it. Can you help me Thanks [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to start the vehicle, and the electric steering fault message was displayed. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where is was diagnosed that the steering gear assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V407000 (STEERING). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 38,008.
When temperatures hit the teens and below, the driver door will not unlock. I’ve tried numerous times to unlock the door via the manual key and inside latch without success. This traps the driver and prevents a speedy egress if necessary. The inner latch tends to thaw after 40+ minutes of full blast heat within cab but no other solution exists. Passenger and rear doors unaffected.
Transmission suddenly downshifted from 7th to 1st gear when driving along a highway. This significantly slowed the vehicle down and almost caused a following vehicle to collide with me. The vehicle will also shift from 4th to 3rd violently, revving the engine then slammining into gear. This throws the heads of all occupants a d causes significant early wear and tear on power train components.
Unable to rotate tires or change a flat tire because per dealer Ford lug nuts are swollen and they can not come off with standard tool (lug wrench). Dealer informed me this has been an issue for years but there are no recalls. I was shocked to find out a simple issue like a flat tire can not be fixed due to the simplest designed piece of equipment on the vehicle (lug nut). Dealer stated i can buy replacement lug nuts from Ford for about $200.00 but they will do the same thing over time. I just found many write ups about this ongoing problem and wonder why NHTSA allows this to not be a recall ... this is a safety issue. Get Ford to redesign the Lug Nut, make it a simple one piece design and relace at no charge. If I or one of my family members get a flat tire and is stranded that would not be good!
Passenger side headlights assembly has a daytime running light that stopped working properly. There is no longer a fully functioning running light that decreases visibility to other vehicles. The manufacturer will not replace and the it cannot be repaired without a full headlight assembly replacement that is not affordable.
Both drl leds around the housing failed. Twice now. This is a know issues with 21+ f150s
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the door opened independently. The contact stated upon inspecting the vehicle, he noticed that the door latches was frozen, and the contact was unable to enter or exit the vehicle. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the door latch needed to be replaced. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V652000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.
Transmission slipping when accelerating from complete stop and through 4th gear
While traveling on a local highway in the far left lane, the engine completely died (no engine light came on). I was trying to negotiate traffic while getting to the shoulder of the road, and the transmission began shifting itself into park. I grabbed the shift lever trying to prevent it from going into park; however, it did just as I reached the shoulder of the road. At this point, I had slowed to ~25 MPH, but it still locked the tires up and slid a few feet. After turning the key off, removing it from the truck, and opening the door, I was finally able to restart it and I went straight to my local mechanic. He attached a code reader; however, there were no codes displayed. He stated they probably cleared out when I restarted the truck. This happened a couple of months ago, but my wife has been fussing at me to report it.
Ford Motor Company has issued a safety recall, identified by letter NEF-107DG and recall number 24V-957, due to the potential failure of the CP4 fuel pump in certain vehicle models. The recall affects the following makes, models, and model years: FORD/F-250 SD (2020-2022), FORD/F-350 SD (2020-2022), FORD/F-450 SD (2020-2022), FORD/F-550 SD (2020-2022), FORD/F-600 SD (2020-2022), FORD/F-650 (2021-2022), and FORD/F-750 (2021-2022). This action addresses concerns that the CP4 pump may fail prematurely, potentially leading to engine stalling and increasing the risk of a crash. Notably, my 2021 Ford F-150 XLT with a 3.0L diesel engine is equipped with the same CP4 fuel pump as the models listed above. As such, it should logically be included in this recall to ensure consistent safety measures and address the risks associated with this known defect.
The contact called about a 2021 Ford F-150 company vehicle. The company received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V193000 (Electrical System); 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 dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission experienced hard shifting, gear grinding, and slipping gear while accelerating from a red light. The contact stated that the gear shift indicator showed that the transmission was in 10th gear and the vehicle started drifting backward. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 32,000.