2021 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

The daytime running lamp assemblies on both headlights are failing. On the driver's side, the entire LED array around the outside of the headlight has failed. On the passenger's side, the vertical LED array is extremely dim and will probably fail soon. The topmost horizontal LED array on the passenger's side is currently the only array still working. Obviously this poses a safety risk as these lights provide visibility of the vehicle in low light and low visibility driving conditions. I have seen many forum posts and YouTube videos about this problem and as the parts are integrated into the headlamp assembly, the only way to fix is a complete replacement of the assembly which is a $2000-$2500 repair PER ASSEMBLY. This problem appears to be related to heat dissipation issues, indicating a manufacturers defect. In older model vehicles, a daytime running lamp used to be a $5-$20 bulb replacement. The fact that I now have no choice but to pay $2000 to restore functionality of a safety feature is completely unacceptable. At the very least, Ford should redesign the LED module to be replaceable independent of the larger assembly, reducing the cost to the owner.

The windshield wipers stop working after 1 wipe

I was traveling 47 mph and suddenly the parking brake was activated, causing the car to brake instantly. Luckily, no one was behind me and luckily it did not cause an accident. There were no lights on the dashboard. I took it to the Ford dealer to have it inspected and they gave me an appointment for 8 days later and let me go home knowing that I could not drive it since I almost caused an accident.

DRL lights are dead after three years of ownership. Dealer wants $1600 per light assembly to repair them. Cannot afford to repair them. makes the truck less visible day and night.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact became aware of oil underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that after turning off the vehicle, the steering wheel failed to lock as designed. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic for an oil change, and it was determined that there was an oil leak; however, the mechanic was unsure where the oil was located. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,600.

Description of Incident: The vehicle exhibits a severe and unpredictable transmission "shudder," "stutter," and hesitation during gear synchronization, specifically during 1st–3rd and 8th–10th gear transitions. This manifest as a violent "shaking" sensation and a loss of momentary acceleration while merging into high-speed traffic. This issue was first reported to an authorized Ford dealership on December 17, 2024. At that time, the vehicle exhibited harsh shifting and "shuddering" consistent with Ford Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 22-2428. Despite being under a 150,000-mile service contract, the dealer misdiagnosed the mechanical transmission defect as an engine misfire, resulting in ineffective repairs. The defect has persisted and worsened. The internal failure has been identified as a defective CDF Clutch Drum (Cylinder) where an internal bushing moves out of place, obstructing fluid flow and causing mechanical "slip." This is a known manufacturing defect documented in multiple Ford TSBs (22-2428, 23-2250, and 24-2101). Safety Risk: The failure causes unpredictable power delivery. On multiple occasions, the vehicle has hesitated or "stuttered" while attempting to merge onto highways or cross intersections, leaving the vehicle vulnerable to side-impact or rear-end collisions. The lack of consistent throttle response and the violent nature of the shifting creates a significant safety hazard for the driver and surrounding motorists. Verification/Inspection: The symptoms were reported to a Ford dealership multiple times. As of December 2025, the dealership has opened a formal case with the manufacturer to verify the internal "cause of failure" by the Shop Foreman. No warning lamps or Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) appeared on the dashboard, as the failure is a mechanical internal bushing slip that does not always trigger a software sensor until total failure occurs. The vehicle is available for inspection.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while making left and right turns on several occasions, the steering wheel vibrated with the "Steering Assist Fault - Service Required" message displayed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed, and a software update was performed. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred on the way to the residence. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer where it was then diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The vehicle was then taken to the same dealer for the third time and it was diagnosed that the PSCM steering control module and steering gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 19,888.

The steering wheel would not turn. Similar to when cars did not have power steering but much worse. Had the truck taken to the Ford Dealership. They reprogrammed the computer and said that fixed the problem . Started to leave and didn’t even get off the lot when it basically’froze up’ again. They kept the vehicle for a second time. When they called and said it was fixed, I was able to drive it but discovered to will ‘freeze up’ when trying to make a sharp turn(almost all the way to the stop), either to the right or left

Rear axle failed while driving. Had vehicle towed to Malloy Ford in Winchester, VA. They replaced the failed components, at no cost. When I asked about reimbursement for towing, they were not able to assist me in filing my claim for towing reimbursement. I contacted FORD Customer Service, who said they only way they may help me is if I return the vehicle to Ford Service (must be in their possession) and have Ford Service contact them directly and ask for "reimbursement assistance" by 16 Jan. However, stated there is absolutely no guarantee they will reimburse towing. Are you able to assist me? The towing cost was $185.40

I was pulling out into traffic, I eased out to make the turn, when I pressed the accelerator in order to merge to traffic speed, the truck did nothing. It did not stall, the engine was running, but it would not go. The transmission did not act like it was in gear, it is an automatic. I could have been hit by other cars by having my truck sitting in the road. The problem has occurred twice, but I cannot force the issue. it occurs randomly. I am calling service center today 12/17/24 to have it looked at. Vehicle has had the transmission replaced by manufacturer at a factory authorized dealership. There were no warning lights or any indications that the truck was malfunctioning.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V315000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that the camera was flashing, the image was blocked, and the camera became inoperable. The driver had to use the mirrors while reversing. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where the software update was completed, but the failure persisted. The contact was informed that further inspection of the vehicle was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera image was black intermittently. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V315000 (Back Over Prevention). The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,700.

In December 2024, I brought my vehicle to my local Ford service center to address an infotainment/display screen issue. My display screen went completely black giving me no access to basic vehicle functions like radio controls, climate, and most importantly, cameras. Since this time, my vehicle has been back for service on 4 separate occasions without any success. The longest service visit being 2-months while "Ford Engineering investigated the issue". During this time, they ran diagnostics, replaced the infotainment screen, and finally the APIM unit but to no avail. Ford assured me that this was an isolated issue and the first of it's kind. I am scheduled to go back to my service center on June 3rd to have "tokens" installed on my vehicle. This will allow Ford's Engineering team to recreate the issue on their end. Today I read that Ford opened a recall for 1.1m vehicles for display/camera software issues. Although I feel like I've been gaslit by Ford for +6 months, I'm happy to hear I'm not the only one that's been living through this ordeal.

There has been an issue with front LED lights where they go out. It’s an electrical issue where my truck had both replaced and still in warranty this caused almost hit accidents a night. Many vehicles warned me by flashing the high beams. Also another issue is the transmission where it creates a huge jerk on the transmission causing a change in shift. Almost had an accident caused by it. No police involved and no accidents.

Daytime running lights have failed. Both sides in my ford f150

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the exhaust baffles were making an abnormal ticking sound while the vehicle was idling. The contact also stated that the A/C outlet vent tab had separated from the vehicle, and the other tabs were loose. Additionally, the contact stated that while accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated while responding. The contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal squealing sound while driving at various speeds and while idling. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the serpentine belt and one of the pulleys needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact the repairs could not be covered under the powertrain warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.

The ford is a ford F150 2021 with only 47,000 miles on it. It is a well taken care of truck with all routine maintenance done. The power control steering module has completely gone out in my truck. Unfortunately this problem began to occur with my children in the car when a warning light came on and then the power steering completely went out making it extremely difficult to turn and steer the car. Thankfully this occurred on a backroad and not the highway. Needless to say, it is not safe to drive my car and is now sitting in the shop. Ford has confirmed the problem but is unable to get a new PSCM because it is back ordered meaning many people are facing the same issue. We are told they are unsure if the part will become available in a month or 6 months which means we are out a car for that long. With the part being on such a back order, I would hope this would be a red flag to not only ford but to the NHTSA that this is a common problem and error on a faulty part which is extremely dangerous.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal knocking sound. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing erratic transmission shifts and was making an abnormal knocking sound while driving. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the cause of the abnormal knocking sound could not be determined; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where an unknown diagnosis was provided, and unknown repairs were performed. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to start. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.

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 repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer 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. Parts distribution disconnect.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the rear end of the vehicle started vibrating abnormally. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the alignment had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rear axle hub bolts were worn and had shifted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that there was a leak in the rear axle seals. The repair was pending. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was 28,000.

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 exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH when a loud grinding noise was emitting from underneath the vehicle. The contact had lost power causing the vehicle to drift to the right. The vehicle ended up hitting a trash can nearby before it came to a stop. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries or medical attention needed. A police report was not filed. The contact had to place the vehicle in 4-wheel drive mode to be able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was not able to diagnose the vehicle at the time. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer had referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a safety complaint. The failure mileage was 86,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The intake valves failed in my 2021 ford f150 and has caused major engine damage the truck is un drivable now and ford REFUSES to help me in any way they said the recall is expected to have a remedy in 2025 so until then I’m just stuck they will not give me a loaner vechile or anything

Windshield wiper motor failure during a heavy rain driving down [XXX] at night with children in truck on the way to a soccer tournament in Tulsa Oklahoma. Had new wiper motor replaced at dealership due to failure. No symptoms or warning prior to the failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I was stopped at red light intersection my truck went into idle mode (start/stop) when light changed I tried to proceed through the truck engine/electrical transmission locked up. I had to turn the truck completely off and open one of the doors to be able to restart the truck and move through the intersection. it has done this repeatedly I have taken it to Ford they have tried to charge me an astronomical amount to diagnose it.. with no guarantee of it being fixed. I have almost been rear ended 3 times!

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the C-shaped LED light at the outer corners of the driver's side headlight was significantly dimmed, which reduced the road visibility. The contact stated that the failure had progressively worsened. The dealer was notified of the failure and charged a repair fee for the headlight replacement. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 97,500.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that there was rust on all four wheels. The mechanic was unable to remove the wheels due to the rust. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving on a neighborhood street at approximately 25 MPH, a faint whistling sound could be heard from the rear passenger side, and when accelerating the sound progressed. The sound was also present while turning. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a tire shop where it was inspected and informed that there was a bolt and washer that had been sheered off causing further damage to the axle of the vehicle. The contact was advised that the vehicle was not safe to drive. The vehicle was then taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that NHTSA campaign number 23V896000 (POWER TRAIN) was a probable cause for the failure. The contact has stated that the dealer and manufacturer have not been very transparent with the process of remedying the vehicle and received a loaner vehicle. 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 made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000.VIN tool confirms parts not available.

In the cold winter of Bismarck, ND, all of my truck's door handles are frozen, so I am unable to get in or out of my truck (NHTSA SSM XXXXX). I have been climbing in and out of my window to get into my truck. This is already a safety concern recognized by your organization, so why doesn’t my truck qualify for a recall? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

DRLs have partially failed on both headlights, vehicle is available for inspection. This seems to be a common problem for similary F-150 according forums and personal observations of other vehicles. The DRLs are a safety feature and not functions DRLs create a safety issue, as on coming drivers are not able to see the vehicle as clearly. Has not been reproduced or confirmed by dealer. Has not been inspected by manufacturer, police or insurance. I did report to Ford Customer Service but was told there was nothing they could do about it. No lights, messages or warnings. Problem has been visible for a least a year, but have not experienced further failure. Only way to fix is to replace the entire headlight assembly with a total cost of around $4000 for both assemblies.

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 not contacted. 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.

Speaker system/amplifier created a loud sonic boom type noise while I was driving. Made my ears ring and felt very unsafe to drive afterwards. First time this happened, making an appointment with dealership to get it checked out. No error messages came up on the screen or dash. Still do not feel safe driving the vehicle if this can happen again.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the driver’s side headlight suddenly became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the headlamp housing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

The Air Dam on my 2021 F-150 failed seemingly while driving down the interstate highway traveling within posted speed limits. While the Air Dam did not completely separate from the vehicle there are many reports of this occurring. These parts are plastic and metallic in nature at highway speeds can easily become projectiles threatening property harm and bodily harm including death. Ford should resolve issues with the Air Dams before someone is killed due to its improper construction and prone to breaking. To complicate matters Ford refuses to fix this part under its Bumper to Bumper warranty.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V315000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who had started the recall repair; however, the dealer informed the contact that the recall repair could not be completed due to the 12-Volt battery only being at 42 percent charge. The contact was informed that the 12-Volt battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that recently, the display screen turned blue when he shifted into reverse (R). The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard a loud noise. The contact stated that the gear shifter failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the gear shifter failed to shift into drive or reverse. The contact exited the vehicle and performed an inspection of the vehicle. The contact stated upon inspecting underneath the vehicle, the contact noticed that the driveshaft was fractured. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a fractured driveshaft. The contact was informed that the driveshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under recall or warranty. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,560.

I just got the car 3 weeks ago from the dealer and is leaking and I have this warning ON YOUR VEHICLE, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE FOR THE INTAKE VALVE STEM TO FRACTURE WHILE DRIVING. Please some help.

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 contacted. 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.

The engine can fail at any time. The truck has not been fixed in a timely manor. I pull trailer with livestock. I need to declare the lemon law on this vehicle to get one that is reliable.

The plastic clips that hold the keypad on the driver’s side door to the truck have failed allowing access to the trucks wiring and potentially gaining entry to the truck. Concerned with break-ins

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. An unknown local dealer was 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.

My rearview backup camera blacks out won't load, cuts off and on. When in drive it still takes a while for it to still load the radio and navigation. It blacks out and won't load when I start the truck. By the time I back up, still not loading, and start to drive it takes a few minutes maybe 10 for it to finally start working and displaying the navigation and the radio. I've had this issue for a while. And if other makes and models are having the same issues, it has to also be affecting my make and model being it's the same issue.

The DRL on the 2021 F150 Quad Beam headlights burn out continuously. Ford needs to step up and fix this issue. This issue is a safety matter.

Ford issued NHTSA recall 22V142 for my 2021 F-150 truck. The windshield wiper motors were known to fail. I was told by the Ford customer service representative on CAS-51684816 that Ford has not replaced this part with a new one, and the faulty motors are still being installed. My wiper motor was "replaced" under warranty on 5/18/2023 with 39,836 miles. The "new" motor then failed on 9/24/2024 at 69,600 miles, so the wiper motor only worked for a little over a year and 30,000 miles. The wiper motor also failed during a thunderstorm, and I had to pull over to the side of the road. My truck was then hailed on later while parked waiting for the storm to pass by. The Ford dealership charged me $382.01 for the "replacement" motor. Either the replacement part was defective, or the part was not replaced at all, and it was just listed on the paperwork.

Since 09/23/2024 my 2021 ford f150 the ABS ,service advance trac and pre-collition assist not available messages are displayed every time i press the brakes, the truck is only 3 years and has 21077 miles

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The message "Steering Assist Fault - Service Required" was displayed. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the power steering became functional. The contact stated that the failure recurred intermittently. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 15 MPH and turning into a parking lot, the failure recurred. The contact was able to pull into a parking space. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The contact was able to drive to the dealer by using physical strength to steer the vehicle. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with internal steering gear failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V407000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included due to the manufactured date. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

Front Camera Fault causing Adaptive Cruise Control not to work therefore forfeiting any added measure of safety at highway speeds. The issue was investigated and was fixed at the local Ford dealer by installing a new camera, camera control module, and wiring. Warning message came on every time the truck was started and warning light came on saying that adaptive cruise control could. not be engaged

I’ve had multiple “service engine soon” errors appear while driving normal highway conditions. The same code appears on my mobile application as the following… Powertrain Malfunction / Reduced Power What Is Happening? Illuminates when the system has detected a powertrain or a four-wheel drive fault. What Should I Do? A Powertrain or All Wheel Drive (AWD)/Four Wheel Drive (4WD) fault has been detected, contact your authorized dealer as soon as possible. These codes have been noted on the following dates. 8-25-2024 and 9-6-2024

Drivers side head light is half working

I was slowing to a stop at a stoplight in traffic when the brake pedal dropped to the floor and the truck was no longer slowing. The ABS, Anti collision, and check brake system lights all illuminated. I was able to slow the truck and place in park to stop. Vehicle was taken to dealership where it was found to be in perfect condition according to the mechanic. I have been told that I should have no issue taking the vehicle although nothing has been resolved.

I've experienced the loss of power during hard acceleration. Right hand turns from a stop feel like the engine has stalled and rolling right hand turns are becoming increasingly more dangerous. Most recently as I was merging onto a highway. Pedal to the floor, the truck initi9ally accelerated for a couple seconds until it stalled to make the truck not only not accelerate but almost made it feel as if I was breaking. This is very dangerous.