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
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V315000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The rearview camera was occasionally frozen while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The contact stated that the failure obstructed the driver's visibility, preventing the driver from safely operating the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. 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 failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
Cruising highway speeds, when accelerator is pressed to gain speed, make a pass, ect the transmission downshifts into 3rd gear, engine losses all power for 4-8 seconds while accelerator is held down. I’ve almost been in several accidents due to expecting a vehicle to accelerate and nothing happening and traffic
The daytime running led lights on the headlights stopped working on my vehicle. First it was the passenger side and a few weeks later the driver’s side. As that happened to my vehicle, I noticed that many other Ford F150s have the same issue. When I took my vehicle for service, I was told by Ford Maxwell here in Austin Texas that this issue is not covered by my warranty. This is a safety issue because these are the lights that turn on during the day to make the vehicle visible.
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. My veh is experiencing this issue FOrd need to release the recall for repairs to be complete.
Headlight Daytime running lights burn out.
Cam Phasers went bad, had to get replaced.
Passenger Daytime Running Light went out on me. Happened to other 2021-2024 Ford F150’s too. Hazardous to others due to confusion of lighting. No warnings at all.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V142000 (Visibility); 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.
My 2.7 Ecoboost motor failed while driving in traffic, Ford replaced the entire engine due to catastrophic failure of the valves, looks relative to recall Manufacturer Name : Ford Motor Company Submission Date : AUG 23, 2024 NHTSA Recall No. : 24V-635 Manufacturer Recall No. : 24S55 I am working with Ford now on a way forward, there were no symptoms prior to failure and the vehicle stopped immediately and was almost struck numerous times in traffic. I can attach Ford documents at a later time.
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 unavailable. 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.
Recall with no remedy.
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 unavailable. 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.
In June of this year while traveling on the highway at speeds between 65-70 mph my drivers side tail light flew out of my vehicle. There was enough force to rip the wiring right out and send the entire light flying which could have caused risk to any vehicle behind me, it also left me to drive without a tail light/blinker which is a safety issue. I did not see, feel, or hear anything, and only noticed it was gone when I arrived home that night. It was replaced through a body shop. In August while driving on the highway again in similar conditions I saw something red in my rear view mirror that seemed to come flying from the bed of my truck. I saw it fly away and bounce down the highway, luckily not hitting a vehicle behind me, but it did create an obstruction in the road. I wasn't sure what it was at first, so I went to pull over, put my right side blinker on, and it flashed quickly indicating my light was out. I immediately knew, because of my previous experience, that the other tail light had flown out of my vehicle. This time the electrical wires were not ripped out, but the screws holding the light in are sheared. I am again left with a vehicle that is unsafe to drive as it is missing a light and a blinker, until the body shop can get the part in and replace it. I have a bumper to bumper Ford warranty and was told by multiple dealers that Ford would not be willing to cover this issue, even though it's the second time this has happened, and the warranty states that lights are covered.
Purchased vehicle w/ roughly 5000miles in 2021 from Ford Dealer. All stock items and factory tires. At roughly 50,000 during state inspection, it was found that the front passenger brake line was chafing on tire and was deemed unsafe by the Ford dealership. No prior work or modifications was done in this area. Research indicates that this is happening to other Ford F150s
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed an abnormal swishing sound in the front and rear passenger's side door panels. The contact inspected the vehicle and discovered water in the front and rear passenger side door panels. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact was informed that the water leak was coming from the roof of the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed the water entering the interior of the vehicle through the rear passenger's side seat belt. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact was informed that the water leak was due to a failed rear exhaust panel. The contact was informed that the rear exhaust panel needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that due to the failure, the carpet and the seats needed to be cleaned. The failure reoccurred. The contact stated while driving, there was an abnormal swishing sound in the front and rear passenger's side door panels again. The contact became aware of electrical switching sounds, and the horn failed to operate as intended. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with sunroof assembly failure. The contact was informed that the sunroof assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.
Rear axle seal busted because the rear axle hub bolt broke. Dealer indicated this cause the axle boot to bust allowing water into the differential. Dealer stated parts for recall aren't available and/or are on national back order. Ford estimates a fix will be in place 1st quarter 2025. So I am out of a vehicle until this time. Ford refuses to cover a rental.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the speakers were not working. The contact stated that the safety features were inoperable. The audio function failed to produce sound in the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to Customer Satisfaction Program: 22B08. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.
Daytime running lights burn out with no remedy with the exception of replacing entire headlight assembly. Safety is impacted as DRL's are needed in places that my work is conducted.
This safety recall was issued in August of 2024 on an engine valve, this is the only vehicle I have. The engine valve has the potential to crack increasing my risk of crashing, I have a 3 year old. I called Tomball Ford last year in November and was informed they would have the parts by January 2025. It is now May 2025 and no parts or correspondence for the dangerous matter. In fact another recall has been issued
10 Speed Transmission has very harsh shifting when accelerating as well as when downshifting. Dealer has looked at it and have been told over and over that it is normal. When downshifting there are time where the shifting creates a lunge affect making you feel that you are going to hit the car in front of you.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH during a severe rainstorm, the windshield wipers stopped working. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that wiper motor had failed. The contact was advised that there was a recall associated to wiper failure; NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V163000 (Visibility). The contact called the manufacturer and was notified of the open recall for the wiper arms; however, the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V842000 (Visibility) for the wiper motor repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
Loss of engine power when transmission shifts from 3rd gear to 2nd gear. Truck will unexpectedly loose ability to accelerate, typically until shift to 1st or 3rd gear occurs. Return of power can cause vehicle to accelerate rapidly and unexpectedly. Malfunctions typically happens in parking lots and while yielding to make a turn, but also happens in stop and go traffic. Concerned of loss of acceleration while pulling out in traffic. No warning lamps or error codes when failure occurs. I've been working with the dealer to resolve for 1 year with nothing done. After 11 months the dealer acknowledged there is an issue, but is unsure of cause or how to repair. Now recommending an entire transmission replacement and not sure if that will resolve.
I am writing to bring to your attention a critical safety issue affecting my 2021 Ford F-150, caused by a recent SYNC software update. On or around August 2024, Ford issued a software update that has resulted in significant malfunctions in multiple vehicle systems, including intermittent freezing and non-responsiveness shortly after vehicle startup. These issues persist for several minutes, severely impairing safety features—most notably the federally mandated backup camera that all vehicles sold after 2018 are required to have for driver and pedestrian safety. Following Ford's issuance of a recall number, I scheduled a service appointment with my local dealership and was later informed that Ford's specified service procedures would incur additional charges since my vehicle is now out of warranty. Ford has indicated that rolling back to a previous software version is not an option, as only Ford has access to the software. The company further requires an official diagnostic assessment at an estimated cost of $500 to $1,000 to even consider covering part of the repair costs. This approach is unreasonable, given that the malfunction originates from Ford’s own software update and directly impacts the safe operation of the vehicle. This is especially concerning as it compromises the backup camera and other critical driver-alert systems, which could lead to severe injury or even fatalities if the issue remains unaddressed. This issue is not isolated; a significant number of Ford F-150 owners are reporting similar problems on public forums, where Ford has acknowledged the software defect but has not offered a resolution without additional financial burden on affected customers. Given the safety risks posed by the non-functional backup camera and the importance of fully operational driver alert systems, I urge the NHTSA to investigate this matter. Ford’s reluctance to address this defect without cost to owners directly undermines the federally mandated safety standards that
Headlight /DRL out - no alerts or messages
On Wednesday [XXX]. The front brake hose rubbed against the right front tire, causing it to bust and me to lose brakes very dangerous, difficult to stop my vehicle. This needs to be addressed. All the brake safety features failed and all the brake related dash lights came on. The truck is at Bob Bell Ford in Maryland. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Over the air software updates failed and rendered the vehicle inoperable twice within a 3 day period. Both instances rendered the vehicle unusable and required a tow to the dealership. First occurrence was on 7/21/24, the second occurrence was on 7/24/24.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle in the rain, the windshield wipers were activated but failed to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact drove to the residence at 30 MPH, while the windshield wipers remained inoperable. The contact replaced the windshield wiper fuse after reading the Owner's Manual; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the windshield wiper motor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V842000 (Visibility); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.
I started to pass a vehicle, when I tried to accelerate the vehicle lost all forward momentum like it was in neutral, I pressed the gas to the floor and then engine did not raise the rpm’s and no forward increase in momentum, I then let off the gas, and then reapplied full gas and it very slowly started to move forward again. This almost caused an accident as I was passing on a 2 lane road over a broken yellow line, it just fell flat on its face.
Tires making noise and not in balance /out of round. I had a authorized tire company check tires on their machines and a report was written. They said the tires were defective.BIGBRANDTIRE COMPANY PASO ROBLES,Calif. 93446 Phone 805-238-5097
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 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.
The component that malfunctioned was the steering wheel when traveling in excess of 50MPH. The steering wheel when turning left of center will catch and not return to center on own without the intervention of the driver. It is available for inspection upon request. If the driver does not intervene this can put other vehicles on the road and occupants of the vehicle malfunctioning at potential risk of a crash or serious injury. The problem has not been able to be reproduced by two dealers. Where the current owner has had the issue occur frequently. The component has not been inspected further past the initial complaint to the dealer to the owners knowledge. There are no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. The issue first appeared in the first few thousand miles of owning the vehicle.
My rear passenger window shattered. My niece opened the door and the glass shattered. The window pane was held together by after market tint. It then fell under the vehicle. The vehicle is available for inspection until Friday, July 27, when it is scheduled for repair. The safety of the passengers was putt in jeopardy sure to the nature of the incident.
Front DRL on the headlights no longer work making it difficult for other vehicles to have a clear sight of vehicle.
DRL on headlamp vertical line shutoff on passenger side headlight assembly.
Day time running lights burned out at 32,000 miles. The trucks Visibility during daylight has significantly been altered due to the DRLs malfunctioning so soon in a new vehicle. No warning or alerts.
The contact owned a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the rear end of the vehicle seized, and the vehicle swerved to the right. The contact was unaware of any warning lights being illuminated. The contact lost control of the vehicle and the vehicle slid off the roadway. The vehicle was not damaged. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 45 MPH, the rear end seized, and the vehicle slid to the right. The contact's wife lost control of the vehicle and crashed. The contact's wife stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The contact's wife was not injured. The contact stated that the vehicle was not drivable and that the Police arrived on scene and filed a report. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and was later declared a total loss by the Insurance provider. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V509000 (Parking Brake) and related the failure to the recall. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
The daytime running lights are malfunctioning. I have seen this is a common issue with this style truck.
Paint is peeling in several separate area's on the truck
DRL on the passenger side of my truck is half burnt out. I have seen many of the same style headlight with the same daytime running light halo burnt out or partially burnt out on at least 1 side of the truck.
Both daytime running lights, which also serve as part of the headlights have burnt out. First the drivers side vertical strip of the LED light went out, then the passenger side same vertical strip only. Recently, the horizontal top strip of the headlight went out too. Just happened around 30,000 miles, little past 3 years since I bought my truck
XLT model with quad LED headlight. The Daytime Running Lamp failed 3000 miles past factory 36k mile warranty. Very common failure, Ford won’t acknowledge. Safety issue for other drivers in daytime as well as distracting to other drivers looking to see why the lights are not symmetrical. I have polled 14 people randomly and 13-14 said that it would distract them, while others have acknowledged they have seen several others like it. Trying to get a recall on this as the lights are 1200$ to replace each and they fail on both sides. The issue is quality control. I have torn down one light and examined the issue. I can provide evidence to support.
After starting the vehicle at a motel in the morning, and backing out of the parking spot, I put the vehicle in drive and gave it a little bit of gas (wheel cranked to the left to finish turning out of the spot), and the vehicle rapidly accelerated across the parking lot. I hit the brakes and the vehicle stopped accelerating. I looked down to see the cruise control set to 15 Mph and crossed out (disengaged due to brake engagement). I never set the cruise control at that speed. To the best of my knowledge I never bumped any cruise control buttons that morning. To the best of my knowledge a software glitch caused cruise control to set and engage, from a stop, to an unsafe speed considering the circumstances.
I contacted a local Ford dealership: Hempstead Ford, 301 N Franklin St, Hempstead, NY 11550, (516) 363-1579 to perform multiple safety recalls issued by NHTSA. The service department refused to schedule me for service because I did not buy the vehicle from their dealership. I reported this to Ford Customer Relations and was told that they cannot force the dealership to service my vehicle. I believe this is illegal.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed during a rainstorm, the driver’s side windshield wiper detached from the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V163000 (Visibility). The dealer confirmed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and also confirmed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 58,500.
While driving the parking break activated. I was in the middle of the road with my newborn. I believe my truck should have been recalled since this is something that other F150 had. I took it to the Ford dealership and they said there was no active recall on this vehicle. So I had them check it since it’s such a high safety concern. And yes there was a default with the parking break system.
360.Camera System has failed and is having the same known issues as the other recalled Ford vehicles.
While approaching a red traffic signal at speed, I went to apply brakes and the brake pedal had no resistance and failed to slow the vehicle. Immediately several alarms sounded and lights illuminated on the dash board. I was able to slow the vehicle with repeated brake attempts and swiftly moving to the right turn lane where I could navigate a turn and come to a complete stop after coasting. Dashboard indicated: Pre-collision assist not available, antilock brake fault, service AdvanceTrac, and check brake system.
Windshield wipers randomly stopped working. There is a recall for 2021 f150s, however my VIN is not included.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V315000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds and while in reverse(R), the infotainment screen froze and went black. The vehicle was taken to a dealer in October 2025, where it was diagnosed and determined that a software update was needed for the infotainment system, but the manufacturer had not yet provided a software update. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Good day, I am experiencing a leak from the front differential pinion seal on my vehicle. This leak appears to be a common issue based on reports from other owners in various online forums and owner groups. The front differential transfers power from the transmission to the front wheels. A leak from the pinion seal can cause a loss of differential fluid, which could lead to premature wear and eventual failure of the front differential components. If the front differential fails while driving, it could cause a loss of control of the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash or collision. This poses a significant safety hazard to myself, my passengers, and other vehicles on the road. I am requesting that Ford Motor Company acknowledge this issue and take corrective action by issuing a recall or service bulletin to inspect and repair/replace the faulty front differential pinion seals on affected vehicles. Allowing this defect to persist is unacceptable from a quality and safety standpoint. A front differential failure caused by this leak could result in serious vehicle damage, injuries, or fatalities. Please investigate this matter thoroughly and require Ford to address this safety defect before it leads to additional vehicle failures and potential accidents. Thank you!