What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2021 Ford F-150

Typical pattern

4.7% of complaints about the 2021 Ford F-150 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2021 vehicle — around the middle of the 159 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.1 yr in service. The most-reported system is power train (315 complaints), typically at 4.6 yr or about 58,000 miles.

Complaints
1,327
Median age at failure
4.1 yr
Median mileage
43,000 n=265
Crash / fire / tow
4.5% of reports
Safety recalls
10 1 do not drive

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Power train
315 reports · 58,000 mi
4.6 yr
5.7%
Electrical system
133 reports · 25,000 mi
3.6 yr
2.3%
Exterior lighting
110 reports · 55,000 mi
4.8 yr
0%
Other
93 reports · 4,133 mi
4.1 yr
6.5%
Engine
82 reports · 19,448 mi
4.3 yr
2.4%
Visibility
78 reports · 44,000 mi
2.3 yr
2.6%
Visibility / wipers
56 reports · 41,000 mi
2.8 yr
0%
Collision avoidance
53 reports · 35,000 mi
3.6 yr
7.5%
Service brakes
53 reports · 10,000 mi
3.6 yr
1.9%
Fuel / propulsion
49 reports
5.1 yr
2%
Back over prevention
42 reports · 35,000 mi
3.9 yr
7.1%
Steering
41 reports · 73,000 mi
4.7 yr
14.6%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

21V407000 2021-05-29 Do not drive
Steering:gear box (other than rack and pinion)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The steering gear may have internal damage, which could result in difficulty steering, or the inability to rotate the steering wheel while driving.

Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.

26V489000 2026-07-28
Back over prevention:display function

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 F-150 and 2023-2026 F-250 SD vehicles equipped with 8-inch SYNC infotainment screens. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to be obstructed by the infotainment home screen menu when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

An obstructed rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

26V402000 2026-06-24
Power train:automatic transmission

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.

Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.

26V104000 2026-02-20
Electrical system: integrated trailer brake control

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may lose communication with the vehicle, possibly causing a loss of brake and turn signal lights, or a loss of brake function. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.

25V729000 2025-10-24
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, 2021-2023 F-150, 2022 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, and F-450 SD vehicles. The moonroof wind deflector clips may be inadequately attached to the moonroof frame, which can result in the wind deflector detaching from the vehicle.

A detached wind deflector can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.

25V455000 2025-07-07
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Bronco, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, 2021-2022 Lincoln Navigator, Mustang, F-150, and 2022 Expedition vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can result in an engine stall while driving.

An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

25V348000 2025-05-23
Exterior lighting:back up lights

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles equipped with the Onboard Scales feature that were repaired incorrectly under recall 24V443. An over-the-air software update to the body control module (BCM) may have disabled both reverse lights.

Inoperative reverse lights may fail to alert others that the vehicle is reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.

25V315000 2025-05-09
Back over prevention:software

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco, F-150, 2021-2024 Edge, 2022-2025 Escape, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, 2022-2024 Expedition, 2022-2025 Transit, 2021-2023 Mach-E, 2024 Ranger, Mustang, 2021-2023 Lincoln Nautilus, 2022-2024 Navigator, and 2023-2024 Corsair vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse.

A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

25V169000 2025-03-14
Power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 22V-188. The Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for low transmission fluid pressure may falsely activate and cause the transmission to unexpectedly shift into neutral.

An unexpected shift into neutral will cause a loss of drive power and increase the risk of a crash.

25V132000 2025-02-28
Electrical system: integrated trailer brake control

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 F-150, 2022 Maverick, Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 22V-193. Due to a software error, a towed trailer equipped with an electric or electric-over hydraulic brake system may not brake.

Loss of trailer brake functionality can extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.

In owners’ own words

Back over prevention 9 mi 4 mo in service
MY BACKUP CAMERA DISPLAY ON THE DASH IS HAZY AND GREY, SIMILAR TO THE ISSUE FORD HAS WITH THE 2020 MODEL YEAR.
Back over prevention 620 mi 5 mo in service
TRUCK DOES NOT DETECT SPECIFICALLY SILVER FORD CARS WHEN AUTO PARKING. IT WILL TRY TO PARK IN THE SAME SPOT AS THEM ON SUNNY DAYS.
Back over prevention 32,000 mi 2.4 yr in service
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the infotainment screen failed to operate as needed. Due to the failure, the back-over protection camera and defroster system failed to operate. The dealer was initially notified of the failure and informed the contact that the parts for the repair were on backorder. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was provided the same information as provided by the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.
Electrical system 500 mi 4 mo in service
IF THE TRUCK SITS FOR MORE THAN 2 DAYS THE BATTERY WILL BE DEAD AND UNABLE TO BE JUMPSTARTED WITH JUMP PACKS. HAD TO HAVE THE BATTERY REPLACED IT WAS SO DEAD ALREADY.

Other F-150 model years

2025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

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