Motor Almanac

Ford / F150 / 2021

2021 Ford F150

Family: F150 · filed with NHTSA as F-150

Summary

  • In its first three years the 2021 F150 drew 327 complaints — 1.2× the median of its generation (2021–2026). It does not stand out from the other years of this generation.
  • These are complaint counts, not failure rates: they are not divided by how many cars were sold, because no public source reports U.S. sales by model year.
  • Complaints are spread across systems: the largest, Powertrain, holds 33% of the 978 that name a component.
  • 29 recalls filed for this model year, 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning.
  • 1 federal defect investigation covers this model year.

At a glance

Owner complaints
1,036
Recalls
29
Investigations
1
NCAP overall
5 of 5 stars
Combined MPG
15–25
Annual fuel cost
$2,500–$4,150
Median mileage at complaint
48,000 mi (n = 228)
Crashes / fires / injuries / deaths
13 / 4 / 8 / 0

What owners report

Powertrain

319 complaints · 33% of complaints that name a component · median 58,000 mi (n = 74)

Owner report The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle was scheduled for repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the part to complete the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly shuddered, and…
Owner report I have experienced ongoing issues with transmission. Two separate dealerships have done partial "rebuild" to no avail. The vehicle has lost power several times which include XXX at approximately 3:30 pm. while pulling onto a busy highway in heavy traffic. As soon as I got home, I parked the truck in the carport where i…

Windows, Wipers & Visibility

131 complaints · 13% of complaints that name a component · median 44,000 mi (n = 30)

Owner report The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the windshield wipers failed to activate as needed. No warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufa…
Owner report When using the window wipers, they become inoperable. Stopping in the middle of the window, pausing when moving, or completely stopping and unable to get them to start moving until they begin to move on their own. This has occurred multiple times and at multiple different speeds of operation for the wipers. This was …

Electrical System

130 complaints · 13% of complaints that name a component · median 30,000 mi (n = 26)

Owner report This vehicle was purchased new. It currently has about 56000 miles. Over time there have been numerous incidents where the battery was suddenly dead. The dealer repeatedly replaced the battery with out addressing the cause. This was done under warranty until recently when there was a charge of $1138. This supposedly re…
Owner report Vehicle suddenly locked the steering wheel at approximatelyn20-25 MPH dash displayed a front camera failure and the motor stopped. I had to put the vehicle in park and restart. It happened again with in a minute. Then a third time after driving apron. 120 miles. As I slowed to a stop light the same thing happen a th…

6% of complaints name no specific component and are left out of the shares above.

Across the generation (2021–2026)

To compare years fairly, each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 275.

Model yearAll complaintsFirst three yearsNote
20211,036327
2022602275
2023418263
2024195195not compared
2025109109not compared
20261212not compared

Recalls

Whether a recall has been fixed on a specific car depends on its VIN; check it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

26V489000 · BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION | BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

Filed 2026-07-28 · 47,587 vehicles

Defect: 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."

Risk: An obstructed rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, 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 (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 9, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C37. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 31, 2026.

26V402000 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Filed 2026-06-24 · 741,195 vehicles

Defect: 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.

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

Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.

26V104000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL

Filed 2026-02-20 · 4,381,878 vehicles

Defect: 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."

Risk: 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.

Remedy: The integrated trailer module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 17, 2026.

25V729000 · VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

Filed 2025-10-24 · 174,853 vehicles

Defect: 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.

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

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the moonroof wind deflector as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SB7. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 30, 2025.

25V455000 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Filed 2025-07-07 · 850,318 vehicles

Defect: 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.

Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump on super duty vehicles and update the powertrain control module (PCM) software on all other affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 27, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S75.

25V348000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS

Filed 2025-05-23 · 10 vehicles

Defect: 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.

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

Remedy: Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 27, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S57.

25V315000 · BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

Filed 2025-05-09 · 1,076,138 vehicles

Defect: 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.

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 risk were mailed on June 26, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Owner notification letters were sent on October 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S49.

25V169000 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

Filed 2025-03-14 · 567 vehicles

Defect: 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.

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

Remedy: Dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S24.

25V132000 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL

Filed 2025-02-28 · 10,952 vehicles

Defect: 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.

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

Remedy: Dealers will update the integrated trailer brake control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S18.

24V852000 · EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Filed 2024-11-08 · 27,678 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.

24V635000 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL

Filed 2024-08-23 · 90,736 vehicles

Defect: 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.

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.

24V443000 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE | EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS

Filed 2024-06-14 · 159 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles equipped with the Onboard Scales feature. An over-the-air software update to the body control module (BCM) may have disabled both reverse lights.

Risk: Disabled reverse lights cannot alert others that the vehicle is reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are were mailed June 26, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S38.

23V896000 · POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS

Filed 2023-12-22 · 112,965 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 F-150 vehicles equipped with the Trailer Tow Max Duty package and a 9.75-inch heavy duty axle with a 3/4 float axle design. The rear axle hub bolt may fatigue and break, which can result in damage to the axle hub splines.

Risk: Damaged axle hub splines can result in a vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied or cause a loss of drive power. Both of these conditions can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right rear axle shaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 9, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S65.

23V509000 · PARKING BRAKE:ELECTRICAL

Filed 2023-07-21 · 870,701 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 F-150 vehicles equipped with a single exhaust system. Contact with the rear axle housing may damage the wiring harness, causing the electric parking brake to activate unexpectedly.

Risk: Unexpected activation of the electric parking brake while driving increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will install a protective tie strap, tape wrap, and replace the harness as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 12, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S35.

23V163000 · VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

Filed 2023-03-10 · 222,454 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.

Risk: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the wiper arms, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 13, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S10. This recall expands previous recall number 22V-250.

22V842000 · VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

Filed 2022-11-15 · 483,082 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 F-150 vehicles. The front windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail.

Risk: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the front windshield wiper motor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2023. Remedy parts are expected in the 3rd Quarter of 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S71. This recall expands previous recall number 22V-142.

22V623000 · STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS | POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

Filed 2022-08-12 · 58,203 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 F-150 vehicles. Underbody heat and noise insulators may loosen and contact the aluminum driveshaft, which could damage the driveshaft and cause it to fracture.

Risk: A fractured driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power, or a loss of vehicle control if the driveshaft contacts the ground. Additionally, unintended movement could occur while parked if the parking brake is not engaged. Any of these scenarios increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the driveshaft, as necessary, and properly attach the underbody insulators, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 1, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S53.

22V414000 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

Filed 2022-06-10 · 1 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling one 2021 F-150 vehicle. A single vehicle may have been assembled without a fuel tank front attachment resulting in an unsecured fuel tank attachment strap.

Risk: An improperly attached fuel tank increases the risk of a fuel leak and potential for fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair (if necessary) the fuel tank strap bracket, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 1, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S42.

22V250000 · VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

Filed 2022-04-14 · 652,996 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-150, Expedition, 2020-2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, and 2020-2021 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.

Risk: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace both front windshield wiper arms, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed on May 24, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available 3rd Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S26.

22V188000 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

Filed 2022-03-25 · 47,084 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for low transmission fluid pressure may falsely activate and cause the transmission to unexpectedly shift into neutral.

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

Remedy: Dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 12, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S15.

22V193000 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL

Filed 2022-03-25 · 391,836 vehicles

Defect: 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. Due to a software error, a towed trailer equipped with an electric or electric-over hydraulic brake system may not brake.

Risk: Loss of trailer brake functionality could result in extended stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the integrated trailer brake control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S17.

22V142000 · VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

Filed 2022-03-11 · 157,306 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The front windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail.

Risk: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the front windshield wiper motor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 22, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S12.

21V986000 · STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS | POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

Filed 2021-12-16 · 184,698 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 F-150 vehicles. Underbody heat and noise insulators may loosen and contact the aluminum driveshaft, which could damage the driveshaft and cause it to fracture.

Risk: A fractured driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power, or a loss of vehicle control if the driveshaft contacts the ground. Additionally, unintended movement could occur while parked if the parking brake is not engaged. Any of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the driveshaft as necessary, and properly attach the underbody insulators, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 4, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S56.

21V805000 · AIR BAGS:SENSOR:SIDE IMPACT | AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

Filed 2021-10-15 · 777 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, 2021 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The front-door side impact pressure sensor modules may have been damaged during supplier assembly, which can cause the side impact air bags to not deploy properly in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 214, "Side Impact Protection."

Risk: An air bag that does not deploy properly during a crash increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver and passenger front door side impact sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 3, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C26.

21V653000 · SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

Filed 2021-08-23 · 16,430 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 Super Cab vehicles. The front seatbelt webbing may be incorrectly routed.

Risk: A misrouted seatbelt may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to perform a preliminary self-inspection of the front seatbelts. If the passenger-side seatbelt fails inspection, owners should not use the passenger seat until the repair is performed. If the driver-side seatbelt fails inspection, owners should not drive their vehicle until the repair is performed. Dealers will inspect the front seatbelts and, if the webbing is misrouted, will replace the seatbelt retractor and pretensioner, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 14, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C20.

21V533000 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Filed 2021-07-15 · 56 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The electronic brake booster may leak brake fluid into the electronic control unit, which could result in reduced braking performance.

Risk: Reduced braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the electronic brake booster assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 28, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S33.

21V407000 · STEERING:RACK AND PINION | STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

Filed 2021-05-29 · 223 vehicles Do not drive

Defect: 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.

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

Remedy: Owners are advised to not drive their vehicles until the repair is complete. Vehicles will be towed in for service, and dealers will remove and replace the steering gear, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S28.

21V381000 · POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

Filed 2021-05-24 · 4,436 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The two-piece driveshafts may have been improperly assembled, which could result in driveshaft separation.

Risk: Driveshaft separation may result in a sudden loss of drive power, or unintended vehicle movement if the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the driveshaft, and replace it if necessary, 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 21S25.

21V090000 · VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD:CRITICAL FASTENERS

Filed 2021-02-18 · 79,017 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 and 2020-2021 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 212, "Windshield Mounting."

Risk: In the event of a crash, if the windshield separates from the vehicle, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove and reinstall the windshield, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C06.

Federal investigations

ActionComponentOpenedClosedRecall
EA23002ENGINE2023-09-292024-10-3124V635

EA23002: Loss of Motive Power

Engines and fuel economy

VersionEngineTransmissionDriveCityHwyCombinedFuel cost / yr
F150 Pickup 2WD2.7L 6cylAutomatic (S10)Rear-Wheel Drive202622$2850
F150 Pickup 2WD3.5L 6cylAutomatic (S10)Rear-Wheel Drive182420$3100
F150 Pickup 2WD3.5L 6cylAutomatic (S10)Rear-Wheel Drive172420$3100
F150 Pickup 2WD FFV3.3L 6cyl FFVAutomatic (S10)Rear-Wheel Drive202421$2950
F150 Pickup 2WD FFV5.0L 8cyl FFVAutomatic (S10)Rear-Wheel Drive172420$3100
F150 Pickup 2WD FFV5.0L 8cyl FFVAutomatic (S10)Rear-Wheel Drive172419$3300
F150 Pickup 2WD HEV3.5L 6cyl HybridAutomatic (S10)Rear-Wheel Drive252625$2500
F150 Pickup 4WD2.7L 6cylAutomatic (S10)Part-time 4-Wheel Drive192421$2950
F150 Pickup 4WD2.7L 6cylAutomatic (S10)Part-time 4-Wheel Drive182420$3100
F150 Pickup 4WD3.0L 6cyl DieselAutomatic (S10)Part-time 4-Wheel Drive202723$3900
F150 Pickup 4WD3.5L 6cylAutomatic (S10)Part-time 4-Wheel Drive182320$3100
F150 Pickup 4WD3.5L 6cylAutomatic (S10)Part-time 4-Wheel Drive172319$3300
F150 Pickup 4WD FFV3.3L 6cyl FFVAutomatic (S10)Part-time 4-Wheel Drive192220$3100
F150 Pickup 4WD FFV5.0L 8cyl FFVAutomatic (S10)Part-time 4-Wheel Drive162219$3300
F150 Pickup 4WD FFV5.0L 8cyl FFVAutomatic (S10)Part-time 4-Wheel Drive162218$3450
F150 Pickup 4WD HEV3.5L 6cyl HybridAutomatic (S10)Part-time 4-Wheel Drive242424$2600
F150 Pickup Tremor 4WD3.5L 6cylAutomatic (S10)Part-time 4-Wheel Drive162018$3450
F150 RAPTOR 37 4WD3.5L 6cylAutomatic (S10)Part-time 4-Wheel Drive151615$4150
F150 RAPTOR 37 4WD3.5L 6cylAutomatic (S10)Part-time 4-Wheel Drive141615$4150
F150 RAPTOR 4WD3.5L 6cylAutomatic (S10)Part-time 4-Wheel Drive151816$3900
F150 RAPTOR 4WD3.5L 6cylAutomatic (S10)Part-time 4-Wheel Drive141815$4150

Fuel cost is EPA's estimate at the fuel prices of its last update, not today's.

Crash test ratings (NCAP)

VariantOverallFrontalSideRollover
2021 Ford F-150 Regular Cab PU/RC 4WD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆
2021 Ford F-150 Regular Cab PU/RC 2WD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆
2021 Ford F-150 Super Cab PU/EC 4WD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆
2021 Ford F-150 Super Cab PU/EC 2WD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆

Service bulletins

Ford issued 643 service bulletins listed against this model year, most often about electrical system.

A bulletin tells dealers how to fix a known condition. It is not a recall and not a defect finding. Most bulletins cover several model years at once, so one listed here may not be specific to this year. The number of bulletins tracks how long and how widely a model was sold, so it is not a measure of reliability.

DateComponentSummary
2026-10-16UNKNOWN OR OTHERThis bulletin supersedes 26-2238. Reason for update: To update the Service Procedure to include diagnostics for the fuel vapor vent valve and the fuel tank isolation valve. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibi…
2026-10-14UNKNOWN OR OTHERThis bulletin supersedes 26-2297. Reason for update: Add 2022-2025 Transit vehicles. Some of the vehicles listed in the model statement above equipped with SYNC4 may experience a blank center display screen or black center display screen af…
2026-10-08UNKNOWN OR OTHERSome 2020-2026 Aviator/Explorer/F-150/Bronco/Ranger vehicles equipped with a 2.7L or 3.0L (non-diesel) engine may need the front engine cover removed and reinstalled for various reasons. The Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-01 Engine > Re…
2026-09-22UNKNOWN OR OTHERThis article supersedes TSB 25-2466 to add Bronco Sport, Escape, Maverick and Corsair, as well as removing Expedition and Navigator. One time use parts for Corsair and Bronco Sport were also added to the parts list. Some of the vehicles lis…
2026-09-09SERVICE BRAKES26C10 Recall remedy -Addresses instances where the trailer lights and trailer brakes may not function
2026-09-09UNKNOWN OR OTHER26C37 Recall remedy Prevents a potential rearview camera image obstruction caused by a menu displaying on top of it
2026-09-03ELECTRICAL SYSTEMThis bulletin updates 26-2206. Reason for update: update the Service Procedure to revise Steps 19-21, adding Step 22, and adding Figure 15-16 to clarify connector C316 location. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may e…
2026-08-26UNKNOWN OR OTHERThis article supersedes 26-2287. Reason for update: update the labor operation numbers to add MT to operations C, F, G, H, J, K, L and M, and correct the part number LIMZ-4A015-B to L1MZ-4A015-B. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model sta…
2026-08-22UNKNOWN OR OTHERFor Various Ford and Lincoln vehicles, if diagnostics lead to the replacement of the front seat cushion cover J-clips, lower-level service parts are now available. Use service part W709919-S901 if the J-clip is completely detached from the …
2026-08-14VISIBILITY/WIPERSome 2021-2026 F-150 vehicles may exhibit a concern of the windshield wipers not parking in the correct position on the windshield and/or over-traveling. This may be due to incorrect alignment of the wiper pivot arm on the wiper linkage ass…

How to read this page

Complaint counts are not failure rates. A model that sells more cars draws more complaints, and owners file more often after news coverage or a recall. That is why this page compares a model year only with other years of the same generation, never with other models.

Each complaint is counted once, even when it names several components; a complaint that names several systems appears under each of them. Owner reports are quoted as filed and have not been verified by NHTSA or by us.

Every model year of this F150, including the ones without a page of their own, is listed on the Ford F150 model page.

Sources

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: complaints, recalls and investigations (bulk files, data as of 2026-10-28).
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program: crash test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov: engines, transmissions and fuel economy.

MotorAlmanac is independent and not affiliated with NHTSA, EPA or any manufacturer. This page summarises public records; it is not a mechanical inspection. Before buying a used car, check its VIN for open recalls and have it inspected.