Complaint volume
910 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2021 Ford F-150 Complaints
910 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Ford F-150, grouped by component category.
910 Total complaints
13 Crash reports
4 Fire reports
6 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are power train, exterior lighting, visibility. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 13 crash reports, 4 fire reports, 6 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 203 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 45,841 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to power train, exterior lighting, visibility?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2021 Ford F-150?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2021 Ford F-150
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2021 Ford F-150 complaints?
13 Crash
4 Fire
6 Injury
0 Fatality
27 Towed
3 Medical attention
What are the most common 2021 Ford F-150 complaint categories?
POWER TRAIN 201
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 75
VISIBILITY 64
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 52
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 52
VISIBILITY/WIPER 41
ENGINE 33
STEERING 24
SERVICE BRAKES 19
BACK OVER PREVENTION 18
910 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2025 | ENGINE | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 60,600 |
| Jun 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the brake pedal became significantly hard to depress. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by depressing the brake pedal with added force. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 40,000 |
| Jun 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES | Brake trailer module failure leading to loss of trailer brakes. Second incident. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | POWER TRAIN,WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The rear axle hub bolt on my 2021 Ford F-150 PowerBoost failed to meet design safety standards and is subject to Recall 23S65. The vehicle is currently at a Ford dealership and is available for inspection upon request. My safety was put at risk because the bolt can shear off without warning, causing the rear axle shaft to disengage. This can result in sudden loss of propulsion or vehicle rollaway, especially if parked on an incline. Ford has acknowledged this risk but has not made a final repair available for PowerBoost models. I was not offered a loaner, and I cannot confirm if the vehicle is safe to drive. The problem has been confirmed by the dealership. They told me they are unable to perform even the interim repair until at least July 22 and that there is no ETA at all for the final fix specific to hybrid (PowerBoost) models. The vehicle was inspected by a Ford dealer but not by Ford Motor Company representatives directly. Ford customer service has failed to provide any meaningful support or confirmation of safety. There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the recall. Ford states the failure may occur without symptoms, which makes the defect more dangerous. I have not personally experienced a failure yet, but I'm being asked to either drive the vehicle in this condition or go without transportation indefinitely. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | My gear shifter was sticking, making hard to shift gears. I had to pay $1100. 00 dollars to get it fixed. The truck has only 37,000 miles. This seems like a defect not a random component gone bad. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Vertical headlight seems to have burned out on both sides after reading online and couple forms. It seems to be a common issue and Ford should be held accountable. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | My transmission has failed and is slipping it's jolting and has cling sound. The rpms indicator fluctuates. Sometimes stays on 10 speed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | POWER TRAIN | When driving the vehicle there is a hard shift condition from 2-3 3-4 4-5 and 6-5. This condition worsened to where the vehicle we entering an intersection in a 4 lane road and when shifting into 3rd the transmission would not engage. It then shifted to 4th then 5th still not engaging. The rpm increased and truck was out of fear in the intersection then engaged in 2nd while rolling at roughly 30mph in a 10r80. Tires sheared traction for a moment as it dropped to a gear lower than the speed it was going. Hard shifting was followed by a Malfunction indicator light (MIL). Truck was shut off then restarted and MIL was no longer present but hard shifting continued then the above incident. Truck was taken to dealer for confirmation. Mileage 61,159. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The side rails that come out when door is opened to assist with getting inside the truck does not work properly. It has come out and will not go back in. The door is closed and I have to drive the truck with the rails hanging down. That is a hazard. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | PARKING BRAKE,SEAT BELTS | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 21V653000 (SEAT BELTS), 23V509000 (PARKING BRAKE), 22V142000 (VISIBILITY) and 23V163000 (VISIBILITY). The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the parking brake independently activated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The contact turned off the vehicle and, after waiting for a short while, the vehicle was restarted. The message "Service Parking Brake" was displayed. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while turning off the vehicle, the parking brake fail to function as intended. The contact stated that recently the seat belt failed to retract and remained loose. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer refused to repair the vehicle under the Seat Belts and Parking Brake recalls. The contact stated that the recall repairs for Visibility were performed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000. Parts distribution disconnect. | Crash: No Fire: No | 119,000 |
| Jun 2025 | ENGINE | Vehicle is consuming excessive amounts of motor oil, requiring the addition of 1-2 quarts every 1,200-1,500 miles. Check engine light has illuminated once when engine was five quarts low, this was when I realized the problem. Ford has attempted to correct with TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 19-2365, (5.0L - Excessive Oil Consumption) which I had performed on my vehicle and it did nothing to correct the issue. My greatest concerns are with premature parts failure and unexpected engine failure. I have written letters to Ford regarding this issue and have not received any response to date. I do have records of additional oil added since first realizing the issue existed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | ENGINE | My truck falls in the recall for the valve failures and they finally have parts to do the test but there is tons of documents and articles saying Ford agreed with NHTSA to provide a 10 year 150k warranty to people who fall in this recall. per you guys investigation EA23007 under 24N12. When I talked to Ford and the dealer they say that's not a number. Just on principle this is crazy. I bought my truck thinking well atleast Ford is taking care of people on this. After reading the states summary saying Ford would provide that. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission failure Transmission slips between 4th and 7th gears Yes its available for inspection Yes its been diagnosed by FORD No there were no warning lamps or messages, just noticed the shifting problem and took it in. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Related to TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN Various Gear Shift Module Concerns 25-2045 I experienced an issue where my truck was stuck in drive and the engine off. The truck could not be turned on if it wasn't in park, but couldn't be shifted unless it was on. This appears to be a very common issue as I made a post on Reddit [XXX] ) and many other users noted the same issue (low milage, relatively new tucks) with the same fix - a tow to a ford dealer and a $1000+ replacement of the shift module. The service manager told me it was "a common issue". It should be categorically impossible for a $70k+ tuck with less than 40K miles to be unable to shift gears due to faulty computer components. Ford didn't consider this issue under warrantee. Ford should have this module recalled - it is unfair for consumers to foot the bill to replace what should be a life time/never fail component. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES | The same brake booster that allegedly only had 51 vehicles included in it? Same exact issue as this link: [XXX] not working seems like a pretty big safety issue. DTC Code: C0594 Brake Booster Motor "A" Performance DTC Code: C0594 Right rear solenoid circuit INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, the contact stated that the transmission shifted hard, and the vehicle jerked while moving forward. The contact stated the vehicle jerked extremely hard and the contact's head jerked forward. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 62,000 |
| Jun 2025 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60-65 MPH, there was fluid leaking from the vehicle, and the engine was overheating. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact checked the Ford Pass App and became aware that the transmission had been serviced four times. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 40,000 |
| Jun 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The Ford 10R80 transmission in my 2021 F-150 removes all confidence in the dependability of this truck. The transmission will slip and not engage for about 3-5 seconds and then lurch forward after finally finding the gear. This happened multiple times now and the 2 most dangerous were while taking an unprotected, but authorized left turn on a busy highway. Vehicles in the opposing lane had to slow down because as I started to turn, the truck hardly moved as I hit the accelerator. The gear finally engaged and I was able to get out of the way before being hit. Many technicians have told me this is almost certainly due to the widely known faulty CDF drum on 2021-2022 F-150's. Ford has since revised the CDF drum, but anyone who owns a 2021-2022 will have to pay out of pocket after this part inevitably fails and causes catastrophic damage. This is a VERY dangerous and serious fault with an essential part of the vehicle. Ford needs to address this issue as soon as possible. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Since my truck was brand new, the infotainment screen very often blacks out so that I can not see navigation, back up camera, radio, etc. It keeps resetting itself until it comes back on. A couple of times when I brought it in for service I asked them to check it out and it was always "Seems to be working fine". Today I backed into a sign as the back up camera was frozen and I did not notice that it was not real time. After I hit the sign, the screen went black and then the Ford insigna came up and it repeated 3 times and then everything was fine. Ford service has never been able to fix it as the don't see it when they start the vehicle. I will start taking videos with my phone. Anyway now that the extended warranty just ran out, it is getting worse where it happens almost all the time. I talked to some friends and they tell me they have the same issue so you need to be aware that this dangerous situation might be a common problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While stopped at a traffic light or in an intersection preparing to make a turn, the vehicle’s engine will randomly shut off. Simultaneously, a pre-collision warning appears on the display. This causes the vehicle to become temporarily disabled, even as oncoming traffic approaches. To recover, the driver must shift the vehicle into park, restart the engine, and quickly accelerate out of the way to avoid a potential collision. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The step bar that come out whenever a door opens ro assist with getting inside the truck does not come out everytime. Sometime the bar will come down once door is open and remain down when the door closes. The bar is supposed to go ba k in once the door is closed. This happens several times in a week. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Ford's 10 Speed Transmissions (10R80) built before 2022 have a common CDF Drum design defect that will cause hard shifts, gear searching, failure to shift, and lagging shifts. On two occasion my truck was unable to find the gear while shifting and lost acceleration. There was no indications (warning lights or messages) that the vehicle wasn't operating normally. It simply just was unable to move under its own power for 2-3 seconds before the transmission found the next gear and began accelerating. Both instances created a hazard for myself and others as other drivers were forced to take evasive actions due to the sudden onset of the issue. Both instances were while making an authorized but unprotected left-hand turn. Had the other drivers in each of these instances not taken evasive action I would have been T-boned by them. This common failure put both myself and other drivers at risk. My local Ford dealer has troubleshot the issue and stated they believe it is the CDF Drum and recommended a complete transmission replacement. This issue is so common, that Ford issued a Technical Service Bulletin implementing a redesigned CDF Drum. That being said, Ford has left owners of pre-2022 vehicles like mine with an unsafe component and have taken no ownership of their design flaw. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I was driving my 62000 miles truck on the highway while trying to pass another car which was driving slower, I was at a speed close to 60mph, the engine ran at 5000 and I lost power, a truck just behind me has to swerve to avoid me. No warning lamp was on. No accident occurred hopefully. Went to the dealership and they said that the issue was caused by a defective transmission. Ford had denied to pay for the repair or replacement as the warranty is a only covering the first 60000 miles. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |