Complaint volume
941 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
941 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Ford F-150, grouped by component category.
941 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 206 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 46,358 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
28 Towed
3 Medical attention
What are the most common 2021 Ford F-150 complaint categories?
POWER TRAIN 210
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 80
VISIBILITY 64
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 54
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 53
VISIBILITY/WIPER 42
ENGINE 34
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 24
STEERING 24
SERVICE BRAKES 19
941 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| May 2025 | ENGINE | Received safety recall October 2024 stating vehicle may crash - have not received any further notice about repairs | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | PARKING BRAKE | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that occasionally while driving at various speeds, the parking brake was independently activated. The brake warning light was illuminated. Several local dealers were contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,100. | Crash: No Fire: No | 55,100 |
| May 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 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | STEERING | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became stiff and hesitated while turning to the left or the right. The steering assist, traction control, and collision assist warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the battery was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired and needed to be towed back to the local dealer for further investigation. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V407000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 91,000 |
| May 2025 | STRUCTURE | The saggy diaper is a hazard and major manufacturer defect that must be corrected ASAP. It needs to be metal period the end. The paper like cover bolted on the undercarriage is an awful engineering hazard. I have changed this item four times. The dealerships well established pattern of services for this issue and Google searches speak for themselves. I don’t know why Ford refuses to address this concern and blow me off. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked abnormally, and the transmission was slipping into park, causing the vehicle to come to an unintended, immediate stop. There were several messages displayed on the instrument panel, and the “Service Vehicle Soon” warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the gear shift module was faulty and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V188000 (POWER TRAIN) as a possible cause for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 21,500. | Crash: No Fire: No | 21,500 |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated and jerked. The driver depressed the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond and lost motive power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 80,000 |
| May 2025 | STEERING | Steering assist, faults and adaptive steering not available lights up. Power steering goes away. Program update with dealer did not solve the problem. Looks like it’s a faulty gear. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | ENGINE | 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 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | ENGINE | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I drove approx 50 miles. Parked, Return to truck approx 45 mins later and the battery was DEAD. No turn over at all.Called AAA purchased new battery which was installed roadside in a parking lot. Upon starting the engine I noticed the ac was not blowing and hot air only if it did. I took vehicle to Mac Maik Ford. I was told the ac was in need of new parts and $FREON$ ? The repair was approx $4500.00 then add freon fee. I declined. Returned to Gullo Ford where I purchased truck and I was told it would take up to a week or more to leave it for just evaluation. They offered a rental vehicle for $65/ day .i was not going to pay$800 In rental fees to wait for an evaluation not even repair?! I returned home in the hot truck and stopped by the private garage in neighborhood.RUSTYS.They kept it half a day&said upon investigation numerous complaints were filed for the same situation.Rusty stated he would order the part and be completed in abt 3-4 days max>.OK, order parts. I get in the truck after the small independent garage guys went over it in 1/2 a day & THE AC WAS WORKING.I again refused to leave it at Rustys garage. He said he would order the part because site stated numerous ppl had the same thing I had had.battery dying and a/c malfunction combo. IF I HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE RECALL POTENTIAL OF THE TYPE OF REOCCURRING INCIDENT ON VEHICLES LIKE MINE I WOULD HAVE BEEN RIPPED OFF FOR THOUSANDS!! Rusty ordered the part but kept part b/c my ac is good but tapping the battery? 3 days after his diagnosis being different from the dealers my a/c is still witking..However, The potential remains high for ac failure at this point to reoccur.There is obviously a malfunction in the a/c that kills the battery. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS ISSUE. This warrants a recall on whatever it is that drains the battery and kills the a/c function and lets the dealers profit! Please address & recall. Bust the dealers who want THOUSANDS TO FIX THIS TOO! Recall the ripoff... | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The headlight module failed in the middle of driving at night and caused me to pull over and get the vehicle towed. Took to the dealership and apparently it’s been an issue with these trucks and the headlight module fails and then burns out both headlights. There is no recall and is not covered by my factory warranty. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed in a rainstorm, the windshield wipers suddenly stopped functioning. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V163000 (Visibility), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 39,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 39,000 |
| May 2025 | STRUCTURE | What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The exterior door handles and latching mechanism failed due to freezing in cold weather. When temperatures drop, the door handles become stuck or the latch mechanism fails to engage or disengage properly. This issue is reproducible during cold weather and the affected components are available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The malfunction poses a safety risk in multiple ways. The doors may not close securely, which could result in a door opening while driving. Conversely, frozen latches can prevent doors from opening, which is a serious concern in the event of an emergency where rapid exit from the vehicle is required. This could endanger both the driver and passengers. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The issue has not yet been confirmed by a dealer, but it is a widely documented problem among 2021 Ford F-150 owners, and it occurs consistently during cold weather conditions. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No formal inspection by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives has been conducted to date. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There were no warning lamps or dashboard messages. The issue was first noticed during freezing temperatures in the winter season. The symptoms are physical—frozen or stuck handles and malfunctioning door latches. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | ENGINE | Harsh shifting, abrupt or hard shifts. Hesitation and delays when accelerating feels unsafe, especially at highway speeds. This is an ongoing issue and has been going on for quite some time. Cannot pinpoint a specific date. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Rearview camera does black out sometimes takes 10 minutes to load any info including radio and camera. Radio and camera tries to reload but usually takes 5 minutes for the screen to load up. Causing no rearview camera visibility | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that occasionally while attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle started to jerk, and the contact stated that the transmission was slipping. There were no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the gears were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 74,200. | Crash: No Fire: No | 74,200 |
| May 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle for the State Inspection, the contact was informed that the computer failed to communicate with the State Inspection testing equipment. Due to the issue, the vehicle failed the State Inspection. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that a software update was required. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to SSM: 51411. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 77,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 77,000 |
| May 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Part DG9Z13A018E (Ambient Light Sensor) fails to properly read Daylight during warm months. Inverted value (reading of VERY DARK) persists for at least 10 minutes. Appears to be temperature dependent; meaning, the temperature of the sensor/dash/housing is very hot and skewing the reading. Instrument panel dim. 12" screen dim. Reverse image (parking assist) dim as 12" screen is dim. When occurs, can be disabled by turning auto-headlights to OFF position. When cycled back to AUTOMATIC, condition reasserts and dims both the cluster and screen. Issue has been verified at dealership since 2023. Cannot replicate issue when stored indoors, raining, overcast, cold, etc. Requires full sun and warm day. Vehicle cannot be spared for additional diagnostics without rental/loaner provision. Will ask to attempt to replicate during upcoming recall maintenance and other TSB/SSM diagnostics to correct lingering OTA update/software issues that cause low state of charge conditions. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |