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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2023 | POWER TRAIN | At routine maintenance it was discovered the bolt which retains the rear axle on the passenger-side of the vehicle had sheared off and was FOI d within the wheel hub. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | POWER TRAIN | Fractured /sheared rear axle bolt on passenger side. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission experienced hard shifting from sixth to fifth gear. Additionally, while in the ECO Mode, the vehicle would not properly accelerate from a stationary position. During the failure, the transmission shifted to eighth gear with a loud whining sound coming from the vehicle however, the vehicle would not accelerate as needed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 20,000 |
| May 2023 | POWER TRAIN | Drivers side and passenger side rear axle end bolt. I called my local FORD dealer and was told that the truck in not safe to drive and to call Roadside Assistance and have my vehicle transported to the nearest FORD dealer for repair. This is somewhat of a common problem as reported on the F150 vehicle user groups and this is the second time that it has happened on this vehicle. My local FORD dealer replaced the passenger side axle when this happened the first time. The only warning of this failure is a rattle during vehicle low speed operation due to centripetal force not allowing the bolt and washer to rattle in the cavity covered by the Logo axle cover. I was only able to notice this rattle due to it being on the drivers side during low speeds. When this occurred on the passenger side I did not notice it and I'm not sure how long the issue existed until my trucks drivetrain disengaged while driving in a parking lot. The bolt failure over time can allow the rear axle to slip outboard and disengage the axle splines. FORD needs to address this issue and determine root cause and resolve this issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the parking lights started to flicker. The contact stated that the driver’s side taillights had ceased to function. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V686000 (Exterior Lighting). The failure mileage was approximately 55,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 55,000 |
| May 2023 | VISIBILITY | 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 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. Parts distribution disconnect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | POWER TRAIN | The passenger side rear axle bolt sheared off and could be heard rattling inside the wheel/hub. Dealership showed the bolt to us and said it's common with the newer body style F-150's. My wife was heading out this weekend to drive back home to Illinois from here in Montana. Now she's stuck here until next week at the earliest. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V142000 (Visibility) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. 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. Parts distribution disconnect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V142000 (Visibility) and 23V163000 (Visibility) however, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that while driving during inclement weather, he activated the windshield wipers; however, the windshield wiper motor intermittently operated as designed. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the windshield wipers failed to operate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact was informed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. 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 3,800. VIN tool confirms parts not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,800 |
| May 2023 | POWER TRAIN | The Transmission slips into neutral when moving slow and trying to accelerate, also when sitting at traffic light waiting for an opening from on coming traffic when I try to turn it will start to move and then slip into neutral. I almost got hit by oncoming traffic a few times.also the Transmission jerks very hard when shifting up from low gear. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V142000 (Visibility) and 23V163000 (Visibility) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. Additionally, the contact stated that on several occasions while the vehicle was being operated during inclement weather, the wiper motor intermittently failed to operate as designed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. 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 500. VIN tool confirms parts not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | 500 |
| May 2023 | VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V842000 (Visibility) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. 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. Parts distributions disconnect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V163000 (Visibility) 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 2023 | VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V142000 (Visibility) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. 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. Parts distribution disconnect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | POWER TRAIN,VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V142000 (Visibility) and 22V623000 (Power Train, Structure) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | POWER TRAIN | Broken bolt that holds axle to wheel hub, leaking differential oil | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the "Electrical Default, Service Engine Soon and Engine Coolant Overheating" messages were displayed. Also, the temperature gauge indicated that the engine had overheated, and steam was coming from under the hood. The vehicle began to lose power and the power steering malfunctioned. The vehicle was later towed to the residence. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 16,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 16,000 |
| May 2023 | VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V1420000 (Visibility) 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. Parts distribution disconnect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Advancetrac warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the screen was blinking. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic brake booster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 49,276. | Crash: No Fire: No | 49,276 |
| May 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | After driving my vehicle, I parked the truck for about 20 min. Upon returning to the vehicle and leaving the parking spot, a loud crackle and pop sound came from the speaker system. Followed up a recurring static noise that was at the loudest volume I presume the audio system would get to. The static would not cease with turning the volume off, turning down the volume, etc. I tried to turn off the vehicle and leave the vehicle for 5 min but upon restarting the truck, the sound restarted immediately. I tried turning off and restarting 2 more times with no success. I had no choice but to drive 40 min to the closest dealership. The manager and a sales person heard and experienced the sound. They shut the vehicle off and on as I did. They shut off the vehicle for about 10 min while they went in search of a service tech. When the truck was restarted the sound stopped. The tech did a master reset just in case hoping for a error code but none appeared. This event was jarring and a day later, my hearing still is not normal and my ears hurt. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V250000 (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. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Rear window shattered. I was in a restaurant ate dinner and came back out the rear window was completely shattered | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | POWER TRAIN | While driving, particularly when accelerating or climbing an incline, the transmission clunks, bangs, lurches and hesitates. It makes driving the vehicle unpredictable. This is distracting and unsafe as it means that the driver is not confident in consistent acceleration and control of the vehicle. Also, other drives may be at some risk because this new vehicle is not traveling along the roadway as would normally expected. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V533000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was repaired, however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 45,000 |
| Apr 2023 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the transmission shifted hard into the next gear. The contact stated that the transmission also downshifted very hard. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 11,000 |