Complaint volume
911 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
911 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Ford F-150, grouped by component category.
911 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
911 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH at night, the instrument panel light turned off intermittently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that an unknown software needed to be updated; however, the dealer informed the contact that the manufacturer advised that the remedy for repair was not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 2,700. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,700 |
| Feb 2022 | POWER TRAIN,STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V986000 (Power Train, Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. VIN tool confirms parts not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2022 | SERVICE BRAKES | My emergency brake engages in its own. It has done it more than 20times since I have owned the vehicle. The first time it happened was about a month after purchasing. The last time it engaged I was pulling into a parking spot a couple weeks ago. Sometimes it come on when parked and other times The brake light on the dash will flash at me if I am in motion as it engages. When I disengage the brake I can hear the noice as it retracts. I assume typically there is a safety if it engages at high speeds but If this can have a glitch it makes me nervous if it would engage at highway speed and cause an accident. I have small children that ride with me and makes me nervous. I have brought it to the attention of the dealership I bought the vehicle from and they could not find anything wrong. I plan on taking it to a Ford dealership closer to my home as I drove a distance to purchase my vehicle. I believe this to be a huge risk if it would lock up while driving. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2022 | ENGINE | Complete engine failure at 2,300 miles. The engine is a 2.7 V6 which has recently been documented as having potential engine problems per Motor Trend. The truck just stopped running with no warning. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,300 |
| Feb 2022 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH at night, the low-beam headlights were very dim. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle back to his residence and noticed that both headlights were completely fogged over. The contact drove the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and the contact was informed that the fogging was normal. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and the contact was informed that the headlamp fogging was normal. The failure mileage was approximately 597. | Crash: No Fire: No | 579 |
| Feb 2022 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2021 Ford-150. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the under-body panel, power train malfunction, and engine malfunction warning lights illuminated. The contact then heard a scraping sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact was able to safely exit the highway. The vehicle was driven back to the residence with no further issues. On another occasion, while stopped in a parking lot, the check engine and power train warning lights illuminated. The contact’s daughter exited the vehicle and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was restarted and driven back to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. A multipoint inspection was performed and the contact was informed that the waste gate actuator needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact requested a buy back which was declined. The approximate failure mileage was 3,032. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,032 |
| Feb 2022 | POWER TRAIN,STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received an email notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V986000 (Power Train, Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. 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. VIN tool confirms part not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2022 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 1) Pre-collision assist not available---- when starting after vehicle has been sitting off for one hour. Service AvanceTrac----when starting after vehicle has been sitting off for one hour. Hill start assist not available-----when starting after vehicle has been sitting off for one hour. Check brake system-------when starting after vehicle has been sitting off for one hour. All these warnings appear when starting the engine after vehicle has been sitting off for one hour. Yes, it is available. 2) I don't know if I restart the vehicle and warnings do not reappear if the components at fault still work. 3) Don't think it was reproduced. Showed dealer photos of warnings displayed on my dash. Dealer said no fix currently available. 4) No 5) All these warnings appear on the dash when starting the engine after vehicle has been sitting off for one hour. First appeared after starting on multiple occasions. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2022 | STRUCTURE,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | DOOR LOCK In freezing temperatures, the door locking mechanism can become inoperable (the door will not unlock and you cannot enter or exit the vehicle using that door). The door fails to unlock using manual key, auto unlock with keyfob in hand, pressing the button on the handle or entering the security code. Sometimes after a few attempts, you will be able to open the door despite the lock pin at the top of the down frame is still down. However, once in the vehicle, you will not be able to get back out until the vehicle is warm. This is a risk in case of accident or fire. The issue is currently being diagnosed by dealership. No other warnings. Only happens in freezing temperatures (in my case temps in the mid-teens and below). | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2022 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | vehicle accelerated while running several times. The transmission knocking when shifting when the transmission warming up in short and long travel. The front brakes comes mad after clean the truck. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2022 | Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | The strap is fraying significantly for the main buckle. This part is not one that’s regularly retracted and extended as it’s a fixed size. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2022 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | My brand new F150 2021 had a powertrain malfunction with power totally reduced. I had no ability to accelerate. I had to glide over to the side of the road. I restarted the car. It reset, i went to accelerate and again i had an error code and my car froze. I was able to restart again and drive over to my Ford dealership i purchased it from at 15 miles per hour. The problem was reproduced once and confirmed by the dealer. The dealer has contacted Ford and was told they have never seen that error code for a F150. The GM of Ford here in Montana told me if they cant reproduce the problem again, i can have the truck back. This truck is 3 weeks old. I am terrified. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2022 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Automatic stop and go stopped working and dealer is unable to repair it. It has been to the dealer twice. It stopped working for the second time on October 25, 2021. The dealer has had the vehicle since December 30, 2021. As of today January 13, 2022 they still haven't found the problem | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2022 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while he was in a pharmacy drive-through, the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated he was depressing the brake pedal to the floorboard but failed to stop the vehicle from driving over the landscape of the pharmacy and over a boulder. The contact stated the vehicle continued moving forward for half a block until he was able to regain control of the vehicle by pumping on the brake pedal. The contact stated he was able to make a left turn at a near urgent care parking lot and park the vehicle. The contact stated the front passenger hit her head and right shoulder on the front passenger door due to the seat belt not retracting and sought medical attention at the emergency room. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4,133. | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | 4,133 |
| Jan 2022 | SEAT BELTS | After driving the vehicle for 14,000 miles I was traveling out of state when my wife and I discovered that the passenger seat belt was not anchored to the floor. When we arrived home there was a recall notification in our mail. I immediately went to Serramonte Ford in Colma, CA and scheduled the required inspection for November 1. They assured me that any necessary repair would be done at that time. Later that day they called and told me that I needed a new part but they were required to order it from a special source because it was a recall item. (What)! They called two weeks later and advised that the part arrived and I made an appointment for November 16 and dropped the vehicle off. Later that day they called and told me that they needed a gasket so the repair couldn’t be done. I picked up the vehicle and they told me they would call me to reschedule the repair. It is now January 2022 and I have been driving this vehicle for eleven months without a seatbelt. They can’t tell me when to expect the repair. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | Cluster will randomly shut off causing all gauges to act like the vehicle isn't on. Then it will turn back on. I notice that transmission temp gauge will be the only gauge that wouldn't go back to normal. It will take several minutes for gauge to reset. The risk is not knowing your speed and causing a distraction to what is happening while driving. No dealer could redo the problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The Pro Trailer Assist program won't load or work along with constant electrical lamp fault messages when trailering my boat. This is a safety concern because you can't tell if the trailer lights are really working or not while driving. I also experience the turn signals blinking really fast like a bulb is out - when none are actually out. The local dealer's electrical technician has reproduced and confirmed my issues. The manufacturer is aware of my problem and is currently offering to put me in a 2022 truck that will be built in February. The Pro Trailer Assist program never would load or work from day one. The electrical lamp fault messages started as soon as I trailered my boat. All the lamp fault messages and fast blinking turn signals only happen while trailering my boat. The local dealer had my new truck forty days and replaced the APIM Module twice with no success. Mileage then (328), mileage now 1,255. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2021 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission is shifting very hard at different times, points, speeds, up shifting and down shifting. It jerks so hard at different times that my wife’s neck was sore, the dealer is taking 3 weeks before they will look at it! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES | After connecting my boat trailer, I had ZERO trailer brakes. The lights all worked, brake, running, signal-but no trailer brakes. I turned the integrated trailer brake gain to the highest setting-still zero trailer brakes. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2021 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the transmission suddenly shifted to neutral and the vehicle would no longer accelerate. The vehicle began to roll forward and rolled off the road. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission and transfer case had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 2,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 2,000 |
| Nov 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES | The standard trailer brake controller does not function. I have tried it on 2 known trailers that function with other trucks and this truck's does not work. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2021 | TIRES | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150 equipped with Pirelli Tires, Tire Line: Scorpion: Tire Size: 265/70/R17. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the low tire pressure warning light illuminated. The contact had pulled over to the side of the road and noticed that the driver’s side front tire was flat. The contact placed the spare tire on the vehicle and continued driving to his residence. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle and the tire and diagnosed the failure as a split in the middle of the tire. The mechanic replaced all 4 tires on the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage on the vehicle and tire was approximately 4,000. Vehicle has been repaired. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,000 |
| Oct 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | "Trailer disconnected" randomly pops up accompanied by a chime. Sometimes once a day, some times multiple times, time after time. Some times skipping a day. This is with NO trailer connected. Brought to the dealer with a code u0143 saying it is a network code and they cleared it and test drive it. But still happening. Had this truck not even 2 weeks and im not very happy to say the least. Never towed with it. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No Brake Controller on 2021 F150 with Class 4 trailer hitch as ordered and equipped from Ford as a new vehicle. I purchased and order a new 2021 Ford F150; truck was ordered with and equipped with a Class 4 trailer hitch; from my research, during early 2021 F150 production dates, Ford had no stock of trailer hitch brake controllers and placed a cheap, small coin holder where the brake controller was to be located; the wiring and connector for the brake controller is located in the dash, just behind this coin holder and is not connected to anything. The issue is that I have no trailer brakes whatsoever; when a trailer is attached to the vehicle hitch and the 7 pin trailer connector is connected to the 7 pin receptacle on the truck and when pulling that trailer and attempting to stop without a brake controller, the trailer will shove the truck forward; also, in a quick stop condition, the truck and trailer will begin to “Jack Knife”, thus causing a very unsafe and potentially fatal condition. When approaching the dealer from where I purchased my 2021 F150, I was informed that they were aware that those trucks that were assembled early in the production year were assembled without a brake controller; however, Ford is not retrofitting these vehicles with the missing brake controller but that I could, for a little more than $500, have a Ford controller installed in my truck by the dealer (the controller that should have been in place at the time the truck was assembled at the factory). Footnote: I am able to purchase a Ford brake controller from the Ford dealer and install it myself, except that unless the Ford dealer re-flashes the computer on the truck, the Ford controller that I installed still will not function, thus the $500 charged to install and re-flash a functional brake controller on a new 2021 Ford F150. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2021 | LANE DEPARTURE,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 1. The passenger and drivers side modules were replaced by the dealership but the issues still persist and are available for inspection upon request. 2. Safety could be at risk. Reverse Brake Assist error issue could potentially cause a small child or person to be in danger if sensors are not working or cause an accident. 3. It has been reproduced and verified by the dealer. The dealer is Sill-Terhar Motors in Broomfield, CO. 4. The passenger and drivers side rear modules were replaced by the dealership, but the issues still persist. 5. The system failure messages did appear at the time of failure. They started appearing approximately a week after we purchased the truck. First warning is logged in the FordPass app on June 13, 2021 I get three warnings pretty consistently when the system fails. So far the FordPass app has over100 error messages regarding my issue. The warning messages all show up at the same time. They are usually: 1. Blind Spot System Fault 2. Cross Traffic System Fault 3. Reverse Brake Assist Not Available See Manual (even though it IS turned on) 4. Hill Start Assist Error occurs as well 5. Sometimes when I am in reverse and these go off and I then brake with the foot pedal, the electronic emergency brake engaged without any manual intervention. First 3 errors have happened while reversing AND while driving in normal city street and highway speeds. Taking into the dealer to have it looked at again on Nov. 4, 2021. Issues started 06/13/2021 and continue to present (as of this writing 10/25/2021). | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |