Complaint volume
940 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
940 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Ford F-150, grouped by component category.
940 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 79
VISIBILITY 64
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 54
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 53
VISIBILITY/WIPER 42
ENGINE 34
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 24
STEERING 24
SERVICE BRAKES 19
940 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Reference NHTSA Safety Recall 23V896. On our truck, the right rear axle hub bolt broke the last week of July 2025 (exact date unknown; bolt head caught behind hub cap). I made a an appointment with our local Ford service on August 4. To date (January 6, 2026 or 5 months), the repair has not been completed because the replacement parts are backordered nationwide. Per the recall notice, driving the truck risks further damage and possible injury or crash. Anecdotally (online forums and other resources) and despite the reported backorder, the recalls are being completed in a timely fashion in parts of the country. Some recalls apparently are being completed even on trucks where the bolts have yet not failed. Obviously parts are available because Ford is selling new trucks which presumably are not subject to the recall. In December, we were 14,000+ "in line" for the parts according to Ford service. Apparently we moved up about 1,000 places in one month. At that rate, we think it is unacceptable to not have full use of our truck until 2027, are frustrated to have to continue to pay insurance and licensing costs, and are very disappointed at the prospect of canceling summer plans again. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The daytime running lights only partially work and are very dim, blue, or completely off. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Daytime Driving Lights Are disabled due to an electrical defect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V896000 (Power Train) and 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the recall remedy part was not available. The contact was unable to reach the manufacturer due a prerecorded message. The contact had not experienced a failure. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | This report is being made within 1 1/2 hours after the incident. It has not been inspected by a dealer, service center, nor any other agency. I was stopped at a local fast food restaurant waiting to pay for my purchase. The 2021 Ford F-150 was in drive with my foot on the brake. No warning lights or other indication were present. Without warning, the engine revved to a high rpm and the truck shot forward about 15-20 feet before I could react by putting my full weight on the brake pedal. The engine quickly slowed. I then put the vehicle in reverse and backed up to the window and placed the transmission in park. The truck is equipped with adaptive cruise control but it was not active at the time of the incident. Had there been another vehicle in front of me, I would have rear-ended them. I work from home and use the truck a couple of times per week and it is available for inspection most days. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | There is a known problem with the DRLs burning out, which poses a safety issue. Many people have had this problem causing an expensive repair out of warranty. The entire headlamp assembly has to be replaced. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | Loss of engine power when transmission shifts from 3rd gear to 2nd gear. Truck will unexpectedly loose ability to accelerate, typically until shift to 1st or 3rd gear occurs. Return of power can cause vehicle to accelerate rapidly and unexpectedly. Malfunctions typically happens in parking lots and while yielding to make a turn, but also happens in stop and go traffic. Concerned of loss of acceleration while pulling out in traffic. No warning lamps or error codes when failure occurs. I've been working with the dealer to resolve for 1 year with nothing done. After 11 months the dealer acknowledged there is an issue, but is unsure of cause or how to repair. Now recommending an entire transmission replacement and not sure if that will resolve. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Dealer has now had my car for almost 60 days with no resolution Manufacturer Recall Number23S65 NHTSA Recall Number23V896 My asset is basically frozen at this point with zero ETA and any care from FORD. I am willing to trade it in at this point but can’t even do that. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | POWER TRAIN,STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the contact heard an abnormally loud booming sound. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road, exited the vehicle. Upon inspecting underneath the vehicle, the contact noticed that the driveshaft was fractured and damaged. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several different occasions. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the heat shield had rubbed on the driveshaft, and the driveshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V986000(Power Train, Structure); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 74,000 |
| Dec 2025 | PARKING BRAKE | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V509000 (Parking Brake), but the failure persisted. The contact stated that the failed to respond upon shifting to reverse(R) or drive(D). Additionally, the parking brake had seized. The messages "Parking Brake Fault" and " Parking Brake Service Required" were displayed. The dealer was contacted but refused to repair the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V509000(Parking Brake). The contact stated that the dealer had previously inspected the vehicle but no repair had been performed under the recall. The dealer instructed the contact to check the wiring harness. The contact followed the instructions and found that a wire had rubbed through and was fractured. The contact spliced the wire together with a wiring butt connector as a temporary repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 134,000 |
| Dec 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The transmission was slipping in 2nd and 10th gear. This was confirmed by the dealer. A full transmission had to be replaced at 66,000 miles. The vehicle had an excellent maintenance record and well kept. Ford did pay half of the cost but I still ended up spending $6k out of pocket and my vehicle was in the shop for 27 days. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Day running lights vertical ones seem to be going out on the F150 and recently mine too. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | Description of Incident: The vehicle exhibits a severe and unpredictable transmission "shudder," "stutter," and hesitation during gear synchronization, specifically during 1st–3rd and 8th–10th gear transitions. This manifest as a violent "shaking" sensation and a loss of momentary acceleration while merging into high-speed traffic. This issue was first reported to an authorized Ford dealership on December 17, 2024. At that time, the vehicle exhibited harsh shifting and "shuddering" consistent with Ford Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 22-2428. Despite being under a 150,000-mile service contract, the dealer misdiagnosed the mechanical transmission defect as an engine misfire, resulting in ineffective repairs. The defect has persisted and worsened. The internal failure has been identified as a defective CDF Clutch Drum (Cylinder) where an internal bushing moves out of place, obstructing fluid flow and causing mechanical "slip." This is a known manufacturing defect documented in multiple Ford TSBs (22-2428, 23-2250, and 24-2101). Safety Risk: The failure causes unpredictable power delivery. On multiple occasions, the vehicle has hesitated or "stuttered" while attempting to merge onto highways or cross intersections, leaving the vehicle vulnerable to side-impact or rear-end collisions. The lack of consistent throttle response and the violent nature of the shifting creates a significant safety hazard for the driver and surrounding motorists. Verification/Inspection: The symptoms were reported to a Ford dealership multiple times. As of December 2025, the dealership has opened a formal case with the manufacturer to verify the internal "cause of failure" by the Shop Foreman. No warning lamps or Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) appeared on the dashboard, as the failure is a mechanical internal bushing slip that does not always trigger a software sensor until total failure occurs. The vehicle is available for inspection. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Recall #25S75 (Low pressure fuel pump failure) was issued in July of 2025 and has still not been resolved as of this date (12/23/25). I am filing a formal complaint with NHTSA about Ford Motor Company not resolving this issue in a timely manner. This appears to be a pattern with FMC regarding recalls, two previous of which took almost a year to remedy. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | LEFT HEADLIGHT BURNT OUT | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The hybrid battery in a 2021 Ford F-150 Powerboost failed due to apparent shorting. (P/N ML3Z-10B690-D) Pictures were taken by service department at the Ford dealership, and can be provided upon request. There is concern that the system could catch fire and spread under the vehicle. There have been other similarly identified failures reported in online communities, but cannot verify the information. Failed component is currently with dealership service department, therefore, cannot verify if there has been further inspection of part. Prior to failure, there were no indicators of problems or faults. As the failed part is not easily accessible and there is no routine maintenance, there is no way to validate when the part failed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | POWER TRAIN,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V896000 (POWER TRAIN), 25V455000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), and 25V729000 (VISIBILITY). The dealer was contacted. However, parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The manufacturer was contacted; however, the phone call was dropped five times. The contact had not experienced a failure. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | When temperatures hit the teens and below, the driver door will not unlock. I’ve tried numerous times to unlock the door via the manual key and inside latch without success. This traps the driver and prevents a speedy egress if necessary. The inner latch tends to thaw after 40+ minutes of full blast heat within cab but no other solution exists. Passenger and rear doors unaffected. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The driver's side Daylight Running Light (DRL) is out and there is not a bulb to repair this, it's a $2000+ repair per the dealership and it's 4 years old with 80,000 miles on it. This needs to be a recall. These lights should last way more than 4 years. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,WHEELS | Ford has refused, on multiple occasions and at multiple dealerships, to address the NHTSA Recall Number 23V896 (MFG. Recall Number 23S65) issue with the Wheel End Hub Bolt in the rear axle. Well, this weekend, the bolt on the passenger side rear axle broke off, rendering the vehicle undriveable. I brought it in to the Lithia Ford Dealership (who's online information said they were open) to get it addressed. They were closed, no one was there, and they won't even give me a loaner vehicle while the F-150 is inoperable. This recall has been out for two years now and they still won't deal with it. Absolute neglect of their obligations and an unsafe practice! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V455000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) and 25V729000 (VISIBILITY); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the vehicle started then hesitated and stalled. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. 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 stated that the failure had started since the vehicle was purchased. The failure mileage was 32,962. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 32,962 |
| Dec 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | My truck thinks my parking brake is engaged so it constantly flashes the “brake” light, constantly chimes while driving and says parking break malfunction, talk to dealer. I brought it to Webber family Ford in Detroit lakes MN 56501 and they checked it over including the safety recall location for recall 23S35. They said it was not the recall location and I would have to bring it in Monday for another appointment. When I got it home that day I crawled under to check that location. I see visible green which usually means corrosion and the protection around the harness seems warm. I also noticed the "recall" was not completed how it is shown on fords recall paperwork using the zip tie as a wear location so it isn't the harness itself. That is not how mine is. I have photos to prove that. I spoke with corporate ford today and they said they can't re open the recall because it has been closed and it is past its 12 month warranty being it was done in October of 2023 before my ownership and at a different dealer. I don't believe it is fair to me the current owner to pay for the cost of a rerepair of a recall that was done incorrectly. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear end of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train). The vehicle was previously taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear axle bolt was fractured. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 46,000 |
| Dec 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted three times. 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 and informed the contact that parts would not be available until the third quarter of 2026. The contact had not experienced a failure. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |