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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle into the dealer for regular service, the contact was informed that the rear axle hub was fractured. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train); the VIN was included, but the vehicle had not yet been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 32,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 32,000 |
| Oct 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Ford has issued a TSB 22-2372 regarding the rear camera image going blank when placing the vehicle in reverse. This issue clears by restarting the vehicle. The cause is a software error in the Image Processing Module and SYNC 4 system. The danger is backing up without being able to see anything besides what is in your mirrors without the software update to fix the issue. Numerous children have already died because of vehicles without the safety of a back-up camera. I took my vehicle to the dealership to have it fixed and was quoted almost $1000 dollars to update the software. I complained and the dealership forwarded my complaint to Ford who gave "assistance" bringing the bill to $361 dollars. My question is why a mandatory recall hasn't been ordered for this obvious safety issue? Luckily, I can easily pay this but what about those who cannot? I asked Ford (case #CXH-xxx) why they are not providing the fix for free since it is a safety issue and they used the excuse of the warranty being expired. Hopefully NHTSA will make Ford fix this safety issue for fellow consumers. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | Rear windshield spontaneously shattered. Reduced vision of rear window. Dealer will not inspect vehicle without paying a fee. Rear window defroster was on and there was cricking sound. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | recall Issue date Dec 22,2023 Manufacturer Recall Number23S65 NHTSA Recall Number23V896 Recall StatusRecall Incomplete I contacted Ford 3 times since the recall was issuesd. Went there 3 times (last in June 2025), they performed the analysis to confirms what parts were needed all 3 times and every single time they say the do not have the parts to repair. I am concerned for my family and my safety. Need your assistance to get Ford to do the right thing. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The daytime running lights on the Driver's side of my truck went out, which in the case of my vehicle means replacing the whole headlight assembly, which Ford is stating costs $2,000. I did not realize how much of a problem this is until I started reading online forums where it seems to be a problem with many Ford F-150 owners. Having to replace an entire headlight assembly for the running lights is asinine. This is a safety issue, and Ford should be made aware that they are creating undue hardships for their vehicle owners, as safety issues have to be addressed, and for some unforeseen reason, warranties and extended warranties do not seem to cover this issue, which appears to be very widespread, and most likely a manufacturing defect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | WHEELS | I am experience the same exact issue as Recall Reference Number: 23S65. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Both left and right front vertical LEDs which surround the headlights failed. Ford dealer advised both entire headlight assemblies would have to be replaced at a cost of approximately $3600.00 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Pulling onto [XXX] , with cars coming at me at 55 MPH or more, the transmission slammed into gear and caused it to stall. Dealership diagnosed CDF failure and recommended replacement of the transmission. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | STEERING | Truck has 74,000 miles when i notice truck having issues prior to this my front wheels wearing unevenly truck eletric steering light up im being told has to be replaced from what im reading up on this shouldnt be having this type of issue and some models in 2021 did have issue | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The daytime running led lights on the headlights stopped working on my vehicle. First it was the passenger side and a few weeks later the driver’s side. As that happened to my vehicle, I noticed that many other Ford F150s have the same issue. When I took my vehicle for service, I was told by Ford Maxwell here in Austin Texas that this issue is not covered by my warranty. This is a safety issue because these are the lights that turn on during the day to make the vehicle visible. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle was shaking erratically. There were no warning lights illuminated. In addition, the gear shifter independently shifted into neutral. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 119,000 |
| Oct 2025 | STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING | At a stop light vehicle will turn off and nothing electrical will work. It will have to be restarted, While turning at low speeds the electronic steering completely stops working and almost hit another car. All electrical power failure until modules reset then will start. This all happens randomly so it could happen at any point and cause serious injury. Ford can't seem to find a repair for the intermittent issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Vehicle: 2021 Ford F-150 Component: Exterior Lighting – Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) / Headlights (High Beams) Safety Concern: Vehicle visibility and forward illumination Both daytime running lights (DRLs) on my 2021 Ford F-150 have failed completely. After the DRLs stopped working, the high beams also became inoperative, leaving only the low beams working. The Ford dealer attempted a repair by replacing the control modules, but that did not fix the issue. They advised that the entire headlight assemblies need to be replaced. However, these assemblies are very expensive, so I have not replaced them yet. I am currently limited to using only the low beams. Without DRLs, the truck is less visible during daytime driving, increasing the risk of a collision. Without high beams, nighttime visibility is reduced, especially on rural or dark roads. This failure affects federally required lighting functions, compromising safety in both day and night driving. The problem is not normal wear: these are sealed LED assemblies that should last the life of the vehicle. The fact that both assemblies failed strongly indicates a manufacturing or design defect. Owners face high out-of-pocket costs because the only fix offered is full assembly replacement. Other 2021 F-150 owners have reported similar failures of DRLs and headlights online, showing this is not an isolated incident. I request that NHTSA investigate this issue as a safety defect and require Ford to issue a recall to replace the defective headlight assemblies at no cost to owners. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Both daytime running lights are defective. One is all the way out and the other one is partially out. This started early 2024. I'm concerned over visibility. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 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 made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal clunking sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The contact stated that the failure progressively worsened. The contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound and jolted erratically while driving, and upon coming to a stop. The dealer diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced the transmission; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission, the catalytic converter, and other unknown parts had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150. | Crash: No Fire: No | 150 |
| Oct 2025 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Low pressure fuel pump failure Yes check engine light is on. Manufacture says there isn't a fix available yet and they have no idea when it will be available. My truck is missing and loosing fuel pressure. This is a 2021 truck and its now 2025. This needs to be fixed or another vehicle if they can't fix , but they have offered no solution. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | My Ford truck was part of Recall 22S26 / NHTSA Recall 22V250, which required the replacement of faulty windshield wiper arms. On 12/12/2023, I took my vehicle to Karl Flammer Ford for the recall service. The receipt I was given states that both wiper arms were replaced as part of the recall. In 2025, I noticed the driver-side wiper arm was loose and could potentially detach while in use. Upon closer inspection, I found the stamped date code on the wiper arm showed “2021,” the year of my truck. This indicates the part is one of the original faulty components included in the recall and was never replaced, despite the dealer’s claim that it was. A failing wiper arm poses a significant safety hazard because loss of windshield visibility during rain could easily result in a crash. I presented this evidence to Karl Flammer Ford, but they continue to insist the wiper arms were replaced. Ford Motor Company has been unresponsive and unhelpful, repeatedly transferring me between departments and promising call-backs that never come. No progress has been made toward fixing the issue. At this time, the vehicle remains equipped with the recalled part, which is available for inspection upon request. The vehicle has only been reviewed by the dealer; Ford has not conducted any proper inspection or resolution. No police or insurance inspection has taken place. There were no warning lamps or dashboard messages prior to this discovery. The only symptom was the driver-side wiper arm becoming loose, which I observed in 2025. Given Ford’s failure to properly address this recall and the ongoing safety risk, I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this matter and ensure Ford fulfills its obligation to replace the defective parts. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Gear shift selector gets stuck in park, drive & reverse. Unable to move vehicle & blocking traffic for a period of time. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the trailer brakes became inoperable. The trailer brake system failure message was displayed. The local dealer was contacted, where it was diagnosed with a TRM failure, an unknown TSB, and an unknown software update were completed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure existed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V132000 (Electrical System) prior to the failure. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 70,000 |
| Sep 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Ford has released multiple TSBs related to a known design flaw with their 10r80 transmission that causes the transmission to experience hard shifts while moving and often occurs in traffic. The hard shifts can cause the vehicle to stall which creates a very unsafe situation, especially on highways and interstates. The transmission defect has been redesigned in newer vehicles, however, there are thousands if not hundred of thousands of these vehicles on roadways that can break down suddenly causing a major accident. The ford owners forums have been riddle with concerns about this issue related to the CDF drum in the 10r80 transmission. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Unable to update automatically, vehicle was constantly attempting to connect, draining the battery (I replaced the battery and carry jumper cables and a quick starter now). Took into dealer and they are unable to perform updates. They have had the vehicle for 2 weeks and no progress. The forums online have indicated the vehicle was built with whatever parts they could get due to the COVID supply chain disruptions to normal parts. The software and subsequent updates do not remedy matters. I have no documents to upload, still in shop. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Vehicle lost all power and stalled while driving. Vehicle also stalled at idle when waiting at an intersection, and another time while waiting at a stop sign. No longer starts. Appears to not be receiving fuel and is returning code P0627 "Fuel Pump A Control Circuit / Open" and will crank but not start. Required towing back to my residence. FordPass sent a "Service Engine Soon Warning" stating "the powertrain control system has detected an electrical fault with the fuel pump and its associated wiring". The symptoms match those in 25V455 but this VIN number is not listed in the affected group. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | STEERING | The steering had a failure while driving on the highway. Driving straight, not making any turns, and a steering error came across the dash for the failure. Complete loss of steering functions. THis happened at 58000 miles. The problem is now occuring daily and is thought to be the power steering module. All steering control is lost. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN | Recall 23S65 has been active since January of 2024. Ford has failed to provide the necessary parts to repair my F150. Through my communications to Ford, they have been made aware of the fact that multiple mechanics have indicated that my truck is in need of immediate repair. Ford’s failure to provide the necessary relief to a recall from January of 2024 renders my $45,000 ($72,000 new) truck basically useless to me. It is not safe to drive any distance, nor should it be towing a camper. Ford personnel are not returning my calls to discuss options to provide relief. We have been patient but now believe Ford is negligent in handling this recall and are unwilling or unable to provide necessary equipment and relief. To note, this complaint is directed at Ford Motor Company. Service Representative [XXX] at Griffin Ford has been attentive and as helpful as he can be during this process. However, he is also at the mercy of Ford to provide remedy to this situation. Please see the PDF attachment for detailed information regarding this complaint. Please contact me if you have further questions. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |